The Sun

1
The Sun
2
The Suns Interior

• The Sun produces energy through nuclear fusion
  inside the Core
• This is caused through extreme heat and pressure
• The core of the Sun is about 15 million degrees
  Celsius

3
The Atmosphere

• Three main layers, (from inner to outer),
  photosphere, chromosphere, and corona.
• Photosphere
• Inner layer of the Suns atmosphere
• Makes light

4

• Chromosphere
• Middle layer of the Suns atmosphere that appears
  as a reddish ring
• Color produced here
• Corona
• Outer layer of the Suns atmosphere
• Looks like a white halo visible during eclipses
• Sends out electronically charged particles called
  the solar wind
• The Earth's atmosphere magnetosphere block most
  of these winds except near the poles where we see
  them as auroras

5
Features of the Sun

• The sun rotates on an axis
• The diameter of the sun (not including the
  chromosphere or the corona) is 1.4 million
  kilometers
• Features include sun spots, prominences, and
  solar flares

6
Sunspots

• Small dark areas on the surface
• Some sunspots are as large as Earth
• Sunspots are areas of gas that are cooler than
  the gases around them
• Hot gasses give off more light than cooler gasses
• The number of spots change about every 10 or 11
  years

7
Prominences

• Reddish loops of gas that link sun spot areas
• Usually occur in pairs or groups
• Can stick out over the edge of the Sun for
  hundreds of kilometers.

8
Solar Flares

• Explosions of gas out into space when loops
  connect sunspot areas
• Creates extreme heat
• Can increase the solar wind and the number of
  particles reaching Earth
• This can create magnetic storms in Earth's upper
  atmosphere disrupting radio, television,telephone,
  and electrical power.