The Sun - central body of our Solar System and essential for life on Earth. Of absolute importance for all of us - practically all energy originates from the Sun and almost all of the mass of the Solar System is concentrated in this star. But on the other hand it is just that - a rather ordinary G2 type star among many other stars in the universe. Heated by nuclear fusion processes hydrogen and helium slowly transform into heavier elements. The energy is transported from the core of the Sun - with a temperature of millions of degrees Kelvin - to the cooler surface of the Sun, were "only" a few thousand degrees can be detected. Sunspots mark even cooler regions. The Sun constantly ejects a stream of charged particles - mostly electrons and protons - into space, the so-called "solar wind". A mighty magnetic field stretches far beyond the orbit of Pluto and defines the edge of the Solar system. Some of these effects can even be seen unaugmented acting on cometary tails. Various space missions (e.g. Solar Orbiter, STEREO) explore the Sun, while light- and radio waves from the Sun are intensively observed with terrestrial facilities (e.g. at the Lustbühel Radio Station in Graz). Detailed theoretical studies try to uncover the secrets of this "Fountain of Life" - the Sun.

Further information on the Sun can be found here.