Ask the Chatbot Games & Quizzes History & Society Science & Tech Biographies Animals & Nature Geography & Travel Arts & Culture ProCon Money Videos
Sun
Table of Contents
References & Edit History Related Topics
Images, Videos & Interactives
Joshua Tree National Park solar system to scale Inland Sea photosphere of the Sun Planets of Our Solar System
How to watch a solar eclipse
Explore the physics behind nuclear fusion and the Sun
evolution of a Sun-like star internal rotation of the Sun
Observe a dopplergram showing the velocity of solar material in the photosphere captured by the Helioseismic and Magnetic Imager
For Students
imaging using ultraviolet light
Sun summary
Quizzes
View of the Andromeda Galaxy (Messier 31, M31).
Astronomy and Space Quiz
The orbits of the planets and other elements of the solar system, including asteroids, Kuiper belt, Oort cloud, comet
Space Odyssey
Ursa major constellation illustration art. (Big Dipper) stars, space, night sky)
Stars: Explosions in Space
1 July 2002: The Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) satellite reveals a massive solar eruption more than 30 times the Earth's diameter. The eruption formed when a loop of a magnetic field over the surface of the Sun trapped hot gas.
Brightest Star in the Solar System
Nicolaus Copernicus. Nicolas Copernicus (1473-1543) Polish astronomer. In 1543 he published, forward proof of a Heliocentric (sun centered) universe. Coloured stipple engraving published London 1802. De revolutionibus orbium coelestium libri vi.
All About Astronomy
Related Questions
Read Next
solar eclipse, sun, moon, astronomy, space
How Do You Tell the Difference Between Total, Annular, Solar, and Lunar Eclipses?
Solar system illustration. (Sun; planets)
A Model of the Cosmos
Solar Eclipse, Eclipse, Solar Flare, Outer Space, Astronomy
What Causes Lunar and Solar Eclipses?
Colorful winter sunset
What's the Difference Between a Solstice and an Equinox?
Solar system illustration. (planets; sun)
Why Are Planets Round?
Discover
NBA Lakers Celtics Finals Kevin Garnett shooting.
10 Great Sports Rivalries
Paul Revere. "The bloody massacre perpetrated in King Street Boston on March 5th 1770 by a party of the 29th Regt.," engraved by Paul Revere. Boston Massacre.
There’s a Riot Goin’ On: Riots in U.S. History (Part One)
Estimated battle casualties, Normandy invasion, World War II. WWII, D-Day
Estimated Battle Casualties During the Normandy Invasion and Campaign to Liberate Paris (June–August 1944)
Salem Witch Trials. Photogravure after the painting by Walter McEwen titled - The Witches - circa 1890s.
How Rye Bread May Have Caused the Salem Witch Trials
Demystified - Do Lemmings Really Commit Mass Suicide? illustration
Do Lemmings Really Commit Mass Suicide?
Close up of praying mantis walking on stone ground against a blurred background in Japan
6 Animals That Eat Their Mates
Time zone map with standard time zones and International Date Line
Why Are Some Time Zones 30 Minutes Off Instead of an Hour?

Sun: Related Content

verifiedCite
While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions.
Select Citation Style
Share
Share to social media
URL
https://www.britannica.com/facts/Sun

News •

Solar Orbiter sends back first live observations from the Sun's south pole • June 13, 2025, 8:15 AM ET (TechSpot)
European probe snaps first images of the sun's south pole • June 12, 2025, 5:03 AM ET (NBC)
ESA’s Solar Orbiter reveals the Sun’s poles for the first time • June 11, 2025, 8:16 AM ET (Astronomy Magazine)
Astronomers Discover Most Energetic Cosmic Explosions Ever Observed • June 5, 2025, 10:39 AM ET (Gizmodo)
Scientists Say They’ve Found a Dwarf Planet Very Far From the Sun • May 31, 2025, 10:44 AM ET (New York Times)

Photos and Videos

Joshua Tree National Park
solar system to scale
Inland Sea
photosphere of the Sun
evolution of a Sun-like star
internal rotation of the Sun
visible solar spectrum
chromosphere
active region of the Sun
full-disk multiwavelength extreme ultraviolet image of the Sun
How to watch a solar eclipse
Explore the physics behind nuclear fusion and the Sun
Observe a dopplergram showing the velocity of solar material in the photosphere captured by the Helioseismic and Magnetic Imager
Watch gas updrafts form convection cells on the Sun's surface before dissolving or exploding
Inspect X-ray imaging of the Sun's veil of plasma known as the solar corona, sunspots, and gaps in the corona
See All Videos, Images and Interactives →

Related Topics and References

Topics
Dig Deeper: More Articles That Discuss This Topic

Related Quizzes and Features

Quiz
View of the Andromeda Galaxy (Messier 31, M31).
Astronomy and Space Quiz
Ursa major constellation illustration art. (Big Dipper) stars, space, night sky)
Stars: Explosions in Space
Nicolaus Copernicus. Nicolas Copernicus (1473-1543) Polish astronomer. In 1543 he published, forward proof of a Heliocentric (sun centered) universe. Coloured stipple engraving published London 1802. De revolutionibus orbium coelestium libri vi.
All About Astronomy
1 July 2002: The Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) satellite reveals a massive solar eruption more than 30 times the Earth's diameter. The eruption formed when a loop of a magnetic field over the surface of the Sun trapped hot gas.
Brightest Star in the Solar System
Nicolaus Copernicus. Nicolas Copernicus (1473-1543) Polish astronomer. In 1543 he published, forward proof of a Heliocentric (sun centered) universe. Coloured stipple engraving published London 1802. De revolutionibus orbium coelestium libri vi.
All About Astronomy
View of the Andromeda Galaxy (Messier 31, M31).
Astronomy and Space Quiz
The orbits of the planets and other elements of the solar system, including asteroids, Kuiper belt, Oort cloud, comet
Space Odyssey
Encyclopaedia Britannica thistle graphic to be used with a Mendel/Consumer quiz in place of a photograph.
36 Questions from Britannica’s Most Popular Science Quizzes
Encyclopaedia Britannica thistle graphic to be used with a Mendel/Consumer quiz in place of a photograph.
27 True-or-False Questions from Britannica’s Most Difficult Science Quizzes
The orbits of the planets and other elements of the solar system, including asteroids, Kuiper belt, Oort cloud, comet
Space Odyssey
List
1 July 2002: The Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) satellite reveals a massive solar eruption more than 30 times the Earth's diameter. The eruption formed when a loop of a magnetic field over the surface of the Sun trapped hot gas.
6 Questions About the Sun Answered
Demystified
Solar system illustration. (planets; sun)
Why Are Planets Round?
Colorful winter sunset
What's the Difference Between a Solstice and an Equinox?
Colorful winter sunset
What's the Difference Between a Solstice and an Equinox?
solar eclipse, sun, moon, astronomy, space
How Do You Tell the Difference Between Total, Annular, Solar, and Lunar Eclipses?