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Sun

The closest star to the Earth and the center of the solar system.

Resources

Facts and Figures June 10, 2010
A giant plume of hot gas explodes from the Sun's surface. Giant bubbles of hot g

Our Star, the Sun June 8, 2006

Featured Images

Powerful solar flare, September 6, 2017

Solar Storm September 6, 2017
Solar eclipse sequence

Anatomy of an Eclipse August 20, 2017
The Sun sets behind a NASA WB-57F Canberra research aircraft

Chasing a Shadow August 17, 2017
The Sun's corona shines around the intervening Moon during a total solar eclipse

Solar Mystery August 16, 2017
A 2015 solar flare

Scary Storm May 28, 2017
Betelgeuse, Aldebaran, and the Sun

Seeing Orange April 1, 2017

Major Storm March 23, 2017
ALMA view of a sunspot

Giant Storm January 19, 2017
View of a doomed comet approaching the Sun

Doomed Comet January 20, 2016
Space-based view of a powerful solar flare

Big Blast January 18, 2016
Comet ISON has disintegrated

Comet Fizzles? September 14, 2015
Artist's concept of Earth's distant future

Bright Future April 29, 2015
Image of a powerful solar flare on March 11, 2015

Solar Flare March 12, 2015
Artist's concept of Solar Max in orbit

Sun Watcher February 14, 2015
A brilliant aurora from the International Space Station

Fiery Sky January 21, 2015
Composite image of the Sun

Hot Sun December 24, 2014
Artist's concept of Solar Orbiter

Feeling the Heat July 4, 2014
Three solar flares in early June 2014

Solar Fireworks June 12, 2014

Peek-a-Boo January 31, 2014
One of the first images from IRIS, a new Sun-watching satellite

First Sunlight July 31, 2013
Images of solar telescopes around the world

Fanciful Eyes June 3, 2013
Artist's concept of the Sun's structure

Powerhouse December 17, 2012
A powerful solar flare erupts on March 6, 2012

Stormy Skies March 8, 2012
A January 23, 2012 solar flare

Restless Sun January 30, 2012
A comet plunges toward the Sun

Survivor: Comet December 16, 2011
A solar eruption on June 7, 2011

Big Splash June 7, 2011
The Sun as seen from space

Close to the Sun January 3, 2011
Eruption of gas from the surface of the Sun

Sun Power December 22, 2010

Loopy Sun April 23, 2010

Radio Programs

More Eclipse Science Chasing a shadow from the sky August 17, 2017

Eclipse Science Studying a solar mystery August 16, 2017

Storm Damage Risks from storms on the Sun June 23, 2017

Quiet Sun A long period of rest for the Sun June 22, 2017

Busy Sun Some busy years for the Sun June 21, 2017

Star War Solar storms and a military alert May 29, 2017

Quiet Sun Cosmic bombardment in tree rings April 5, 2017

Storm Impact Projecting damages from a big storm March 23, 2017

Making Elements II Making elements in the hearts of stars March 7, 2017

Loud Sun Listening in on the Sun February 27, 2017

More Cosmic Rays Shielded by the Sun November 29, 2016

Solar Risk Evaluating risks from the Sun November 21, 2016

Few Suns A lack of Sun-like stars in the night sky August 20, 2016

Sun Walk Walking the path of the Sun July 31, 2016

Nanoflares “Little” explosions from the Sun July 12, 2016

Moon and Aldebaran Big, fluffy, bright, and orange July 1, 2016

Herbert Friedman Watching the Sun with a “rockoon” June 21, 2016

More Hydrogen The most abundant element in the universe May 29, 2016

Zapped! Zapped by the Sun — twice January 18, 2016

Confirmation Particles from the heart of the Sun October 28, 2015

Moon and Aldebaran Igniting the core of a star July 10, 2015

Solar Nap The Sun takes a long nap April 29, 2015

Unpredictable Sun Predicting our unpredictable Sun April 28, 2015

Brighter Sun The Sun gets a lot brighter April 27, 2015

Solar Fusion The Sun shines on and on and on April 26, 2015

Spring Storm Making a mess of Easter Sunday March 23, 2015

Solar Max Taking a look at the busy Sun February 13, 2015

Feeling the Heat Looking at the Sun from near and far July 3, 2014

Beta Coma Berenices A star that’s a lot like our own April 25, 2014

Sunquakes Rumbling through the Sun June 8, 2013

At the Edge At the edge of the solar system June 7, 2013

Young-Sun Paradox II A weight-loss plan for the Sun June 6, 2013

Young-Sun Paradox Turning up the thermostat June 5, 2013

Changing Sun Our steadily changing Sun June 4, 2013

New Solar Telescopes New eyes on our neighborhood star June 3, 2013

Solar Telescopes Taking a close look at the Sun June 2, 2013

Solar Twins A star that looks familiar May 31, 2013

Skylab High-flying eyes on the Sun May 13, 2013

The Sun III Looking for the surface of the Sun December 18, 2012

The Sun II The long trip before the journey begins December 17, 2012

The Sun Powering up the Sun December 16, 2012

Unproductive Sun Outshining the Sun — sort of June 17, 2012

Solar Spotters Getting a better bead on the Sun June 5, 2012

Venus and Aldebaran The demise of a star and planet April 7, 2012

Looking Deep Looking for storms before they’re born February 12, 2012