When our solar system reaches the red giant stage, it will undergo significant changes. A red giant is a phase that occurs toward the end of a star's life, specifically for stars like our Sun. During this phase, the star expands and becomes larger and brighter.
In the case of our solar system, when the Sun becomes a red giant, it will expand to a size that encompasses the inner planets, including Earth. The outer atmosphere of the Sun will extend outward, likely engulfing Mercury, Venus, and possibly even Earth.
However, what happens next depends on the mass of the Sun and the specific details of its evolution. If the Sun's mass is not high enough, it will eventually shed its outer layers, forming a planetary nebula, while the core of the Sun will collapse and become a white dwarf. The white dwarf will gradually cool and fade away over an extremely long period.
If the Sun's mass is higher, it may undergo a more dramatic transformation. After shedding its outer layers, the core could continue collapsing under gravitational forces, leading to a supernova explosion. The remnants of the explosion may form a neutron star or even a black hole.
In either case, it's important to note that the fate of our solar system is highly speculative and subject to various factors. Scientific understanding of stellar evolution has limitations, and predicting precise outcomes for individual stars, including our Sun, can be challenging.