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Fate of the outer planets as the Sun enters red giant phase



 
 
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Old October 8th 08, 09:00 AM posted to sci.astro.research
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Default Fate of the outer planets as the Sun enters red giant phase

On a number of documentaries (such as NG's "Naked Science" series)
and
in text books it discusses in some detail the fate of the inner
planets (Mercury, Venus, Earth and Mars) as the Sun enters the final
stages of its existence and swells into a red giant. What i'd like to
know is what will happen to the outer planets (Jupiter, Saturn,
Uranus, Neptune and Pluto), I know they'll start to migrate outward
as
the Sun sheds mass and weakens its gravity well (I believe it
swelling
up to a red giant will have some effect as this will effect the
distribution of its remaining mass). Will the massive increase in
solar luminosity and solar wind start stripping off the gas giants
atmospheres (which should be exponential as the further mass is lost
the weaker their gravity and hence the grip on the gaseous envelopes
plus the effects of increased surface to area ratio allowing any
remaining heat of formation to escape and further swell their
atmospheres).
 




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Fate of the outer planets as the Sun enters red giant phase [email protected] Astronomy Misc 123 October 25th 08 12:28 AM


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