10 Amazing Facts About The Sun
Image: Pexels
20 November 2024
1. The Sun is primarily composed of hydrogen (about 74%) and helium (about 24%), with traces of heavier elements. Its core is where nuclear fusion converts hydrogen into helium, releasing immense energy
Image: Pexels
2. The Sun accounts for 99.86% of the total mass in our solar system. It could fit about 1.3 million Earths inside its volume
Image: X/@MAstronomers
3. Every second, the Sun produces enough energy to power the Earth for 500,000 years at current consumption rates
Image: Pexels
4. The Sun's core temperature is approximately 15 million degrees Celsius (27 million degrees Fahrenheit), while its surface temperature is around 5,500°C (9,932°F)
Image: X/@Rainmaker1973
5. The Sun is about 93 million miles (150 million kilometers) away from Earth, a distance defined as 1 Astronomical Unit (AU)
Image: Unsplash
6. The Sun is about 4.6 billion years old and is considered a middle-aged star. It has enough hydrogen to last for another 5 billion years before evolving into a red giant and eventually a white dwarf
Image: Unsplash
7. The Sun rotates faster at its equator (about 25 days) than at its poles (about 35 days), a phenomenon called differential rotation
Image: Pexels
8. The Sun continuously emits a stream of charged particles known as the solar wind. This wind interacts with Earth's magnetic field, creating phenomena like auroras
Image: Unsplash
9. Dark spots on the Sun, called sunspots, are cooler regions caused by magnetic activity. The Sun has an 11-year cycle of solar activity, including increases in sunspots and solar flares
Image: X/@esascience
10. Ancient civilisations used the Sun for timekeeping, creating sundials and calendars based on its position and movement
Image: Unsplash
Check More Stories
Image: X/@MAstronomers
ndtv.com