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Our
Sun is our
closest star to our Earth.
It is at least 4.5 billion years
old. Without the Sun, the Earth would not be able to support life.
How does the Sun work?
The Sun stays lit by
converting hydrogen into helium like a big atomic furnace.
As a result, tremendous amount of energy
is released.
Scientists can only be study the sun from spacecraft above our
atmosphere because the Earth's atmosphere absorbs X-rays and
solar
X-rays. Such spacecraft include SOHO
(
ESA's Solar and Heliospheric Observatory) and Ulysses.
Why
is it important?
The Sun is important because it provides the Earth heat, it creates our
daylight by emiting electromagnetic radiation, it allows plants to grow via
photosynthesis which in turn absorb carbon dioxide and create oxygen. It is one
of the prime ingredidents for most Earth life-forms.
There are exeptions such as an lifeforms which have been found near ultra-hot
underwater volcanic vents.
Facts
about Our Sun
* The Sun's temperature: 10,000 degrees Fahrenheit at the
surface and 27,000,000 degrees Fahrenheit at the center.
* Distance from Earth: 149
million Kms
* The Sun's composition: 70% hydrogen, 28% helium, 1.5% carbon,
nitrogen, and oxygen, and 0.5% all other elements.
* Size: 870,000 miles in
diameter, 109 times larger than the Earth's.
* Average Distance from the
Earth: 93,000,000 miles. It takes light 8 and 1/2 minutes
to travel from the Sun to the Earth.
Sun's
Composition:
The Sun is consists of six parts:
1. The Core is the centre. This is where hydrogen is converted
into helium.
2. The Radiation Zone is above the core.
3. The Convection Zone is the outer part of the Sun's interior.
4. The photosphere is above the convection zone
and is the part
of the Sun that we see.
5. The chromosphere is above
the photosphere. During
solar eclipses it can be seen when the much brighter photosphere is blocked out
by the Moon.
6. The Corona is the outermost layer of the Sun.
It is the hottest part of
the surface of the Sun. It extends millions of kilometers into space and is a million
times fainter than the photosphere. It has temperatures reaching millions of
degrees. The corona can be seen only during solar eclipses
because it is millions of times fainter than
the photosphere. Specially designed scientific instruments called
coronagraphs can also observe it.
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Did you know?
- The Sun is big enough to hold over 1 million Earths.
Many rituals and monuments
are devoted to worshipping
the Sun and/or marking important times in the Earth's orbit
around the Sun.
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Warning! Do not look at the Sun directly
or you may damage your eyes. This includes telescopes, certain cameras and
binoculars.
Our Sun Links:
References:
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