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The Sun / Sol (Star)
 
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 Image: The Sun or Sol, our closest star. A solar flare can be seen erupting in the bottom-left of the picture. Credit: NASA/JSC/Skylab

 Symbol

 
 Common NameThe Sun 
 Other Names Sol
 Spectral Type G2V
 Apparent Magnitude-26.74 
Absolute Magnitude  4.83

 Mean distance from Earth

1 a.u. (about 93 millon miles or 8.3 light minutes)

 Sidereal Rotation Period

609.12 hours

 Mass

1989100 x 1024 kg

 Volume1412000 x 1012 km3
 Density 1.4g/cm3

 Diameter

1390000 km (just under 109 Earth diameters)
 
 

 
 
 
Observing the Sun
 

WARNING

 Never observe the Sun with binoculars or telescopes as permanent blindness will occur.

It isn't even safe to observe the Sun with the naked eye.

 
 
 
References
 
 Focus on Stars - Everyman's Guide to Astronomy by Julius D. W. Staal
 
 
Further Reading
 
 
 
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This page was last modified on Wednesday, April 21, 2010 10:22:47 PM