1. The Sun

2. Aton, Apollo, Helios, and Sol “life giving gods”

3. Fusion! Hydrogen into helium Ball of gas Enormous mass

4. 109 Earth’s lined up to span the Sun’s surface! *Med sized Med- hot Mid life

5. Sun’s Layers Core- 7% of volume – 15 mill degrees! “Engine room” of the Sun *Photosphere- visible surface Hot, thin layer 250 miles thick Cooled to 11,000 degrees

7. Sun’s Layers Chromosphere - “color ball” Only visible during a solar eclipse *Corona - suns outer atmosphere Only visible during a solar eclipse 2 mill degrees X-rays Jagged white halo

8. Chromosphere

9. Corona

11. Features of the Sun

12. Sunspots Dark spots on the sun; cool blotches 3,600 degrees First recorded in 800 B.C. in China Size of the EARTH ! Appear in groups of two or more

14. Sunspots 11 year cycle Rotate around the sun

15. Solar Flares Violent explosions of light, gases, radiation and other materials Can release enough energy to sustain the world for 100,000 years! Short lived; come and go

17. Prominences Fiery arches of ionized gases Last for weeks/months Supported/twisted by magnetic fields near sunspots

19. Effect on the Earth Flare gamma rays, X rays, and UV rays can reach the Earth in 8 min Particles take hours/days Our magnetic field and atmosphere protect us

20. Auroras Often occur 2 days after solar flare activity

21. Solar flare activity can affect compasses Surges in phone lines and blackouts!

22. In 1979 US Skylab was destroyed upon entry back into the atmosphere

23. Solar Wind Closely monitored Average wind speed of 1 mill miles per second! Stream of electrically charged particles continually flowing from the sun Faster, thinner, and hotter than any wind on Earth!

24. Tend to occur during high solar flare and sunspot activity Originates from holes in the corona

25. Future of the Sun The sun is growing hotter and brighter as H is consumed

26. 5 billion years from now The Sun will turn into a Red giant

27. And then consume mercury

28. The sun… Will pulsate Will throw off layers The hot core will remain and then eventually cool off and slowly…fade…away…