red giant

A red giant is a large star that has used up its nuclear fuel and expanded significantly. As it exhausts hydrogen in its core, the star begins to burn helium and other elements, causing it to grow in size and lose its blue-white brightness. Instead, it glows with a cooler red color. Red giants are typically found late in a star's life cycle, eventually shedding their outer layers and leaving behind a dense core called a white dwarf. This process plays a crucial role in enriching the universe with heavier elements.