Sun Facts
Sun facts are interesting to note, because the sun is such an important part of our lives. The sun is a star and is also called as “yellow G2 dwarf”, which is quite close to the earth (just 93 million miles away, i.e. 150 million km) and is made of hot gases, containing around 70% hydrogen and nearly 28% helium by mass and the remaining made of metals that is less than 2%.
Perhaps one of the well know sun facts is the composition of the sun is similar to the earth and comprises hydrogen, helium, calcium, sodium, magnesium, and iron. The sun is about 4.5 billion years old and is extremely hot. The core of the Sun is at least 10 million degrees. Without the sun, life on earth is impossible. According to many myths the sun is regarded as the supreme power house of heat energy, which makes life possible on Earth.
From the inspiring sun facts, we learn that the Sun is a giant red hot spinning ball, formed by nuclear fusion reaction. It is responsible for photosynthesis in green plants, and is the main source of all fossil fuels and food. The interaction and connection between the earth and the sun drive the ocean currents, seasons and climate.
Layers: The outermost shell of the Sun is the photosphere, and the inner shell is the corona. In between the outer and the core lies the chromosphere.
Sun facts: The Sun has a diameter of 1.4 million km (870,000 miles), mass of 330,000 x Earth, density of 1.41 (water=1), distance to nearest star of 4.3 light years, solar wind speed of 3 million km/hour, luminosity of 390 billion megawatts, surface temperature of 5,500o C (9,932o F) and core temperature of 14 million o C (22.5 million o F). The rotation period of the sun at the equator is equal to 25 earth days, while the rotation period at poles is equal to 35 Earth days.
Yet another fact from the plethora of spectacular sun facts is the presence of sunspots on the surface of the sun. These sunspots are nothing but magnetic regions on the sun. The strength of these magnetic fields is at least a thousand times stronger than the earth’s magnetic field. These sunspots are found in groups, and are divided into two different sets.
Sunspots are actually just cool regions; they just look dark in comparison to the surrounding regions. However, they can be quite large, as much as 50,000 km in diameter. These sunspots are formed due to complex and unexplained interactions with the Sun's magnetic field.
Solar flares can sometimes leave the sun and zoom towards Earth. When high speed particles from the sun contact the earth's magnetic field it produces a lighting effect known as the aurora.
The sun's magnetic field is very strong (by terrestrial standards) and very complicated. Its magnetosphere (also known as the heliosphere) extends well beyond Pluto.
Fate of Sun: In the near future, the hydrogen in the sun will run out. Our star will burst and we may see a white dwarf.