How long does the transient existence of a red supergiant phase typically last relative to its main sequence lifetime?
Answer
Only a few million years.
The red supergiant stage represents a very brief, late chapter in the life of a massive star when compared to the long, stable period spent on the main sequence fusing hydrogen in the core. This advanced phase, characterized by intense shell burning and massive size, is highly energetic but structurally unstable over vast timescales. Consequently, the entire duration a star remains in this expanded, red state is generally short, often lasting only a few million years before further evolutionary changes occur.
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