The Sun is a star located at the center of the solar system. It is the largest object in the solar system, and it is responsible for providing the heat and light that make life on Earth possible.
The Sun is classified as a G-type main-sequence star, which means that it is a medium-sized star that is similar in size and temperature to our own Sun. It is about 4.6 billion years old and is thought to have about 5 billion more years left in its life cycle.
The Sun is made up of hot, glowing gases, and it generates energy through a process called nuclear fusion. In this process, the Sun’s core is subjected to incredibly high temperatures and pressures, causing hydrogen atoms to fuse together and form helium. This process releases a huge amount of energy in the form of light and heat, which is radiated outward from the Sun’s surface.
Facts about the Sun
- The Sun is about 93 million miles (149.6 million kilometers) away from Earth.
- It is about 109 times larger in diameter than Earth and about 330,000 times more massive.
- The Sun is composed of about 70% hydrogen and 28% helium, with trace amounts of other elements.
- The temperature at the Sun’s core is about 27 million degrees Fahrenheit (15 million degrees Celsius).
- The Sun’s surface temperature is about 10,000 degrees Fahrenheit (5,500 degrees Celsius).
- The Sun rotates on its axis once every 27.3 days.
- The Sun is about 4.6 billion years old and is thought to have about 5 billion more years left in its life cycle.