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The Sun

The Sun is a yellow dwarf star (G2V), about 4.6 billion years old, and the dominant gravitational force in the Solar System. It has a diameter of roughly 1.4 million kilometers and contains around 99.8% of the Solar System’s mass. Nuclear fusion in its core converts hydrogen into helium, producing energy that warms the planets. Above the core lie the radiative and convective zones, followed by the visible photosphere (~5,500 °C), the chromosphere, and the much hotter corona (~2 million °C).

Source: science.nasa.gov

APODs including "The Sun"

Eclipsed Moon in the Morning

Eclipsed Moon in the Morning

24/12/2011

Through a Sun Tunnel

Through a Sun Tunnel

22/12/2011

Comet Lovejoy: Sungrazing Survivor

Comet Lovejoy: Sungrazing Survivor

17/12/2011

Red Moon Rising

Red Moon Rising

16/12/2011

Sh2-239: Celestial Impasto

Sh2-239: Celestial Impasto

08/12/2011

Kepler 22b: An Almost Earth Orbiting an Almost Sun

Kepler 22b: An Almost Earth Orbiting an Almost Sun

07/12/2011

A Memorable Aurora Over Norway

A Memorable Aurora Over Norway

05/12/2011

Solar Eclipse over Antarctica

Solar Eclipse over Antarctica

02/12/2011

Young Moon Meets Evening Star

Young Moon Meets Evening Star

01/12/2011

Across the Center of Centaurus A

Across the Center of Centaurus A

29/11/2011

Shuttle Plume Shadow Points to the Moon

Shuttle Plume Shadow Points to the Moon

27/11/2011

A Glimpse of CLIMSO

A Glimpse of CLIMSO

25/11/2011

Caught in the Afterglow

Caught in the Afterglow

24/11/2011

W5: Pillars of Star Formation

W5: Pillars of Star Formation

20/11/2011

Orange Sun Scintillating

Orange Sun Scintillating

15/11/2011

Waterfall, Moonbow, and Aurora from Iceland

Waterfall, Moonbow, and Aurora from Iceland

14/11/2011

Sunspot Castle

Sunspot Castle

12/11/2011

Orange Sun Oozing

Orange Sun Oozing
Video

06/11/2011

Jupiter Near Opposition

Jupiter Near Opposition

22/10/2011

Tails of Comet Garradd

Tails of Comet Garradd

20/10/2011

A Picturesque Venus Transit

A Picturesque Venus Transit

16/10/2011

Saturn: Shadows of a Seasonal Sundial

Saturn: Shadows of a Seasonal Sundial

12/10/2011

A Strange Sunrise Over Argentina

A Strange Sunrise Over Argentina

10/10/2011

Comet and CME on the Sun

Comet and CME on the Sun
Video

05/10/2011

Asteroids Near Earth

Asteroids Near Earth

01/10/2011

Violent Sunspot Group AR 1302 Unleashes a Flare

Violent Sunspot Group AR 1302 Unleashes a Flare

28/09/2011

Dry Ice Pits on Mars

Dry Ice Pits on Mars

26/09/2011

A Large Tsunami Shock Wave on the Sun

A Large Tsunami Shock Wave on the Sun

25/09/2011

September's Aurora

September's Aurora

23/09/2011

A Sharp View of the Sun

A Sharp View of the Sun

18/09/2011