The Sun
The Sun is the closest
star to
Earth and is the center of our
solar system. A giant, spinning ball of very hot gas, the Sun is fueled
by
nuclear fusion reactions. The light from the Sun heats our planet and makes
life possible. The Sun is also an
active star that
displays
sunspots,
solar flares, erupting
prominences, and
coronal mass ejections. These phenomena, which are all related to the Sun's
magnetic field, impact our
near-Earth space environment and determine our "
space weather". In about
five billion years, the Sun will evolve into a Red Giant,
and eventually, a
White Dwarf star. Many cultures have had interesting
myths about the Sun, in recognition of its importance to life on Earth.