Deathbed Star Gives Sneak Peek of Our Sun's Demise

[mickw]

A preview of what's in store for our sun is in view across the galaxy, as a similar star balloons in its dying throes.

This sun twin, called Chi Cygni, lies about 550 light-years away from Earth. As it nears the end of its life, it has bloated in size and begun to pulse in and out like a giant beating heart. These are the telltale signs of a star running out of fuel after billions of years shining bright.

New close-up photos of this star are offering a sneak peak at our own sun's demise. The sun is now 4.6 billion years old.

"This work opens a window onto the fate of our sun five billion years from now, when it will near the end of its life," said astronomer Sylvestre Lacour of the Observatoire de Paris.

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