The Sun is the most prominent feature in our solar system. It is the
largest object and contains approximately 98% of the total
solar system mass. One hundred and nine Earths would be required to
fit across the Sun's disk, and its interior could hold over
1.3 million Earths. The Sun's outer visible layer is called the photosphere
and has a temperature of 6,000°C (11,000°F). This
layer has a mottled appearance due to the turbulent eruptions of energy
at the surface.
Solar energy is created deep within the core of the Sun. It is here
that the temperature (15,000,000° C; 27,000,000° F) and
pressure (340 billion times Earth's air pressure at sea level) is so
intense that nuclear reactions take place. This 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 chromosphere is above the photosphere. Solar energy passes through
this region on its way out from the center of the Sun.
Faculae and flares arise in the chromosphere. Faculae are bright luminous
hydrogen clouds which form above regions where
sunspots are about to form. Flares are bright filaments of hot gas
emerging from sunspot regions. Sunspots are dark
depressions on the photosphere with a typical temperature of 4,000°C
(7,000°F).
The corona is the outer part of the Sun's atmosphere. It is in this
region that prominences appears. Prominences are immense
clouds of glowing gas that erupt from the upper chromosphere. The outer
region of the corona stretches far into space and
consists of particles traveling slowly away from the Sun. The corona
can only be seen during total solar eclipses.
The Sun appears to have been active for 4.6 billion years and has enough
fuel to go on for another five billion years or so. At
the end of its life, the Sun will start to fuse helium into heavier
elements and begin to swell up, ultimately growing so large that it
will swallow the Earth. After a billion years as a red giant, it will
suddenly collapse into a white dwarf -- the final end product of
a star like ours. It may take a trillion years to cool off completely.