Quote:
Originally Posted by barx1963
And if there were any planets orbiting it they would mostly be absorbed by the star as it is in a red giant phase, unless they were very far out. If so the enormous amounts of radiation would have fried them by now anyways!
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I think what you will find would happen is that if the star expanded enough to engulf planets the increased drag on the planet would cause its orbit to decay and it would slowly 'fall' closer and closer to the center of the sun. Whether it would get close enough to be completely destroyed would depend on the type of planet (composition) and how close it got to the truey 'hot' spot. The extended gases on these enormous red giants aren't that hot, only a few thousand degrees. Sure they'd boil the oceans and every thing on it but to completely destroy a planet it would have to get close enough to the furnace. JMT