How Long Do Red Giant Stars Last?

[robertrej]

I have been unable to find any data or formula's on how long red giant type stars last
other than a few million years!One would suppose that it is a function of its original mass
and chemical composition.


Any ideas?
Thanks.
Bob

 

[jedishrfu]

try this site:

http://www.atlasoftheuniverse.com/startype.html

 

[Chronos]

It is certainly mass dependent. Massive stars live hard and die young - often spectacularly. Their red giant phase may only last a few million years. A 98 pound weakling star like our sun can spend a billion or so years as a red giant before quietly retiring as a white dwarf and eventually become a cold, dark cinder, but, the universe is not nearly old enough to believe any such 'black dwarfs' yet exist.

 

[robertrej]

The website: http://www.atlasoftheuniverse.com/startype.html

was about what I was looking for and will find that info very useful.


Thanks very much
Bob