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ORBONIX · SOLAR SYSTEM
SUN
The star at the center of our Solar System.
Its gravity controls the motion of every planet,
asteroid and comet around it.
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IMAGE: NASA / SDO
1,392,700 km
DIAMETER
4.6 BY
AGE
5,778 K
PHOTOSPHERE TEMPERATURE
1.989 × 10³⁰ kg
MASS
25–35 DAYS
ROTATION PERIOD
G2 V
STELLAR TYPE
WHAT IS THE SUN?
The Sun is a G-type main-sequence star
located at the center of our Solar System.
It contains about 99.8% of the total mass
of the Solar System.
Deep inside its core, hydrogen nuclei
undergo nuclear fusion and form helium.
This process releases enormous amounts
of energy.
That energy eventually reaches Earth
as light and other electromagnetic radiation,
providing the energy that supports life
and drives Earth's climate.
The Sun is also a highly active star.
Its magnetic field constantly changes,
producing sunspots, solar flares and
coronal mass ejections.
CORE
RADIATIVE ZONE
CONVECTIVE ZONE
PHOTOSPHERE
CORONA
DID YOU KNOW?
Sunlight takes approximately 8 minutes 20 seconds
to travel from the Sun to Earth.
HOW THE SUN POWERS THE SOLAR SYSTEM
The Sun produces energy through nuclear fusion in its core, where hydrogen nuclei combine to form helium. Energy moves outward through the radiative and convective zones before escaping from the visible photosphere and eventually reaching planets throughout the Solar System.
The Sun also drives space weather. Changes in solar activity can produce energetic particles and disturbances in the solar wind that interact with planetary magnetic fields and atmospheres.
SUN IMAGE:
NASA / SOLAR DYNAMICS OBSERVATORY
IMAGE VIA WIKIMEDIA COMMONS
IMAGE VIA WIKIMEDIA COMMONS