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.
| 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 |
Images courtesy of NASA Image & Video Library. All images are public domain.
Images courtesy of NASA Image & Video Library. All images are public domain.