The SunThe SunClosest Star to Closest Star to

EarthEarth

Characteristics of the SunCharacteristics of the Sun

SizeSize– The sun measures 1.4 million kilometers The sun measures 1.4 million kilometers

across. 110 times bigger than Earth’s across. 110 times bigger than Earth’s diameter!diameter!

Characteristics of the SunCharacteristics of the Sun AtmosphereAtmosphere

– The Sun’s atmosphere consists of 92.1% The Sun’s atmosphere consists of 92.1% hydrogen gas and 7.8% helium with hydrogen gas and 7.8% helium with traces of other elements.traces of other elements.

Characteristics of the SunCharacteristics of the Sun Layers of the Sun’s Layers of the Sun’s

AtmosphereAtmosphere– The CoreThe Core

Where nuclear fusion Where nuclear fusion (hydrogen squeezed (hydrogen squeezed together to make together to make helium) takes place. helium) takes place.

– PhotospherePhotosphere The layer that makes the The layer that makes the

light we see from Earthlight we see from Earth– ChromosphereChromosphere

Gives the sun its colorGives the sun its color– Corona (Crown)Corona (Crown)

The white halo that The white halo that surrounds the sunsurrounds the sun

Characteristics of the SunCharacteristics of the Sun Features on the Features on the

Sun’s SurfaceSun’s Surface– SunspotsSunspots

Darker, cooler areas Darker, cooler areas on the Sun’s surfaceon the Sun’s surface

– ProminencesProminences Reddish loops of gas Reddish loops of gas

that link sunspotsthat link sunspots

– Solar FlaresSolar Flares Prominences that Prominences that

collide and create an collide and create an explosion of explosion of hydrogen gashydrogen gas

Objects That Go Around the Objects That Go Around the SunSun

Satellites Satellites – The Sun has eight satellites called planets. These include The Sun has eight satellites called planets. These include

Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune.Neptune.

Other Objects that Orbit the SunOther Objects that Orbit the Sun– Asteroids Asteroids

Located Between Mars and JupiterLocated Between Mars and Jupiter– CometsComets

Chunks of ice and dust that orbit the Sun in elliptical (oval) Chunks of ice and dust that orbit the Sun in elliptical (oval) orbitsorbits

– Dwarf PlanetsDwarf Planets Small planets like Pluto and Charon. Small planets like Pluto and Charon.

Sun Fun FactsSun Fun Facts The sun makes up 99.8% of the The sun makes up 99.8% of the

entire solar system’s mass.entire solar system’s mass. The sun has no solid surface, its just The sun has no solid surface, its just

a big ball of glowing gas. a big ball of glowing gas.

Exploration of the SunExploration of the Sun Transition and Transition and

Regional Regional Coronial Coronial Explorer Explorer SatelliteSatellite– Gathers gamma Gathers gamma

ray and x-ray ray and x-ray images of the images of the sun that are sun that are unattainable unattainable from Earth. from Earth.

ResourcesResources http://vic.onenation.com.au/global-warming-01_files/07

0907sun.jpg

http://hypertextbook.com/facts/2004/AmyChan.shtml http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/

thumb/c/c2/Solar_sys.jpg/750px-Solar_sys.jpg thumb/c/c2/Solar_sys.jpg/750px-Solar_sys.jpg http://www.lockheedmartin.com/data/assets/4204.jpg http://www.lockheedmartin.com/data/assets/4204.jpg http://library.thinkquest.org/15215/Facts/index.html http://library.thinkquest.org/15215/Facts/index.html http://www.nasa.gov/worldbook/sun_worldbook.html http://www.nasa.gov/worldbook/sun_worldbook.html Padilla, Michael (2008). Padilla, Michael (2008). Focus on Physical Science.Focus on Physical Science.

Upper Saddle River, New Jersey : Prentice Hall. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey : Prentice Hall.