We live in a solar system whose heart is the Sun, whose gravity keeps every planet and particle in orbit around it. There are billions of yellow dwarf stars in the Milky Way galaxy.
The Sun is a star. Every single dot of light in the night sky is another sun just like ours. We are not unique; we’re part of an infinite universe with billions upon billions of stars.
Our seasons are controlled by the Sun. It regulates the growth of food. It regulates our sleep and wake cycles. This is our solar system’s biggest object.
Its massive size attracts a lot of attention. It controls the stars, moons, and planets. The Earth would spin out of control without the Sun’s gravity.
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Sun Facts for Kids
- The Sun is 4.5 billion years old
- It began as a dust and gas cloud
- It grew a gigantic center and heated up
- It contains hydrogen and helium.
- The Sun’s surface temperature is 10,000°F.
- It’s much hotter under the surface
- Sunspots are the darker parts.
- The Sun is the closest star to Earth
How did the Sun Form?
4.5 billion years ago, the solar nebula, a gigantic revolving cloud of gas and dust, created our Sun and the Solar System.
The solar nebula compressed, spun faster, and flattened into a disk.
The Sun, which comprises 99.8% of the mass of the Solar System, was formed by pulling material from the sides.
The Sun, like all stars, will eventually run out of energy and swell, engulfing Mercury, Venus, and possibly Earth.
Scientists predict the Sun is halfway through its existence and will be a white dwarf star in 5 billion years.
Solar Flares
Flares from the Sun shoot enormous amounts of highly heated gas into space.
Solar flares can shoot protons with positive electric charge at high speeds at Earth, causing solar storms.
Solar flares are also capable of causing auroras.
Magnetic Fields
The solar system’s magnetic field is generated by the Sun.
The Sun generates solar winds, which are charged particles. They are produced when the magnetic field of the Sun reaches space.
Speed of Light
There is no speed greater than that of light. Without anything to slow it down, light travels 186,282 miles per second! Light slows down through air or water, but it still travels pretty fast.
FAQ
What is the Sun?
The Sun is a star, the only star we are able to see during the daytime.
What are the dots of light?
Every one of the stars in the night sky is a star, just like our Sun.
What is the Sun?
Essentially, it is a sphere of hot plasma.
What is the Sun’s role on Earth?
It provides the most energy to life on Earth.
How does the Sun rotate?
Normally the Sun rotates once every 25 days, but at its poles, it rotates once every 35 days.
What is the size of our Sun?
It has a radius of 432,168 miles and a diameter of 1.39 million kilometers.
Where is the Sun?
Earth is located 93 million miles / 150 million kilometers away from the Sun.
What is the Solar System?
Everything found in the Solar System is located in the Milky Way galaxy.
How often does the Sun spin?
The Sun rotates once every 25 days at the equator, while it rotates once every 35 days at the poles.
What is the Sun made of?
It is believed that the Sun is made up of 91% hydrogen and 8.9% helium.
What is the Sun?
A star is essentially a ball of gas, and this holds true for the Sun as well.
What is the Sun’s surface?
Approximately 10,000 degrees Fahrenheit / 5,500 degrees Celsius is the surface of the Sun.
What is photosphere radiation?
Around eight minutes after leaving the Sun, radiation from the photosphere reaches Earth as sunlight.
