Basic Information about the sun Since the birth of mankind, the Earth has been lit by the vibrant light of our closest star, The Sun. The sun, which is roughly 1 au from the earth, is a giant ball of burning gases, without much solid. The Sun was "born" approximately 5 billion years ago, as it began it's formation in a huge cloud of gases. As the materials condensed, high temperatures and great pressures built up at the center. These conditions set off a nuclear reaction that still releases energy and causes this star to continuously shine. This nuclear reaction, known as nuclear fusion, produces 386 billion megawatts of energy per second. This solar energy is created deep within the core of the Sun. It is here that the temperature (15,000,000ð C; 27,000,000ð F) and pressure (340 billion times Earth's air pressure at sea level) is so intense that these nuclear reactions take place.
Artist's rendition of Earth's magnetosphere.
Simulation of the interaction between Earth's magn...
PlasmasphereThis reaction causes four protons or hydrogen nuclei to fuse together to form one alpha particle or helium nucleus. The alpha particle is about .7 percent less massive than the four protons. The difference in mass is expelled as energy and is carried to the surface of the Sun, through a process known as convection, where it is released as light and heat. Energy generated in the Sun's core takes a million years to reach its surface. Every second 700 million tons of hydrogen are converted into helium ashes. In the process 5 million tons of pure energy is released; therefore, as time goes on the Sun is becoming lighter.
The atmosphere The atmosphere of the sun is also referred to as the corona of the sun. The corona begins about 2,500 km above the surface and stretches out beyond the orbit of the earth. The...