The Sun accounts for about 99.86% of the total mass of our solar system, with a mass approximately 330,000 times that of Earth.
The Sun's core reaches temperatures of around 15 million degrees Celsius (27 million degrees Fahrenheit), enabling nuclear fusion to power the Sun.
It takes about 8 minutes and 20 seconds for light from the Sun to reach Earth, traveling at a speed of 299,792 kilometers per second.
The Sun generates energy through nuclear fusion, where hydrogen atoms combine to form helium, releasing an enormous amount of energy in the process.
The Sun's atmosphere consists of the photosphere, chromosphere, and corona. The corona, visible during a solar eclipse, can reach temperatures of up to 2 million degrees Celsius
Sunspots are cooler areas on the Sun's surface, often associated with solar activity such as solar flares and coronal mass ejections, which can impact space weather
The Sun emits a stream of charged particles known as the solar wind, which travels through the solar system and influences planetary atmospheres and magnetic fields.
Currently in its main sequence phase, the Sun is about 4.6 billion years old and is expected to continue for another 5 billion years before transforming into a red giant.
The Sun's energy drives Earth's climate and weather systems, supporting photosynthesis in plants, which forms the base of the food chain.