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

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Expanding red giant stars swallow close-orbiting planets. In our solar system, the sun will engulf Mercury and Venus, and perhaps Earth as well.

Red giant stars: Facts, definition & the future of the sun

By Nola Taylor Tillman published

A red giant star is a dying star in the last stages of stellar evolution. Our own sun will turn into a red giant, expand and engulf the inner planets — possibly even Earth.

NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory spotted a solar flare on Jan. 20, 2022.

NASA catches sun sending powerful flare into space

By Elizabeth Howell published

Our sun just had a medium-sized energy burp.

The average distance between the Earth and the sun is an astronomical unit.

How far is Earth from the sun?

By Tim Sharp, Doris Elin Urrutia published

Earth's distance from the sun does not stay the same throughout the year.

How hot is the sun? The temperature of the sun varies considerably between each layer.

How hot is the sun?

By Daisy Dobrijevic published

Reference The sun's temperature varies from around 27 million degrees Fahrenheit (15 million degrees Celsius) in the core to about 10,000 degrees F (5,500 degrees C) at the surface.

This false-colored image, captured by the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array, shows rings around a young star named HD163296 (not the sun).

The sun used to have rings like Saturn

By Yasemin Saplakoglu published

Before Earth and the other planets in our solar system existed, the sun may have been surrounded by giant rings of dust similar to Saturn's, according to a new study.

NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory spotted a solar flare on Jan. 20, 2022.

The top space stories of the week!

By Doris Elin Urrutia published

NASA's Mars helicopter faces its first weather delay and the sun releases a mid-level flare. These are some of the top stories this week from Space.com.

One of the first images taken by the ESA/NASA Solar Orbiter during its first close pass at the sun in 2020.

When will the sun die?

By JoAnna Wendel published

Are you worried about the sun suddenly blinking out? Never fear — our star still has billions of years left to shine.

The northern lights shimmered in the night sky over Tromsø, Norway, on Jan. 9, 2014, after a coronal mass ejection arrived in near-Earth space, following a two-day journey from the sun.

Northern lights (aurora borealis): What they are & how to see them

By Stefanie Waldek published

REFERENCE Learn all about the northern lights, including the science behind their colors, the display's ancient history and how to see the phenomenon.

These nine images show coronal streamers on the sun, bright structures in the sun's corona normally seen only in solar eclipses, as spotted by NASA's Parker Solar Probe as it flew through the sun's outer atmosphere.

Watch 'coronal streamers' streak off the sun in close-up video from Parker Solar Probe

By Elizabeth Howell published

A new video of solar streamers evokes the streaking stars seen during spacecraft hyperdrives in "Star Wars."

The sun is currently a middle-aged star.

When will the sun explode?

By John Arnst published

The sun is in its main sequence, but how do scientists know when our nearest star will begin to call it quits?

An artist's depiction of NASA's Parker Solar Probe at work observing the sun.

NASA's Parker Solar Probe has touched the sun in daring mission milestone

By Elizabeth Howell published

In the superheated corona, the spacecraft was "flying into the eye of a storm," NASA says

Aurora Over Abisko National Park in Sweden

Where to see the northern lights: 2022 aurora borealis guide

By Mike Wall, Elizabeth Howell, Tereza Pultarova published

Where should you go to get the best look at the dancing, dazzling display known as the aurora borealis?

NOAA's Deep Space Climate Observatory spotted the Dec. 4 total solar eclipse from space. (Image credit: NOAA)

See the total solar eclipse of 2021 from nearly 1 million miles away in this stunning photo

By Elizabeth Howell published

The only total solar eclipse of 2021 was one few could see and this new photo from a spacecraft nearly 1 million miles from Earth shows why.

The moon passes in front of the sun in the only total solar eclipse of 2021 in this still from a video captured by Theo Boris and Christian Lockwood of the JM Pasachoff Antarctic Expedition from their observing point in Union Glacier, Antarctica on Dec. 4, 2021.

Watch the entire total solar eclipse of 2021 in just 1 minute! (time-lapse video)

By Elizabeth Howell published

A new video (available on YouTube in 4K) offers a stunning view of the 2021 solar eclipse that occurred on Saturday (Dec. 4).

The moment of totality of the total solar eclipse of 2021 from the deck of the Le Commandant Charcot in the sea near the coast of Antarctica on Dec. 4, 2021. The sky was clouded out, but did darken noticeably.

Here's what the only total solar eclipse of 2021 was like from a cruise ship near Antarctica

By Joe Rao published

Clouds blocked the view of the only total solar eclipse for 2021 for 200 passengers on an Antarctic exploration cruise ship Dec. 4.

This handout picture released by Imagen Chile shows Chilean and US scientists looking at a solar eclipse from the Union Glacier in Antarctica on December 4, 2021.

The only total solar eclipse of 2021 in pictures: Amazing photos from Antarctica

By Tariq Malik published

The only total solar eclipse of 2021 was only visible across a remote stretch of Antarctica. See photos of what scientists saw.

This handout picture released by Imagen Chile shows Chilean and US scientists looking at a solar eclipse from the Union Glacier in Antarctica on December 4, 2021.

The only total solar eclipse of 2021 creates dazzling sight over Antarctica

By Elizabeth Howell published

The only total solar eclipse of 2021 took place under especially isolated circumstances today, sweeping over sparsely populated Antarctica in a dazzling sight.

An image of the total solar eclipse of Aug. 21, 2017.

What time is the total solar eclipse on Dec. 4?

By Elizabeth Howell published

The big problem might not be time zone, but accessibility of the prime Antarctic site.

The total solar eclipse of Dec. 14, 2020 as seen from Piedra del Aquila, Argentina.

The only total solar eclipse of 2021 will cross Antarctica early Saturday. Here are its stages explained.

By Joe Rao published

Early Saturday morning, a total solar eclipse will darken skies at the bottom of the world.

A total solar eclipse is seen on Monday, August 21, 2017 above Madras, Oregon. Another total solar eclipse will be visible across North America on April 8, 2024.

Total solar eclipse 2021: When, where and how to see it on Dec. 4

By Elizabeth Howell published

Antarctica will see nearly two minutes of totality at most, with surrounding regions getting a partial view.