First Children Encyclopedia

(Marvins-Underground-K-12) #1

The Sun


Yes, it does. It spins on its axis, like the planets of the solar system.^289


Solar flares


Blasts of hot gas sometimes flare


up from the Sun’s surface in


huge arcs or loops. They reach


thousands of kilometres (miles)


into space.
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The size of
Earth compared
to the Sun.

The Sun is white, but
false colour images such
as this allow astronomers
to identify different
features on its surface.

Solar flares are
called prominences.
Most last just a
few minutes.

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