How long does the Bright Giant stage typically last compared to main-sequence life?
Answer
A few million years, which is short compared to main-sequence lifetime
Stellar evolution dictates that the bright giant phase is a relatively brief, transitional period in a star's later life. While a star can spend billions of years steadily fusing hydrogen while on the main sequence, the subsequent stages involving core contraction and shell burning proceed much more rapidly. Consequently, the time a star spends as a bright giant is typically very short, often lasting only a few million years. This short duration is why astronomers observe fewer bright giants than they do main-sequence stars of comparable mass; they simply do not remain in that state for extended periods.
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