Back to Glossary

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"

Venus Just After Sunset

Venus Just After Sunset

20/10/2010

It Came from the Sun

It Came from the Sun

18/10/2010

Two Planet Opposition

Two Planet Opposition

08/10/2010

Pacman and Hartley

Pacman and Hartley

07/10/2010

Aurora Over Alaska

Aurora Over Alaska

06/10/2010

The Dancing Auroras of Saturn

The Dancing Auroras of Saturn

27/09/2010

Equinox and the Harvest Moon

Equinox and the Harvest Moon

24/09/2010

Equinox and the Iron Sun

Equinox and the Iron Sun

23/09/2010

Aurora Over Norway

Aurora Over Norway

20/09/2010

Opposite the Sun

Opposite the Sun

18/09/2010

Zodiacal Light Over Namibia

Zodiacal Light Over Namibia

13/09/2010

Star Streams and the Sunflower Galaxy

Star Streams and the Sunflower Galaxy

11/09/2010

The Bubble Nebula

The Bubble Nebula

02/09/2010

Earth and Moon from MESSENGER

Earth and Moon from MESSENGER

01/09/2010

The Local Fluff

The Local Fluff

29/08/2010

Hole in the Sun

Hole in the Sun

28/08/2010

Brighter Than Mars

Brighter Than Mars

27/08/2010

Meteors Over Quebec

Meteors Over Quebec

16/08/2010

Crepuscular Rays Over Lake Michigan

Crepuscular Rays Over Lake Michigan

11/08/2010

Rainbow at Sunset

Rainbow at Sunset

07/08/2010

The Not So Quiet Sun

The Not So Quiet Sun

06/08/2010

Eclipse Shadow Cone Over Patagonia

Eclipse Shadow Cone Over Patagonia

04/08/2010

Diamond Ring and Shadow Bands

Diamond Ring and Shadow Bands

24/07/2010

The Crown of the Sun

The Crown of the Sun

21/07/2010

Lightning Over Athens

Lightning Over Athens

20/07/2010

Easter Island Eclipse

Easter Island Eclipse

14/07/2010

Mosaic: Welcome to Planet Earth

Mosaic: Welcome to Planet Earth

13/07/2010

Ecliptic New Zealand

Ecliptic New Zealand

10/07/2010

Companion of a Young, Sun-like Star Confirmed

Companion of a Young, Sun-like Star Confirmed

04/07/2010

Above Aurora Australis

Above Aurora Australis

01/07/2010