images

Collision between sun and white dwarf

by

Don Dixon/Novapix

Reference

a-exo99-30015

Date

2007-03-19

Artist's impression of the final minutes of our sun's life as a white dwarf approaches it. As tidal forces stretch the sun into a pear-shape, the delicate balance between gravity and radiation pressure fails, and the sun ruptures. The energy released as the two stars merge would vaporize the earth.