How does the knowledge that our sun will most likely become a Red Giant within 5 billion years strike you?

Question

I realize everyone reading this will be dead and gone in 5 billion years; however it's interesting that we know (if you believe in the science) that our world will certainly be destroyed someday. We will probably destroy ourselves long before 5 billion years, but that is something we have at least some control over. Our suns death is something that is inevitable and most likely irreversible. Imagine if people are still around and they see signs that this is going to happen soon. Guess I'm in a weird mood, but I would like to hear some others opinions on the subject. I have heard this description on more reputable science sources but I will add a wikepdia link with more information.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_giant

Thanks

I should have known better then to ask a question like this on yahoo answer, oh well. Anyone have a serious and thought provoking answer for me.

I realize that is the way things work. Death is a natual process, but we still get upset when someone we loves dies. These things still invoke emotion and make us think of our motality.

Answer 1

It's just the way nature works ,,,

Answer 2

Yes, the Sun will one day become a red giant star of type M4 III or something like that, maybe even a supergiant M4Ib. In about 100 million years, the Earth's temperature will rise from 180 degrees to 2600 degrees F, making this a lava planet. That is 0.0000242 degree a year. From 1911 to 2005, the Earth's temperature has gone up 1.9 degrees F, for a rate of 0.01117 degree per year. That's 461 TIMES faster than the rate at which the Earth will turn into lava! We can't do much about the Sun but we can do something about global warming.

Answer 3

While we all realize our own mortality and the inevitable death of ourselves and our loved ones, the death of the sun and the earth in 5 billion years can evoke conflicts in us.

And while it means our species and our achievements may not survive (unless we move to some other home), since its so far in the future humans really have no way to get their heads around billions of years.

So personally, I am intellectually saddened at the possible end of everything we have achieved, yet I am also hopeful that we will find a way to survive elsewhere - that thought actually makes me feel optimistic.

Answer 4

It is rather a point of trivia to try to say what will happen in one hundred years from now let alone 5 milion or 5 billion years from now. Who can say that we will not be able to watch the the event from a safe distance.

Of course it seems illogical to suggest that people will still be
around for the next 1 million years let alone 5 Billion!.

If people could (hypothetical ? ) servive the next million years we would likly be changed too much to be quickly identified. Something like a dinosaur to a chicken.

Answer 5

Quite frankly it doesn't bother me at all as by then the human race will either not exist or have moved to other worlds.

Answer 6

I view the sun going nova with my the inevitability of my death. Both are out there, lurking, there is nothing that I can do about it, it's going to happen, you can't avoid it, so why worry.

Answer 7

It doesn't affect me. Its the way nature works. Its the way things go.

Answer 8

The human race i'm sure will be no more by then so oh well. It happens

Answer 9

Holy gees,I hope you are kidding!. Red eh. Giant?

Answer 10

well i'm just glad I won't be around then but if i was i guess all i could do was bend over and kiss my butt goodbye