Sun – 3D space magnet – Planets of the Solar system

3D picture on 6 x 6 cm plastic board with magnet

Sun

The sun is a "fixed star" and the center of our solar system. Although it rotates around its own axis, it does not seem to move from the spot, but is orbited by planets. Together with billions of other stars, it orbits the center of our galaxy, the Milky Way, but this movement cannot be perceived. It is very difficult to take pictures of the Sun because it is extremely bright and hot. You should never look directly into the sun with your eye or even with binoculars or telescopes - it can blind you.

This is an ultraviolet image of the Sun, where you can see the intense plasma ejections from the surface, also called protuberances - one looks like a handle. This image was taken by the Extreme Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope on board the solar observation probe SOHO on 14 September 1999.

The sun is a huge sphere of glowing hot gas. The "cooler" areas are darker, they are called sunspots. In their centre there is such a high pressure that hydrogen atoms fuse to form helium atoms. This releases an immeasurable amount of energy and temperatures of several million degrees Celsius are created. The energy produced takes many thousands of years to reach the surface before it is emitted into space - the sunlight that enables us to live on earth at a safe distance.

In addition to heat and light, the sun also emits a thin stream of charged particles (essentially electrons and protons) called solar wind. The solar wind reaches speeds of 450 km/s, which corresponds to 1,620,000 kilometres per hour. The effects of the solar wind can also be felt on Earth: voltage fluctuations in overland power lines, radio wave interference and the beautiful northern lights are triggered.

ATTENTION
Choking hazard, small parts
Not suitable for children under 3 years of age