Interesting Facts about the Sun

Enjoy these fun Sun facts for kids as well as adults. Learn how hot the Sun is, how long it takes light from the Sun to reach Earth, what the Sun is made of and more.

1. The Sun is a star found at the center of the Solar System.
2. It makes up around 99.86% of the Solar System’s mass.
3. At around 1,392,000 kilometres (865,000 miles) wide, the Sun’s diameter is about 110 times wider than Earth’s.
4. Around 74% of the Sun’s mass is made up of hydrogen. Helium makes up around 24% while heavier elements such as oxygen, carbon, iron and neon make up the remaining percentage.
5. Light from the Sun reaches Earth in around 8 minutes.
6. The Sun’s surface temperature is around 5,500 degrees Celsius (9941 degrees Fahrenheit).
7. The Sun’s core (central region) is around 13,600,000 degrees Celsius.
8. The Sun generates huge amounts of energy by combining hydrogen atoms into helium. This process is called nuclear fusion.
9. The Sun produces a solar wind which contains charged particles such as electrons and protons. They escape the Sun’s intense gravity because of their high energy and speed. Planets with strong magnetic fields such as Earth manage to deflect most of these charged particles as they approach.
10. A solar eclipse occurs when the Moon is between the Sun and the Earth.