The Sun is a star, just like those we see shining at night, but it’s closer to the Earth.

A star is a gigantic ball of very hot gas that produces a lot of energy. This energy leaves the surface in the form of light.

When the sun lights up one side of the Earth, the opposite side is completely dark. So the Sun decides if it’s day or night.

One year on Earth is the time it takes for the Earth to go right round the Sun.

So the Sun sets the tempo, but why is it so important for us?

The sun has been around for 4 ½ billion years and will last as long again.

It shines because it is 5,500° on its surface and in its core, 15 million degrees!

Even if it looks quite calm, the Sun gets really angry once every 11 years!

It gets dark spots all over or it spits out burning hot gas in eruptions.

These eruptions can last a few minutes or a few hours, and the Sun sends energy particles all over space.

When these particles hit the Earth’s atmosphere, they make Aurora Australis or Aurora Borealis near the north and south poles.

Sometimes, they can disrupt radio communications or electricity cables.

But without the heat and light of the sun’s rays, life could not have developed on Earth. Thank you Sun!