G-type Main-sequence Star
Sun
Our star is a massive ball of plasma generating energy through nuclear fusion. The Sun contains 99.86% of all mass in the Solar System and has sustained life on Earth for 4.6 billion years.
Overview
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Atmosphere composition
Hydrogen
73%
Helium
25%
Oxygen
0.77%
Carbon
0.29%
Other
0.94%
Notable features
- Corona - outer atmosphere reaching millions °C
- Sunspots - cooler magnetic regions on the surface
- Solar flares and coronal mass ejections
- Heliosphere - bubble of solar wind extending past Neptune
Space missions
| Mission | Year | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| SOHO | 1995-present | ESA/NASA joint solar observatory |
| SDO | 2010-present | Solar Dynamics Observatory, high-res imaging |
| Parker Solar Probe | 2018-present | Closest-ever approach to the Sun |
| Solar Orbiter | 2020-present | Out-of-ecliptic solar observation |
NASA images
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Images courtesy of NASA Image & Video Library.