mirrored file at http://SaturnianCosmology.Org/ For complete access to all the files of this collection see http://SaturnianCosmology.org/search.php ========================================================== _________________________________________________________________ Sun Fact Sheet _________________________________________________________________ [1][Global view of the Sun] _________________________________________________________________ Sun/Earth Comparison _________________________________________________________________ Bulk parameters Sun Earth Ratio (Sun/Earth) Mass (10^24 kg) 1,989,100. 5.9736 333,000. GM (x 10^6 km^3/s^2) 132,712. 0.3986 333,000. Volume (10^12 km^3) 1,412,000. 1.083 1,304,000. Volumetric mean radius (km) 696,000. 6371. 109.2 Mean density (kg/m^3) 1408. 5515. 0.255 Surface gravity (eq.) (m/s^2) 274.0 9.78 28.0 Escape velocity (km/s) 617.6 11.19 55.2 Ellipticity 0.00005 0.0034 0.015 Moment of inertia (I/MR^2) 0.059 0.3308 0.178 Visual magnitude V(1,0) -26.74 -3.86 - Absolute magnitude +4.83 Luminosity (10^24 J/s) 384.6 Mass conversion rate (10^6 kg/s) 4300. Mean energy production (10^-3 J/kg) 0.1937 Surface emission (10^6 J/m^2s) 63.29 Spectral type G2 V Model values at center of Sun: Central pressure: 2.477 x 10^11 bar Central temperature: 1.571 x 10^7 K Central density: 1.622 x 10^5 kg/m^3 _________________________________________________________________ Rotational and Orbital parameters Sun Earth Ratio (Sun/Eart h) Sidereal rotation period (hrs)* 609.12 23.9345 25.449 Obliquity to ecliptic (deg.) 7.25 23.45 0.309 Speed relative to nearby stars (km/s) 19.4 *This is the adopted period at 16 deg. latitude - the actual rotation rate varies with latitude L as: ( 14.37 - 2.33 sin^2 L - 1.56 sin^4 L ) deg/day _________________________________________________________________ North Pole of Rotation Right Ascension: 286.13 Declination : 63.87 Reference Date : 1.5 Jan 2000 (JD 2451545.0) __________________________________________________________________________ Sun Observational Parameters Apparent diameter from Earth At 1 A.U.(seconds of arc) 1919. Maximum (seconds of arc) 1952. Minimum (seconds of arc) 1887. Distance from Earth Mean (10^6 km) 149.6 Minimum (10^6 km) 147.1 Maximum (10^6 km) 152.1 _________________________________________________________________ Solar Magnetic Field Typical magnetic field strengths for various parts of the Sun Polar Field: 1 - 2 Gauss Sunspots: 3000 Gauss Prominences: 10 - 100 Gauss Chromospheric plages: 200 Gauss Bright chromospheric network: 25 Gauss Ephemeral (unipolar) active regions: 20 Gauss _________________________________________________________________ Solar Atmosphere Surface Gas Pressure (top of photosphere): 0.868 mb Effective temperature: 5778 K Temperature at bottom of photosphere: 6600 K Temperature at top of photosphere: 4400 K Temperature at top of chromosphere: ~30,000 K Photosphere thickness: ~400 km Chromosphere thickness: ~2500 km Sun Spot Cycle: 11.4 yr. Photosphere Composition: Major elements: H - 90.965%, He - 8.889% Minor elements (ppm): O - 774, C - 330, Ne - 112, N - 102 Fe - 43, Mg - 35, Si - 32, S - 15 _________________________________________________________________ If no sub- or superscripts appear on this page - for example, if the "Mass" is given in units of "(1024 kg)" - you may want to check the [2]notes on the sub- and superscripts. [3]bullet Notes on the factsheets - definitions of parameters, units, notes on sub- and superscripts, etc. _________________________________________________________________ [4]bullet Directory to other Planetary Fact Sheets [5]bullet NSSDC Planetary Home Page _________________________________________________________________ [NASA Logo] Author/Curator: Dr. David R. Williams, [6]dwilliam at nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov NSSDC, Mail Code 633 NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD 20771 +1-301-286-1258 _________________________________________________________________ NASA Official: Ed Grayzeck, edwin.j.grayzeck at nasa.gov Last Updated: 27 October 2003, DRW References 1. http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/image/solar/061920se.gif 2. http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/planetary/factsheet/fact_notes.html 3. http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/planetary/factsheet/fact_notes.html 4. http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/planetary/planetfact.html 5. http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/planetary//planetary_home.html 6. mailto:dwilliam at nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov