The Sun
Science: KS3, topic 3.6.1
Our Sun
The Sun is a star that is in our solar system. All the planets in our solar system orbit the Sun.
Size of the Sun
- The Sun is a star at the centre of our solar system.
- The Sun is the largest object in the solar system and so has the largest gravitational pull.
- The Sun contains about 99.8% of the total mass of the solar system.
- It would take about 1.3 million Earths to fill up the Sun.
Temperature of the Sun
- The visible edge of the Sun is over 5,500°C.
- The core of the Sun is over 15 million °C.
Age of the Sun
- The Sun is around 4.6 billion years old. This is about halfway through its life cycle.
Solar eclipse
- Light takes 8 minutes to reach the Earth from the Sun.
- A solar eclipse is when the Moon passes in between the Sun and the Earth.
- A partial solar eclipse is where some of the Sun is still visible as the Moon passes.
- A total solar eclipse is when the Moon completely covers the Sun.
- The Ancient Greeks recorded observations of solar eclipses.
Test yourself on The Sun
Which of the following are true of eclipses?
Which body has the largest gravitational pull in our Solar System?
Which of the following statements are true of the Sun?
The Moon moves so that it completely blocks the Sun from view for people in one place. What type of eclipse are they observing?