How do we know that the sun is older than most of the other stars in the galaxy?

Question

I think it is something to do with the fact that it is a second generation star, does anyone know if I am along the right lines? I have researched it but science jargon is causing a problem to my limited scientific vocabulary!
Thanks all x

Answer 1

A star age is figured out by mass-luminosity relation

Stellar Evolution
Some representative lifetimes for other stars are given in the table below............
http://www.astronomynotes.com/evolutn/s2.htm

You'll need an understanding of what a star is.
What is a Star?
http://imagine.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/science/know_l2/stars.html

Answer 2

The sun is a young star. I have never heard it said that it is an old star. The universe is estimated to be 13-14 billion years old, with some estimates as high as 15+ billion years. The mainstream thought however, remains at about 13.2-13.6 billion years.

OK, the age of the earth is estimated at about 5 billion years. The sun is a main-sequence star, and a lot is known about them. This estimate is borne out by not only dating rocks, but observing the state of the sun. So, 5 billion years is accepted as approx the right age. This is NOT older compared to many other objects.

It has been said that our solar system has had 3 life cycles, ie, it has been formed, aged, destroyed, and re-born 3 times. I am not sure how many people subscribe to this hypothesis, but it can be found in a couple of fairly reputable books and journals.

Answer 3

large impacts on earth via extensive asteroids toss organic and organic textile back into area. What if the earth or different existence-bearing planets, have been created to furnish existence to something of the universe? that would shift the objective of existence from the way forward for humanity to the way forward for existence-bearing planets. existence is the appropriate fulfillment of the universe no remember if on earth or someplace else in area. Evolution has shown itself to be authentic and energetic in existence and interior the formation of planets. If existence evolves on earth then that could be a great wager that that is chanced on on yet another planet. All existence has objective and all existence has a place interior the cosmos.

Answer 4

In fact it's the OTHER way around! Our sun is actually what is called a Population I star. The oldest are population III; middle-aged stars are Population II and the younger stars, Population I. It was created from one or several nearby supernova/s. It's based on the metallic content of the stars, the higher content, the younger the star.

Actually, no pop. III star has ever been found, their existence in simply inferred, they were very massive bodies and they actually created the elements, then exploded in huge supernovas and dispersed the elements across the universe.

From these elements Pop. II stars were created, the oldest observable stars today.

Interesting subject eh???

Answer 5

As I understand it, Sol our sun is a fairly young star the older stars in the Milky way, (our galaxy), are towards the centre. We are on the outer edge of the galaxy.

Answer 6

The sun is not older than most of the stars in the galaxy, it is younger. Most stars are red dwarf stars--those are the first generation--and oldest-stars.

Answer 7

The sun is not older than most other stars.

Answer 8

our sun is actually a younger star or about middle aged anyways on way to tell a stars age is to find out the hydrogen to helium ratio older stars have more helium than hydrogen while younger stars have less helium

Answer 9

Chemical dating is the answer. The very oldest stars in the galaxy contain very few elements that are heavier than Hydrogen.

Answer 10

Cause we see the spectral lines of hydrogen and helium

and also, the sun contains a lot of iron an heavy elements, showing that it was probably born out of a supernova.