Sun

The Sun is the star at the centre of our solar system.

Here are some basic facts about the Sun:

  • Age: 4.6 Billion Years.
  • Star type: Yellow Dwarf (G2V).
  • Diameter: 1,392,684 km (109 x Earth).
  • Mass: 333,060 x Earth.
  • Surface temperature: 5500 °C.
  • Internal temperature: 15 million °C.
  • Composition: Hydrogen (72%), and helium (26%).
  • Energy generation: Thermo-nuclear fusion using hydrogen as fuel.
  • Energy production: Equal to 100 billion tons of dynamite per second.
  • Energy output: Electromagnetic radiation.
  • Electromagnetic radiation emitted by Sun = Solar energy or solar radiation.
  • Visible solar radiation = Sunlight.
  • Sunlight: Takes 8 minutes to reach Earth (150 million km).
  • Wavelengths between red and violet are visible to the human eye.