Tagged “The Sun”

3 articles

Solar and lunar eclipses: two shadows, not one phenomenon

A solar eclipse is the Moon's shadow sweeping across Earth; a lunar eclipse is the Moon entering Earth's shadow. That difference sets how wide the viewing zone is, how long it lasts, and whether eye protection is required.

3 min read1

Observing the Sky

Aurora: light made by Earth's own atmosphere

What arrives from the Sun is energy; the light itself comes from oxygen atoms and nitrogen molecules high in the atmosphere after electrons strike them — and the lifetime of each excited state is why each altitude has its own colour.

2 min read2

The Solar System

The Sun: the reactor that holds a system together

The Sun holds 99.86% of the Solar System's mass and fuses 600 million tonnes of hydrogen every second. All light, weather and life on Earth trace back to it.

3 min read5