1. The Sun

2. Solar Facts
Our Sun is a star, just like all the other stars in the night sky
The name of our star is “The Sun”, but also “Sol”
Latin for sun is “solis”, Greek for sun is “helios”
Holds the entire Solar System together by its immense gravity

3. Solar Facts
Size: 1.4 million km. 110x Earth’s diameter. 1 million Earths could fit inside the Sun.
Temperature: Surface = 5,000° C (9,932° F), Inside = 15,000,000° C (27,000,000° F)
Mass: 99.8% of entire Solar System’s mass, gravity = 28x Earth’s.
Rotation (spinning): 25 days for equator to rotate, 27 days for poles to rotate
Revolution: Sun revolves around center of our Milky Way galaxy.

4. Sun’s Interior Photosphere Chromosphere Core Corona Sunspots
Prominences & Solar Flares
Where is the . . .
Convective Zone?
Radiation Zone?

5. Sun’s Atmosphere Corona (“Crown”) Photosphere (photo = “light”)
Outer atmosphere, normally not visible (except during full solar eclipse)
extends into space for millions of kilometers
Photosphere (photo = “light”)
Middle atmosphere, is visible
Considered the surface layer of the sun
Chromosphere (chromo = “color”)
Inner atmosphere, has a reddish color
Sometimes partially visible during a solar eclipse

6. Sun’s Interior Convection Zone Radiation Zone Core
Outermost layer of interior
Gases move thru zone by convection currents (transfer of heat by fluid movement)
Radiation Zone
Middle layer of interior
Energy produced in core moves outward thru zone by radiation (transfer of heat by energy waves)
Core
Produces enormous amount of energy by nuclear fusion, fusing hydrogen atoms (H) into helium atoms (He) under intense pressure and heat

7. Solar Features Sunspots Prominences Solar Flares Solar Wind
Dark spots on the sun’s surface
Areas of gas that are cooler than surrounding gases
Prominences
Huge loops of gases linking sunspot regions
Solar Flares
Prominences sometimes connect, causing the sun’s surface gases to erupt far into space
Solar Wind
Charged particles streaming from the sun, increased during solar flares
Causes the planetary auroras, can interfere and damage electronic equipment