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© USGS Astrogeology Research Program

Radius: 695,000 km
Mass: 1.989x1030 kg
Surface Temp: 5,800 K
Core Temp: 15.6 million K
Satellites: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto.

The Sun is the star at the center of our solar system. It has nine planets in orbit around it: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, Pluto. There are various other objects called small bodies that reside in or visit our solar system, such as comets and asteroids. Beyond our solar system are countless stars, solar systems, nebulae, and other objects.

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The Sun is the source of ultraviolet (UV) radiation which can be so damaging to life on Earth. Fortunately, the ozone layer protects us and other life forms against the damaging affects of solar rays.

Changes in solar activity can influence naturally the amount of ozone in the stratosphere. Stratospheric ozone is primarily created by ultraviolet (UV) radiation coming from the Sun. The Sun's energy release does vary, especially over the 11-year sunspot cycle. During the active phase of the 11-year sunspot cycle, more ozone is produced in the ozone layer. This phenomenon can boost the average ozone concentration over the poles by about 4%, although the global increase is nearer 2%.

Unusual solar activity can cause the ozone levels in the upper stratosphere to be substantially depleted, but since most of the ozone is in the middle stratosphere, the effect on total stratospheric ozone is negligible.

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Sun: Handle-shaped Prominence

© NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory

Extreme Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope (EIT) image of a huge, handle-shaped prominence taken on Sept. 14, 1999 taken in the 304 angstrom wavelength - Prominences are huge clouds of relatively cool dense plasma suspended in the Sun's hot, thin corona. At times, they can erupt, escaping the Sun's atmosphere. Emission in this spectral line shows the upper chromosphere at a temperature of about 60,000 degrees K. Everyfeature in the image traces magnetic field structure. The hottest areasappear almost white, while the darker red areas indicate cooler temperatures.

More images:
 Sun: Color Composite Of Solar Features
 Sun: Handle-shaped Prominence
Related Terms
Astronomy
Ozone Layer
Planet
Plasma
Solar Maximum
Solar Wind
Stratosphere
Sunshine
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