27 May 07
Originally posted by AgtSmittyabout 5 billion years, according to wiki.
Not exactly...when the sun dies...it will most likely supernova, which will basically make it so earth no longer exsists.
however, a recent article indicates we don't even have that long. in about 2 billion years (if i remember correctly), the milky way will collide with the andromeda galaxy. we might be lucky and get tossed free. or we might not.
"
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sun#Life_cycle
Life cycle
Main articles: Formation and evolution of the solar system and Stellar evolution
The Sun's current age, determined using computer models of stellar evolution and nucleocosmochronology, is thought to be about 4.57 billion years.[4]
The Sun is about halfway through its main-sequence evolution, during which nuclear fusion reactions in its core fuse hydrogen into helium. Each second, more than 4 million tonnes of matter are converted into energy within the Sun's core, producing neutrinos and solar radiation; at this rate, the Sun will have so far converted around 100 Earth-masses of matter into energy. The Sun will spend a total of approximately 10 billion years as a main sequence star.
The Sun does not have enough mass to explode as a supernova. Instead, in 4-5 billion years, it will enter a red giant phase, its outer layers expanding as the hydrogen fuel in the core is consumed and the core contracts and heats up. Helium fusion will begin when the core temperature reaches around 100 MK, and will produce carbon and oxygen. While it is likely that the expansion of the outer layers of the Sun will reach the current position of Earth's orbit, recent research suggests that mass lost from the Sun earlier in its red giant phase will cause the Earth's orbit to move further out, preventing it from being engulfed. However, Earth's water will be boiled away and most of its atmosphere will escape into space.
Life-cycle of the SunFollowing the red giant phase, intense thermal pulsations will cause the Sun to throw off its outer layers, forming a planetary nebula. The only object that will remain after the outer layers are ejected is the extremely hot stellar core, which will slowly cool and fade as a white dwarf over many billions of years. This stellar evolution scenario is typical of low- to medium-mass stars.[5][6]
"
27 May 07
Originally posted by ArrakisHow does leaving something of yourself behind give your life meaning? If your existence was without meaning to start with, I can't see how it would get more meaningful by prolonging it (or part of it).
So my whole point was simply that if you leave something of yourself behind in this world to continue then a person's existance here was not without meaning.
