In any science fiction story I've read (or science fiction movie or TV show that I've seen) that talks about death of the Sun. I've always heard references to Earth's sun "going nova". I've read about this even in Asimov's stories. In most cases, they're talking about a supernova. But here's the thing. The Sun is not going to blow up. Even if the writers were talking about an actual nova, they're still wrong. Here's why:
Our Sun is a yellow dwarf star (more precisely known as a G-type main-sequence star), and doesn't have enough mass to undergo a supernova explosion (type IIa). You need a star that's at least nine times the Sun's mass for a supernova explosion. If we're simply looking at a nova (type Ia), then the Sun doesn't have a companion to draw matter from when it turns into a white dwarf. So no matter which way you look at it, the Sun is not going to blow up. It's just going to be really, big and red and will eat the Earth. Unless the Earth moves outward due to the Sun losing mass. Finally the Sun with eject its outer layers and turn into a white dwarf. See? No blowing up. I don't know why some science fiction authors still talk about the Sun "going nova". Maybe it's because it sounds more dramatic.
If anyone has read a science fiction story (or seen a science fiction movie or TV show) that talked about the death of the Sun/Earth and did so realistically, then let me know.
Science fiction is called fiction for a reason.
@Nick
I knew someone was going to say that haha. But I think it’s more than that. There’s a lot of “Hard Science Fiction” which makes the same mistake. But here’s the thing. It’s like turning the Sun “blue”. There’s only so much fiction you can take. I mean… ray guns are one thing… no one can assume that’s real. But a lot of people actually think the Sun will blow up when it dies.
@vivin
I know what you mean, I’m just giving you a hard time :p
wait so we are all going to die