Sun

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

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A total solar eclipse creates streams of light with a fantastic range of brightness, presenting challenges when photographing the event.

Scientists may finally know why the sun's outer atmosphere is so freakishly hot

By Charles Q. Choi published

Our host star's corona is hotter than its 'surface.' It's unclear as to why.

Disproportionate illustrations showing the sun, moon and Earth.

How does Earth's relationship with the sun affect our planet's climate?

By Paul Sutter published

According to the science, Earth should actually be experiencing a cooling period right now.

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

What is India's Aditya-L1 sun mission?

By Robert Lea published

Reference As it orbits the Earth studying the sun, the Aditya-L1 mission operated by the Indian Space Research Organisation will attempt to solve some of the most pressing solar mysteries.

A composite image of the sun consisting of the view of the sun's atmosphere as observed by the Solar Orbiter's EUI instrument and an image of the sun's disk taken by NASA's STEREO spacecraft.

See the sun's atmosphere like never before thanks to a simple Solar Orbiter camera hack (video)

By Tereza Pultarova published

The European Solar Orbiter spacecraft has peered into yet unexplored parts of the sun's atmosphere thanks to a simple hack to its main camera.

a red and white indian rocket launches into a grayish-blue sky.

India launches Aditya-L1 solar observatory, its 1st-ever sun probe

By Mike Wall published

India launched its first dedicated solar probe early Saturday morning (Sept. 2), sending the Aditya-L1 spacecraft skyward to tackle some big sun mysteries.

A white and red rocket rolls out to its launch pad from a green hangar

You can watch India's Aditya-L1 solar probe launch live on Sept. 2. Here's what it will do.

By Robert Lea published

India is setting its sights on the sun after its successful moon landing. The Aditya-L1 spacecraft will investigate the mysteries of our star following its launch on Sept. 2.

Mars with the sun in the distance SAVE

Sun launches surprise blob of plasma at Mars, could trigger eerie Martian auroras

By Harry Baker published

The sun has launched a surprise coronal mass ejection directly at Mars, which could spark auroras on the Red Planet and potentially erode part of Mars' remaining atmosphere when it hits on Sept. 1.

a spacecraft wrapped in gold foil sits in a large warehouse-like room with light yellow walls.

India to launch Aditya-L1, its 1st solar probe, on Sept. 2

By Mike Wall published

India plans to launch Aditya-L1, its first-ever dedicated solar probe, early on Saturday morning (Sept. 2).

A close up of the sun in 2012 shows an extreme coronal hole

Solar Orbiter observes rapid, tiny jets on sun that may be the solar wind's power source

By Robert Lea published

The Solar Orbiter has spotted tiny short-lived "picojets" for the first time. In just one minute, these tiny jets emit enough energy to power 10,000 households for a year.

a dark spot can be seen on a pale yellow sun

Perseverance Mars rover spies big sunspot rotating toward Earth (photos)

By Mike Wall published

NASA's Perseverance Mars rover has captured photos of a big sunspot, which should rotate into view for those of us on Earth in the coming days.

Progression of blue planet become hazier as clouds dissipate

Neptune's clouds have vanished, and the sun may be to blame (video)

By Monisha Ravisetti published

Thanks to the sun's 11-year-long cycle, Neptune might be systematically purged of its clouds.

a spacecraft covered in gold foil sits in a large warehouse-like building with yellow walls.

India prepping to launch 1st sun-studying spacecraft next month

By Sharmila Kuthunur published

India is gearing up for its first-ever mission to study the sun, Aditya-L1, which is expected to launch in early September.

The raging fire of the sun is seen in great detail. Solar flares erupt from its surface and around its edges.

The sun rages with solar flares in epic time-lapse footage (video)

By Miguel Claro published

Astrophotographer Miguel Claro captured a stunning time-lapse video of solar flares dancing across the sun from the Dark Sky Alqueva site in Portugal.

An illustration shows NASA's STEREO-A probe making a close approach to Earth after 17 years.

After 17 years away, NASA's sun-studying spacecraft will visit Earth on Aug. 12

By Robert Lea published

The STEREO-A spacecraft will pass between Earth and the sun this weekend, getting the chance to team up with other NASA missions.

An artist's depiction of NASA's Parker Solar Probe flying past Venus.

NASA's Parker Solar Probe to make closest flyby of Venus on Aug. 21

By Monisha Ravisetti published

Thanks to some precise maneuvering on Aug. 3, NASA says Parker is on-track to make its sixth and closest flyby of Venus on Aug. 21.

An image of the sun.

Sun blasts out highest-energy radiation ever recorded, raising questions for solar physics

By Monisha Ravisetti published

Using a 24/7 observatory that can detect when charged particles interact with water, scientists identified record-breaking rays coming from the sun.

graphic illustration showing the sun and earth in space, sun on the left, earth on the right and a small moon in the middle.

Could Earth ever become a rogue planet?

By Paul Sutter published

Earth has held a stable orbit for over 4 billion years but what would happen if we changed Earth's orbit so to avoid the sun's violent demise?

a white tower surrounded by a ring of objects in a desert mountain landscape

China begins trial operations with world's largest solar telescope array

By Andrew Jones published

The world's largest array of sun-monitoring radio telescopes has begun trial operations in southwest China.

Magnetic structures on the sun's surface featuring fast oscillating magnetic waves that might explain the mysterious heating of the solar corona.

Scientists may have just cracked the sun's greatest mystery

By Tereza Pultarova published

Scientists may have just found what makes the sun's outer atmosphere, the corona, so inexplicably hot.

illustration of a spacecraft studying purplish auroras over the planet mercury, with the blackness of space in the background

Auroras across the solar system are powered in the same way, Mercury results suggest

By Charles Q. Choi published

The way in which the radiant displays of colors in the sky known as auroras form on Earth may be how these lights arise throughout the solar system, according to new findings from Mercury.