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Nuclear fusion

A reaction in which lighter nuclei (such as hydrogen) combine to form a heavier nucleus (such as helium), releasing energy.

Main sequence

The stage in a star’s life when it steadily fuses hydrogen in its core.

Hydrostatic equilibrium

The balance of inward gravitational force and outward pressure force within a star.

Photosphere

The visible 'surface' of the Sun (or any star) from which light is emitted.

Sunspot

A cooler, darker region on the Sun’s photosphere caused by concentrated magnetic fields.

Solar flare

A sudden, intense burst of radiation and charged particles from the Sun’s surface.

Red giant

A late phase in a star’s life when the star expands and cools after using up core hydrogen.

White dwarf

The dense, hot core left after a low or medium-mass star sheds its outer layers.

Solar wind

A stream of charged particles (mostly protons and electrons) flowing outward from the Sun’s corona.

Astronomical Unit (AU)

A unit of distance equal to the average Earth-Sun distance, about 150 million km.

The Carrington Event

A massive solar flare in 1859 that affected telegraph lines and caused visual phenomena in the sky.

Electromagnetic spectrum

The range of all electromagnetic radiation frequencies; it includes visible light, UV rays, and X-rays.

Proton-proton chain

The main fusion reaction in the Sun's core where hydrogen nuclei combine to form helium.

Solar constant

The amount of solar energy reaching 1 square meter at Earth’s distance, approximately 1,360 watts.

Luminosity

The amount of energy emitted by a star, including the Sun, per unit of time.

Convective zone

The outer layer of the Sun’s interior where energy is transferred by convection currents.

Radiative zone

The layer of the Sun where energy is transported outward by radiation.

Coronal mass ejection (CME)

A significant release of plasma and magnetic field from the solar corona.

Solar maximum

A period during the solar cycle when sunspot numbers are at their highest.

Solar minimum

A period of the solar cycle when sunspot numbers are at their lowest.

Spectra

The different frequencies of light emitted by the Sun, which can be used to analyze its characteristics.

Element factory

A term describing how stars like the Sun produce heavier elements through fusion processes.

Hertzsprung-Russell diagram

A scatter plot of stars showing the relationship between the stars' absolute magnitudes or luminosities versus their stellar classifications or effective temperatures.

Thermal radiation

Radiation emitted by a body in thermal equilibrium based on its temperature.

Convection currents

The movement of fluids (such as air or water) driven by temperature differences.

Auroras

Natural light displays in Earth's sky, predominantly seen in high-latitude regions, caused by solar wind interacting with the Earth's magnetosphere.

Tritium

A rare isotope of hydrogen with two neutrons; it is produced in the Sun in small amounts.

Deuterium

An isotope of hydrogen with one neutron, involved in the nuclear fusion process.

Heat source

A structure or medium from which heat can be absorbed or extracted.

Heat sink

A medium or container to which heat flows.

Conduction

Transfer of heat through direct contact.

Convection

Transfer of heat by the physical movement of fluid.

Radiation

The transfer of energy through electromagnetic waves.

Photosynthesis

The process by which green plants and some other organisms use sunlight to synthesize foods with the help of chlorophyll.