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The Sun is the star at the center of our Solar System. The Earth, other planets, asteroids, meteoroids, comets and dust orbit the Sun.

The Sun's diameter is about 110 times that of the Earth.




Energy from the Sun, in the form of sunlight, supports almost all life on Earth via photosynthesis, and drives the Earth's climate and weather.

It takes eight and a half minutes for light to get from the sun to earth.

The sun is made up of hydrogen (92% of its volume), helium (7% of volume), and smaller quantities of other elements and works by converting hydrogen into helium.

The Sun's outer visible layer is called the photosphere and has a temperature of 6,000°C (11,000°F).

Deep within the core of the Sun, the temperature reaches 15,000,000° C (27,000,000° F) and pressure reaches 340 billion times Earth's air pressure at sea level.

The energy is so great that the Sun gives off 40,000 watts of light from every square inch of its surface.

Compare this to the 60 and 100 watt light bulbs we use in our homes!

As far as we know, the Sun has been giving off this light steadily for the last four and one half billion years, and will continue to do so for several billion years more.

Only a very very small amount of this energy reaches earth, the rest is lost in space.