The Sun

The Sun
The Sun
Credit: JPL - NASA/SDO/AIA

The Sun is a star in the centre of our Solar System. It is the largest object and the only star in our Solar System. Earth, where you are, is orbiting the Sun from a distance of about 150 million kilometres.

The Sun is a hot spherical ball of glowing gas. Without the energy and heat from the Sun, life would not exist on Earth. Without the Sun we wouldn’t have daytime, or seasons.

The Sun is the only object in our Solar System that makes its own light. Everything else, like the Earth and our Moon, can be seen when it reflects light from the Sun. Remember the Sun’s light is very strong. Never look directly at the Sun, not even when wearing dark glasses. The light could damage your eyes.

You may have noticed that the Sun appears to move across the sky each day. Rising in the east and setting in the west. The Sun actually stays where it is in the centre of the Solar System. It is the Earth rotating on its axis that makes it look like the Sun is moving!

Explore this page to learn more about the Sun as a star.