Miras and the Ultimate Fate of the Earth (Abstract)

Volume 29 number 1 (2001)

Lee Anne Willson

Department of Physics and Astronomy Iowa State University Ames, IA 50011

Abstract

(Abstract only) What do AAVSO's favorite stars have to do with the ultimate fate of Earth? We have been learning about the most extreme conditions that the planets will encounter as the Sun ages. In about 7 Gyr, when the Sun is a Mira, the Earth will most likely be in serious trouble. Some results of recent calculations are presented showing what is most likely to occur, and giving a couple of possible (but unlikely) "outs."