What is the correct lineage of a sun-like star after its main sequence phase?

The lineage of a sun-like star after its main sequence phase correctly follows the path of a red giant, which forms when the star exhausts the hydrogen in its core and begins to fuse helium and other heavier elements in its outer layers. This process leads to an expansion of the star, transforming it into a red giant.

As the star progresses through its life cycle, it will eventually shed its outer layers, resulting in the formation of a planetary nebula. The remaining core, which is composed primarily of carbon and oxygen, becomes a white dwarf. Over a significant period, the white dwarf will cool and dim, eventually becoming a black dwarf, though it is important to note that the universe is not old enough for any black dwarfs to exist yet.

This series of transformations accurately reflects the lifecycle of a sun-like star, distinguishing it from those of more massive stars, which can end in more energetic phenomena such as supernovae and neutron stars, or black holes.