Welcome to the fifth bit of a six-part-long series on all things space! Each month, a new article featuring a fascinating aspect of space will be uploaded. From asteroids to comets to stars – anything and everything will be included! Read carefully, for when the series comes to an end, there will be a SuperTrivia to test your knowledge on space. Happy Reading!
It’s hard to ignore the sun’s presence, with it blazing down on us every single day. But have you ever wondered what exactly is the sun made up of? And what gives it its characteristic heat?
The sun is made up of plasma, which contains hydrogen and helium gases. In the core of the sun, a process known as nuclear fusion takes place, which converts hydrogen to helium. This nuclear fusion releases heat, and the temperature at the sun’s core is 15 million Celsius. That is precisely what is required in order for the heat to reach the earth’s surface, and allow life to continue.
Just like the earth, the sun also has a magnetic field around it, which is typically twice as strong as the earth’s. However, in some areas, it can be 3000 times as great. These differences in the magnetic field are because the sun rotates more rapidly at the equator than at higher altitudes. Such distortions in the magnetic field can also cause eruptions such as flares, which can be quite violent.
The sun is huge – 109 times the size of the earth, but it is still not the largest star in the universe. For a second, close your eyes and ponder what that means. There are massive celestial bodies in the universe, larger than you and I can ever imagine. Now, think how great Allah (s.w.t.) must be, to not just be their Creator, but have them under His command as well. How powerless us human beings are compared to Him! The sun, more than anything, is proof that we rely on Allah for everything, and only He deserves to be worshipped and praised.
By: Hamna Salman
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