The Sun –Is our nearest star. It is 5 billion years old. –It will last another 5 billion years –Has the mass of more than Earths –So big that gravity forces everything together so tight that there are nuclear reactions and a great amount of heat. -Hydrogen atoms are squashed together to form helium (a nuclear fusion reaction).

Corona Chromosphere Core Sunspot Photosphere Solar Prominence Moving Gases Solar Flare The Sun

Interactions of Earth and Sun –Our distance from the sun is just right for light – it’s not too hot or too cold. –Solar wind – high energy particles – these are DEADLY!!!! –Earth is like a big magnet – the force around the EARTH is called the MAGNETOSPHERE –Both the magnetosphere and atmosphere protect us from the Sun’s Radiation –When solar winds react with nitrogen and oxygen at the Earth’s poles, we get the AURORA – the NORTHERN LIGHTS or SOUTHERN LIGHTS.

Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights)

Energy emitted by the Sun: Stars and other celestial objects emit energy consisting of electromagnetic waves that travel at the speed of light, known as electromagnetic radiation. Most of the Sun’s energy will be absorbed by the Earth’s atmosphere, but some will be reflected back into space. Interactions of Earth and Sun

Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights)

The Atmosphere Allows for LIFE –Our atmosphere traps heat from the Sun (otherwise it would be VERY cold!) –Ozone layer protects us from UV rays from the sun (otherwise we would all get sunburn!) atmosphere.php