Last modified on 9th August 2000.
Encyclopædia Galactica
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Giant Star
A member of a broad category of stars that have luminosities
between 10 and 1000 times that of the Sun, and radii typically
between 10 and 100 times the Sun's. A star becomes a giant
when the hydrogen fuel available for nuclear fusion reactions
in its core is depleted and the adjustment to the new energy
balance causes the outer layers to expand greatly. The surface
temperature drops, but the total luminosity rises because of
the great increase in surface area. (Mitton, 1993, Dictionary
of Astronomy, London: Penguin Books)
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Created by
Rami T. F. Rekola