What phase precedes the atmospheric shedding for a Sun-like star?
Answer
Becoming a Red Giant
Stars with low or intermediate mass, similar to our Sun, undergo a predictable life cycle after core hydrogen is exhausted. Once helium fusion begins and eventually ceases, the inert core, now rich in carbon and oxygen, contracts and heats up. This heating causes the outer layers of the star to expand tremendously, often reaching hundreds of times their original size, transforming the star into what is known as a Red Giant. This expansion is a crucial intermediate step before the star cools sufficiently to eject its outer material. Following this massive expansion and cooling, the star sheds these bloated outer layers to form a planetary nebula, leaving behind the hot, dense core.
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