Our Amazing Sun
Fascinating facts about the star at the center of our solar system
Why the Sun Matters
The Sun is the ultimate source of energy for Earth's climate system and is essential for life as we know it. Without its heat and light, Earth would be a frozen, lifeless rock.
- ☀️Drives photosynthesis in plants
- 🌊Powers weather systems and ocean currents
- ⏳Provides the rhythm for our days and seasons
Solar Activity
The Sun is constantly changing, with an 11-year cycle of activity that affects space weather.
Sunspots
Cooler, dark regions caused by magnetic activity
Solar Flares
Sudden flashes of increased brightness
CMEs
Coronal mass ejections release huge plasma clouds
Solar Wind
Constant stream of charged particles
What is the Sun?
The Sun is a nearly perfect sphere of hot plasma at the center of our solar system. It's a G-type main-sequence star (G2V) that provides the energy necessary for life on Earth.
Temperature Extremes
The Sun's core reaches about 15 million °C (27 million °F), while the surface (photosphere) is about 5,500°C (9,932°F). The corona (outer atmosphere) can reach over 1 million °C!
Mass and Composition
The Sun contains 99.86% of the mass in our solar system. It's composed of about 74% hydrogen and 24% helium, with trace amounts of heavier elements.
Size and Distance
Diameter: 1.4 million km (109 Earths across). Distance from Earth: ~150 million km (1 astronomical unit). Light takes 8 minutes 20 seconds to reach us.
Age and Lifespan
The Sun is about 4.6 billion years old and has enough fuel for another 5 billion years before becoming a red giant.
Fun Solar Comparisons
Earths in Sun
1.3 million
Time to orbit galaxy
230 million yrs
Energy output
384 yottawatts