Features and Characteristics of the Sun

Basic Facts about the Sun

The Sun is a star located at the centre of our solar system.
It is an almost perfect sphere with a diameter of approximately 1.4 million kilometres, which is about 110 times the diameter of the Earth.
The Sun’s gravity holds the solar system together, pulling planets and other objects in space into an orbit around it.
Its surface temperature is approximately 5,500 degrees Celsius.

The Sun’s Structure

The Sun has a core, radiative zone, convective zone, photosphere, chromosphere, and a corona.
The core is the Sun’s innermost section where heat and light are generated through nuclear fusion.
The radiative zone surrounds the core, where energy is primarily transferred in the form of radiation.
The convective zone is the outermost layer of the Sun’s interior where plasma rises and cools, then sinks back down gaining heat.
The photosphere is the visible surface of the Sun which we can see from Earth.
The chromosphere is a layer above the photosphere where the temperature rises again.
The corona is the Sun’s outer atmosphere, visible during a total solar eclipse.

The Sun’s Energy

The Sun’s energy is produced through nuclear fusion.
In the core, four hydrogen atoms combine to form one helium atom in a process called nuclear fusion.
The energy produced in the core then travels outward from the Sun’s core, through the radiative zone, and then through the convective zone before reaching the photosphere.

The Sun’s Effect on Earth

The Sun provides light and heat which are necessary for life on Earth.
It drives weather and climate on Earth.
Solar flares, which are sudden flashes of brightness near the sun’s surface, can disrupt radio communications on Earth.
The Sun creates the Auroras (Northern and Southern lights) through interaction of solar wind and Earth’s magnetic field.

The Sun’s Life Cycle

The Sun is currently in its main sequence stage, during which nuclear fusion in its core is stable.
It’s estimated to be about halfway through its 10-billion-year lifespan in the main sequence stage.
After this, it will expand into a red giant, then shed its outer layers and shrink into a white dwarf, then ultimately a black dwarf when it cools and no longer emits light.

By understanding the Sun’s characteristics, you can deeply understand its function within our solar system, its effect on Earth and insight into stars across the universe.