Stars which have entered the red giant phase are notorious for rapid mass loss.
Our traditional culture began in the time when the sun was still in the 'young giant' phase, long before the planets were formed.
The star, which is estimated to be at least nine billion years old, has passed the red giant phase.
White dwarfs are mostly dying stars that have already gone through their red giant phase.
Both planets may have accreted additional mass when the primary star lost material during its red giant phase.
As of 2006, this brown dwarf is the smallest object known to survive being engulfed by a red giant phase.
Instead it will enter a red giant phase.
The bad news about the red giant phase is that the enlarged sun will be big enough to engulf planet earth.
This is late in the life of a star in its giant phase.
The star then follows an evolutionary path that parallels the original red giant phase, but at a higher surface temperature.