Located at the centre of the Solar System is the Sun. it is a star, like the ones you see in the night sky. A burning ball of gas, made of mostly hydrogen and helium, it provides us with the heat we need to survive. The Sun is so massive that its gravity – the force that pulls things together – keeps the planets in orbit around it.
Our Star
Energy is constantly being generated deep within the Sun. it can take up to 100,000 years for energy to reach the surface, but then it only takes 8 minutes to reach the Earth!
Solar flare
Huge eruptions from the surface of the Sun are called solar prominences. They form loops because of the Sun’s invisible magnetic field.
Sunspot
Dark patches that appear on the surface of the Sun are called sunspots. They are cooler areas that usually last for a few weeks.
How big is the Sun?
The Sun is so ginormous that all of the planets of the Solar System could fit inside it hundreds of times over.
Auroras
As well as heat and light, the Sun blasts out special particles called solar wind. When these get trapped by Earth’s magnetic field near the poles they can create spectacular light shows, called auroras.
Picture Credit : Google