Artist's Impression of Future of the Solar System as Described in the Astrophysical Journal Letters (IMAGE)

University of Warwick

Artist's Impression of Future of the Solar System as Described in the Astrophysical Journal Letters

Caption

The Sun will evolve into a white dwarf in about 6 billion years from now. Mars and the outer gas giants of our solar system will survive this metamorphosis. For the first few million years after its formation the white dwarf will be extremely hot and its strong EUV emission will evaporate gas from the outer atmospheres of the gas giants. A fraction of this gas will be accreted by the white dwarf and produce atmospheric lines detectable for future generations of alien astronomers.

Credit

Credit: Mark Garlick

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