A Comprehensive Guide to the Sun & Information Resources

The Sun is not just a bright ball in the sky, it is a star that gives heat which holds life on Earth. This massive star is located at the center of the solar system and is the closest star to earth. Because the sun is the the most accessible star due to its close distance to earth, it is also the most studied star in our universe. 

It has 98% of the mass in the solar system and if you were to measure its diameter it would be about 109 Earth's wide! It is estimated that the sun has had activity for 4.6 billion years and has the energy to maintain fuel for about another five billion years. There have been many advances in how we research the sun and the information we know today. Because the sun is vital to life on our planet, it is important to continue to study the sun and monitor it's life cycle. 

To learn more about the history of the sun, from conception to it's role in our universe today, look to the following resources to learn more about the sun.

History of the Sun

• History of the Sun: A detailed page explaining the origin and history of the sun.

• Solar History Timeline: A timeline of solar history beginning at the origin of the sun to the modern era of solar physics today.

• History of Solar Physics: A Time Line of Great Moments: A page detailing some major discoveries about the sun in history

• Great Moments in the History of Solar Physics: A timeline of discoveries throughout history in solar physics.

• The Sun: Astronomy Magazine explains how the sun was created.

• The Sun: Learn the history of the Sun and how it lives in the galaxy.

• Solar Folklore: Learn how ancient civilizations worshipped the sun.

Characteristics of the Sun

• The Sun: A list of FAQ's about the sun answered by an astronomer.

• About Our Sun: A great page with basic information and characteristics of the sun.

• Introduction to the Sun: Basic facts and figures on the sun including its age, makeup, mass and core structure.

• The Sun: Information on the Sun from birth to death.

• Sunlight, Sun Bright: Information on how the sun sustains life along with understanding sunrises, sunsets and sundials.

• The Sun & its Energy: A detailed look into the Sun and understanding its energy.

• Frequently Asked Questions About the Sun: Many questions about the sun including solar evolution, myths and history, solar physics careers and more.

Study of the Sun

• Why is the Sun Important to Life on Earth? - Learn the reasons of why the Sun is important to the Earth.

• Why We Study the Sun: A page from NASA detailing the reasons we study the sun.

• Sun for Kids: Another great page from NASA telling children why we study the sun.

• How Do We Study the Sun: A brief page on how the sun, solar flares, and coronal mass ejections are studied.

• A Day in the Life of a Solar Physicist: Louise Harra tells us about a typical day in solar physics.

• Biography of Solar Physicist Terry Kucera: A brief bio of a solar physicist from the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center.

• Cool Space Jobs -Solar Physicist: An interview with Dr. Mario Bisi about this job.

Dangers of the Sun

• The Hazards of Solar Energy: An interesting article that questions the safety of using solar energy in the future.

• Health Effects of UV overexposure: A guide from the EPA on the negative health effects resulting from getting too much sun.

• Skin Cancer - Information on skin cancer, including prevention, types of skin cancer, and prevention.

• What is ultraviolet radiation?- Information on the dangers of UV radiation effects our health.

• The UV Index: A great informational page on the UV index, ultraviolet rays and melanin. 

• The Effects of Sunlight: Understanding how sunlight causes sun burn, skin cancer, eye damage, photo aging, wrinkling and immune system suppresion.

• Guidelines for Protection: How to protect yourself from the sun

• The Dangers of Tanning: A great page with questions and answers on the dangers of tanning from the Skin Cancer Foundation.

Educational Materials

• Glossary: A glossary of solar terms used to find features of the solar atmosphere.

• Lesson Plans: Multiple lesson plans and activities based on solar science.

• Educator Resources: A page with resources on the sun for students of various age levels.

• All about the Sun: NASA quests, activities and lesson plans on the sun.

• Our Star the Sun: A listing of lesson plans on the sun.

• For Educators: Tons of great lesson plans about the sun.