GCKids

SUN
SURFACE TEMPERATURE: 6400 degrees K
LENGTH OF ONE ROTATION (day): 25 days
COMPOSITION: Gas, mostly hydrogen with 10% helium and other elements
FUN FACT: Our Sun is really a middle-sized yellow star about 100 times the diameter of Earth. Its scientific name is Sol. That's why we call the planets surrounding it the Solar System.

Do NOT EVER stare directly at the sun without special eye protection. It can cause permanent blindness.

Until recent history, people thought the Earth was the center of the universe and remained fixed while everything else you see in the night sky revolved around it. Before telescopes, people didn't know anything about stars or planets. But they saw clusters of stars form a pattern and named them constellations. Constellations were the earliest form of navigation, long before we had GPS. Sailors and travelers had to wait for night time to see the stars that appeared in whatever direction they were heading to set their course.

Today, we find our way on land using maps and Satellite GPS systems. But we still need to look ahead to set our course. We need to think about what we want to do in life; what kind of job we want to have, what kind of home we want to live in, what kind of car we want to drive or where we want to live. It takes careful planning to make these dreams come true. It's never too early to start!

Learn about all the things in outer space at kidsastronomy.com

or

kidscosmos.org