How long does the planetary nebula phase last for Sun-like stars?
Answer
tens of thousands of years
The process of a star shedding its outer envelope to form a planetary nebula is extremely rapid when compared to the billions of years spent on the main sequence or the subsequent cooling timescale of the remnant. The planetary nebula phase itself is described as being remarkably brief in cosmic terms, lasting only for a period measured in tens of thousands of years. This short duration highlights the swiftness of the final structural reorganization that occurs just before the core settles into its final, degenerate form as a white dwarf.
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