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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

Radio Programs

Changing Sun A big change for the Sun September 14, 2019

Solar Twin A star that looks familiar August 26, 2019

Big Storm A big storm on the Sun June 17, 2019

Hot Ride A hot ride for a spacecraft April 3, 2019

Solar Minimum The Sun takes it easy April 2, 2019

Chara Looking into the Sun’s future March 25, 2019

The Dominator Dominating the solar system March 17, 2019

More G Stars A rare class of stars October 21, 2018

Solar Discovery Discovering a key part of the Sun August 17, 2018

Probing the Sun Soaring close to the Sun July 30, 2018

16 Cygni Two Sun-like stars in a single system July 3, 2018

Solar Twin A young “twin” of the Sun June 1, 2018

Cosmic Hazards If it’s not one thing, it’s another May 31, 2018

Dark Storms Dark storms on the surface of the Sun May 18, 2018

Life of the Sun Our constantly changing Sun December 9, 2017

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

Featured Images

Coronal mass ejection from the Sun

Nasty Outburst June 17, 2019
Solar storm, May 2019

Storm to Storm May 15, 2019
Sketches of the total solar eclipse of August 1868

Solar Discovery August 17, 2018
Artist's concept of Parker Solar Probe observing the Sun

Hot Destination July 30, 2018
Sunspots

Dark Storms May 18, 2018
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