The Sun
The Sun is not a unique feature in the universe. It is a common middle-sized yellow star. In fact there are trillions of other stars in the universe just like it. It was created around 5 billion years ago. Though in our Solar System the Sun is the largest celestial body, it takes up 98% of the solar systems mass! It has a massive diameter of 1.4 million kilometres. The Sun is so large that its interior could hold up to 1.3 million Earths.
The Sun is made up of (mass wise) 75% hydrogen and 25% helium. Every second, 700 million tonnes of hydrogen is converted into 700 million tonnes of helium. During this process 5 million tonnes of pure energy is released. This means over time the Sun will gradually become lighter. The Sun is neither a solid nor a gas, it is plasma. On the surface of the Sun this plasma is gaseous, though the deeper down, the denser the plasma gets. The Sun is so hot that it is impossible for anyone to visit it. Its average surface temperature is 6 000 degrees Celsius.
The Sun is split into six different parts: the core, the radiative zone, the convective zone, photosphere, chromosphere, and the outermost layer, the corona. Light and heat produced in the Sun originates from the core. The core’s temperature is 15 million degrees Celsius. For radiation to reach the radiative zone from the core takes several hundred years. The Corona is the outer layer of the Sun’s atmosphere. It is only possible to see the Corona during a total solar eclipse.
The Sun is made up of (mass wise) 75% hydrogen and 25% helium. Every second, 700 million tonnes of hydrogen is converted into 700 million tonnes of helium. During this process 5 million tonnes of pure energy is released. This means over time the Sun will gradually become lighter. The Sun is neither a solid nor a gas, it is plasma. On the surface of the Sun this plasma is gaseous, though the deeper down, the denser the plasma gets. The Sun is so hot that it is impossible for anyone to visit it. Its average surface temperature is 6 000 degrees Celsius.
The Sun is split into six different parts: the core, the radiative zone, the convective zone, photosphere, chromosphere, and the outermost layer, the corona. Light and heat produced in the Sun originates from the core. The core’s temperature is 15 million degrees Celsius. For radiation to reach the radiative zone from the core takes several hundred years. The Corona is the outer layer of the Sun’s atmosphere. It is only possible to see the Corona during a total solar eclipse.
Other Features of The Sun
Sun Spots
Suns Spots are areas on the Sun that are cooler than others. However, Sun spots are still very hot. Sun spots appear slightly darker than the rest of the surface of the Sun, because they are cooler. Sun Spots are made from what is known as magnetic activity. Areas that appear to have sunspots on them have the strongest magnetic activity. It is not possible to look at Sun spots with your eyes (as you would damage them), so scientists and astronomers have to use specially designed telescopes for them to be able to see Sun spots. At times, there are very few sun spots, whereas at other times there are many. Sun Spots increase in intensity and then decrease over a period of 11 years. This 11 year cycle is known as the Saros Cycle. Sun spots usually occur in pairs or in a cluster. Very rarely are they seen on their own. Sun spots can grow to be very large, so large that they can even much bigger than the Earth!
Suns Spots are areas on the Sun that are cooler than others. However, Sun spots are still very hot. Sun spots appear slightly darker than the rest of the surface of the Sun, because they are cooler. Sun Spots are made from what is known as magnetic activity. Areas that appear to have sunspots on them have the strongest magnetic activity. It is not possible to look at Sun spots with your eyes (as you would damage them), so scientists and astronomers have to use specially designed telescopes for them to be able to see Sun spots. At times, there are very few sun spots, whereas at other times there are many. Sun Spots increase in intensity and then decrease over a period of 11 years. This 11 year cycle is known as the Saros Cycle. Sun spots usually occur in pairs or in a cluster. Very rarely are they seen on their own. Sun spots can grow to be very large, so large that they can even much bigger than the Earth!
Sun Flares
When the Sun is in high solar activity it releases immense amounts of gas and plasma into its atmosphere. These ejections are known as solar flares. A lot of solar flares contain impressive power. On occasion, these more powerful flares can even cause satellites orbiting the Earth to malfunction. Sun flares also interact with Earth’s magnetic field, which then create lights known as the Northern and Southern lights. In the northern hemisphere, these lights are commonly known as the Aurora Borealis, and in the Southern hemisphere they are known as Aurora Australis.
When the Sun is in high solar activity it releases immense amounts of gas and plasma into its atmosphere. These ejections are known as solar flares. A lot of solar flares contain impressive power. On occasion, these more powerful flares can even cause satellites orbiting the Earth to malfunction. Sun flares also interact with Earth’s magnetic field, which then create lights known as the Northern and Southern lights. In the northern hemisphere, these lights are commonly known as the Aurora Borealis, and in the Southern hemisphere they are known as Aurora Australis.
Total Solar Eclipses
A total solar eclipse occurs when the moon moves in front of the Sun. Despite the Sun being much larger than the moon, the moon covers the Sun, blocking it to be able to be visible in many parts on Earth. The moon is able to cover the Sun because the moon is much closer than the Sun from the Earth, therefore when looking from Earth they look roughly the same size. Due to the Sun being covered, a shadow is cast over earth, causing it to become very dark for a short amount of time. In the final moments before totality the Sun will shine through the valleys of the moon, displaying a spectacular site of 'Bailey's Beads'. When being looked at, 'The Bailey's Beads' are reduced to a single point and it makes the sun look a bit like a large diamond ring. On 14th of November, 2012, a total solar eclipse took place in the southern hemisphere. The town/city that received the ultimate experience of the eclipse was Carins in Queensland, Australia. I was lucky enough to experience this phenomenal event.