05-18-2016, 10:29 AM
(05-18-2016, 07:25 AM)pbrower2a Wrote: There's some controversy about whether the Earth would remain in existence or get pulled into the bloated-but-dying Sun. All orbits would move away from the Sun, but the expanding Sun would still catch up at the least with Mercury and Venus. The Earth is borderline on whether it would be consumed.
If the outermost layer of the solar atmosphere reaches the Earth, then frictional drag will pull what remains of the Earth. Volatile substances like water itself, sulfur, phosphorus compounds, and the carbon dioxide that gets released from rocks will have long gone. Silica will melt and evaporate and vanish with the solar wind, leaving the heavy, hot, iron-rich core with perhaps some metal oxides (calcium, magnesium, aluminum, and titaniaum oxides, largely) behind.
If frictional drag from the Sun's gases should get in the way of the Earth's core, then the Earth's core will spiral into the Sun. As it vaporizes it will be assimilated into the Sun and likely sink into the core of the Sun due to its density. Metal oxides will of course disintegrate, along with such refractory material as diamonds and graphite.
There are different views that are both controversial and probably irrelevant( not sure anyone will be around to observe). However this article presents a new model of what might happen that is interesting to me anyway.
Quote:... "Researchers have worked on the question of habitability around old stars before, but Kaltnenegger said no work has ever been done using models that can reveal details about how both the star and planets will evolve together through such a drastic change to the system.
"This is the first time where we link the model of the star to the model of the planet and see what it does," she said. "The devil is really in the details. The first stabs at it were great work because the idea got started, but it's a lot of work to do, and [Ramirez] actually hunkered down and did it.""
- See more at: http://www.space.com/32888-dying-stars-m...xRRje.dpuf
… whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. Phil 4:8 (ESV)