The Sun

The Sun is a medium sized star, but one million earths could fit in it. It may look like the Sun is burning but it's really exploding like a giant bomb. The Sun is exploding because hydrogen atoms are being split apart and being put together again as helium atoms. This is called nuclear fusion.

This fusion takes place in the Sun's core which is 27 million degrees Fahrenheit. Next the heat goes to the radiative zone which surrounds the core. Then the heat travels to the convective zone which is like a conveyor belt. Last but not least is the photosphere, which churns gasses.

Not only heat comes from the photosphere,but also tiny particles called the solar wind. When the solar wind hits the earth, it creates an aurora borealis or northern lights. They are seen in Russia, North Pole, Alaska, and Canada.

The solar wind may not be harmful to humans but solar rays can be. Ultraviolet rays can cause major or minor damage to your skin. To protect yourself against these harmful rays, wear sunblock. 15 SPF and up will do.

The Sun is a very interesting star to study. It is about 4.6 billion years old, which is middle aged for a star. The Sun will be around for a long time, much longer than we will.



Works Cited

Dowswell, Paul. The Usborne First Encyclopedia of Space (First Encyclopedia). New York: Usborne, 2001. Print.

Tachell, Peter. Science Encyclopedia (Usborne Internet-Linked Discovery Program). New York: Usborne, 2003. Print.

Walker, Richard. The Kingfisher First Human Body Encyclopedia (Kingfisher First Reference). New York: Kingfisher, 1999. Print.