The Sun
The Sun
Star
The Sun facts
- Type
- Star
- Diameter
- 1,391,400 km
- Mass
- 1.99 × 10³⁰ kg
- Moons
- 0
- Axial tilt
- 7.25°
- Mean temperature
- 5,504 °C
- Discovered
- Known to the ancients
The planets' orbits
About The Sun
The Sun is the star at the centre of the Solar System, a nearly perfect sphere of hot plasma that holds about 99.86% of the system's mass. Its light and gravity govern every orbit in this orrery. Nuclear fusion in its core converts hydrogen to helium, releasing the energy that reaches Earth as sunlight.
- Named after Sol, the Roman personification of the Sun
- Discovered: Known to the ancients
The Sun: frequently asked questions
- What is The Sun?
- The Sun is a star in our Solar System. The Sun is the star at the centre of the Solar System, a nearly perfect sphere of hot plasma that holds about 99.86% of the system's mass.
- How big is The Sun?
- The Sun has a diameter of about 1,391,400 km and a mass of roughly 1.99 × 10³⁰ kg.
See The Sun in motion
Data from NASA/JPL and NSSDCA. Source.