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lIllIIIllIlIIlIlIIllIllIIl
Stranger

Registered: 12/16/04
Posts: 11,123
Loc: Texas
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Solar radiation
#7414226 - 09/15/07 07:11 PM (16 years, 4 months ago) |
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As far as I know the general trend of the sun is to produce less and less energy as it burns its fuel. There may be some ups and downs but the general trend is the sun is growing dimmer over time.
We know that Mars at one point had liquid water... and now it doesn't. Could it be that the reason for this is simply a reduction of solar energy?
This also means the Earth will gradually become colder and colder, right? If that is the case then won't Venus at some point have an earth-like climate? Only there is no water on Venus...
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MrKite1
Cosmo

Registered: 03/02/04
Posts: 1,384
Loc: AK
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I thought that one of the main factors theorized to have caused the loss of Mar's atmosphere and subsequent cooling was the decay of its magnetic field. Without a magnetic "shield" Mars was bombarded by solar radiation that we are protected from. The solar wind is thought to have literally blown away Mar's atmosphere.
-------------------- When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro.
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Seuss
Error: divide byzero



Registered: 04/27/01
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> As far as I know the general trend of the sun is to produce less and less energy as it burns its fuel.
Stars have interesting dynamics. There is a constant struggle between the forces of gravity trying to hold the star together and the forces of fusion trying to blow the star apart. As the star ages, it loses mass (all that energy that it has been giving off), and the gravitational forces start to weaken. Depending upon the size of the star, various fates are in store for it. In our case, the Sun will expand as it's gravity weakens, and eventually swallow the inner planets, including Earth. By the time the Sun starts to cool down, the Earth will no longer exist.
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Seuss
Error: divide byzero



Registered: 04/27/01
Posts: 23,480
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Re: Solar radiation [Re: Seuss]
#7414302 - 09/15/07 07:42 PM (16 years, 4 months ago) |
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Also, it is a mistake to think the sun will produce less energy as it burns up its fuel. When the hydrogen runs out, gravitational forces will over take fusion forces and the sun will begin to collapse. The helium that has been unable to burn will undergo tremendous pressure and start to fuse in place of the hydrogen, turning into carbon. Carbon and helium will also be able to fuse into oxygen. For a while at least, the Sun will get quite a bit hotter before it ultimately burns out.
-------------------- Just another spore in the wind.
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supra
computerEnthusiast
Registered: 10/26/03
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Re: Solar radiation [Re: Seuss]
#7414465 - 09/15/07 08:27 PM (16 years, 4 months ago) |
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so what, is that like red giant --> supernova --> little bits of leftover carbon matter?
peace
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DieCommie


Registered: 12/11/03
Posts: 29,258
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Re: Solar radiation [Re: supra]
#7414483 - 09/15/07 08:34 PM (16 years, 4 months ago) |
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I dont think our sun is massive enough to supernova
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ToTheSummit
peregrinus



Registered: 08/22/99
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Re: Solar radiation [Re: DieCommie]
#7414982 - 09/15/07 11:21 PM (16 years, 4 months ago) |
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Quote:
DieCommie said: I dont think our sun is massive enough to supernova
Nope. Most likely swell into a red giant and then fizzle into a white dwarf. Our sun is pretty mundane as far as stars go.
-------------------- You invented the wheel....You push the motherfucker!!
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