Sun

The sun is the star at the center of our solar system.

Related Topics: Stars and Galaxies

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The diamond ring stage, marking the end of totality of the total solar eclipse of 2017 including the solar corona.

Total solar eclipse 2024: Live updates

By Daisy Dobrijevic, Brett Tingley published

Stay up-to-date with the latest news on the total solar eclipse on April 8, 2024.

A close up image of the sunspots

'Sunspot archipelago' 15 times wider than Earth could soon bombard us with solar storms

By Harry Baker published

The "archipelago" of dark patches is rapidly unleashing solar storms, and Earth may soon be in the firing line.

an image of the sun

This solar eruption was so powerful it warped the sun's magnetic field (video)

By Samantha Mathewson published

Satellites observed a coronal mass ejection on Wednesday (Nov. 15), capturing a bright burst of super-hot plasma that warped the sun's magnetic field.

An illustration of the sun with a dark sunspot. Above the dark sunspot, there are several pinkish trails flowing vertically outward.

'Peculiar' aurora-like radio signal from sunspot discovered for the 1st time

By Robert Lea published

A sunspot has put on a stunning display of radio waves lasting for over a week that resembles the northern and southern lights —  auroral displays that occur over Earth.

An image of the sun in space.

The sun may be smaller than we thought

By Stephanie Pappas published

New calculations suggest the sun is a few fractions of a percent smaller than previously estimated, and that could change how we study it.

the sun is bright and orange and yellow

See the sun's savage surface like never before in new timelapse video

By Miguel Claro published

The sun gets super-active in a new timelapse captured from a Portugal dark sky preserve by astrophotographer Miguel Claro.

An illustration shows India's Aditya-L1 spacecraft as it investigates the sun

India's Aditya-L1 sun probe spots 1st high-energy solar flare

By Rahul Rao published

India's newly launched Aditya-L1 sun-studying mission has already captured its first glimpse of a solar flare in high-energy X-rays.

gif animation showing a fiery filament erupting from the sun.

Watch a massive 'canyon of fire' explode from the sun (video)

By Daisy Dobrijevic last updated

On Oct. 31, the sun unleashed a powerful eruption, carving a vast 'canyon of fire' in the sun's southern hemisphere.

Solar flare erupting from the surface of the sun. This coronal mass ejection (CME) event occurred on 31st August 2012, and was recorded at wavelengths of 171 and 304 angstroms by NASA's Solar Dynamics Orbiter (SDO). The huge plume of solar material was thrown from the Sun at some 900 miles per second (1450 kilometres per second)

Solar maximum will arrive sooner and last longer than previously expected, say scientists

By Daisy Dobrijevic published

The sun will reach solar maximum in 2024, one year earlier than predicted. It will not only peak earlier but will also be stronger and last longer, scientists say.

Korean texts annotated with red lines

Strange anomaly in sun's solar cycle discovered in centuries-old texts from Korea

By Harry Baker published

Aurora records in royal chronicles from Korea show that during the 'Maunder Minimum' between 1645 and 1715, the sun's solar cycles became several years shorter than they are today.

An image of the sun next to a close-up of snake-like structures in our star's magnetic field

Snake-like magnetic fields on the sun bring scientists closer to solving a major solar mystery

By Robert Lea published

Magnetic snake-like energy patterns could bring scientists a step closer to solving a lingering solar mystery: how the outer atmosphere of the sun can be tremendously hotter than its lower layers.

a telescope sits beside a vast plain ringed by mountains as the sun rises overhead

Fire in the sky: Chasing the annular solar eclipse 2023 on the Extraterrestrial Highway

By Brett Tingley published

The deserts of Nevada provided the perfect setting for the annular solar eclipse on Oct. 14, 2023 in a region known for its love of strange sights in the sky.

the moon blocks the sun in a ring of fire solar eclipse

The annular solar eclipse of 2023 is underway! See the 1st 'ring of fire' photos and video

By Tariq Malik published

The first images of the moon passing between the sun and the Earth in a so-called "ring of fire" solar eclipse visible are coming in and the views are amazing.

The moon obscures most of the sun during an annular eclipse, leaving a "ring of fire" visible.

October's new moon brings us a 'ring of fire' solar eclipse

By Jesse Emspak published

October's new moon rises today (Oct. 14) and causes an annular or 'ring of fire' solar eclipse, which will delight skywatchers across the Americas.

a ring of orange light surrounds the dark sphere of the moon.

'Ring of fire' solar eclipse on Oct. 14 forecast: Will the weather cooperate?

By Joe Rao published

Almost all of North America will experience a dramatic event on Saturday (Oct. 14), when a partial eclipse of the sun will be visible — weather permitting, of course.

A composite view of an annular eclipse as seen from California on May 20, 2012.

The 5 main stages of October's annular solar eclipse explained

By Robert Lea published

An annular eclipse will sweep across the Americas on Saturday (Oct. 14), with the sun appearing as a blazing ring of fire. How will the major stages of the eclipse unfold?

a phone with an image of a solar eclipse on it

Follow the annular solar eclipse this week with SkySafari

By Brett Tingley published

Popular astronomy app SkySafari has added a special set of features for tracking and viewing this week's annular solar eclipse, available for iOS users.

golden orange ring of fire during an annular solar eclipse, with a partly cloudy sky behind.

'Ring of fire' eclipse Oct. 14 will be practice run for total solar eclipse next year

By Elizabeth Howell published

The world's biggest solar telescope will join the observing party.

wisps of bright white and grey-scale gas and embers whiz by against the black of space.

NASA's Parker Solar Probe flies through major coronal mass ejection — and survives to tell the tale

By Rahul Rao published

The sun-kissing spacecraft watched as dust particles were displaced across 6 million miles (9.7 million kilometers).

the moon blocks out the sun during a total solar eclipse.

NASA seeks citizen scientists to capture April 2024 total solar eclipse

By Sharmila Kuthunur published

NASA wants citizen scientists to capture the total solar eclipse in April 2024 to help researchers learn more about the sun.