Sun

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Artistic rendition of the Sun

The sun, or Sol as it is sometimes called, is a star that resides in the middle of our solar system. The sun produces heat and light through the process of nuclear fusion of hydrogen into helium in its core. Sol is so massive, it accounts for over 99.8% of the mass of the entire solar system. Some interesting facts about the sun:

The suns diameter is 1,390,000 km. (863,705 miles)
The mass is about 1.989e30 kg.
The surface temperature is around 5,800 K.
The temperature in the core is 15,600,000 K.

1 Sun as God
2 Sun Spots
3 Solar eclipse
4 tinWiki Related Articles
5 ATS Discussion Threads
6 External Source

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Sun as God

For many years and by many ancient cultures, the Sun has been worshiped as a divine being, or god. It was seen as the provider of life, light, warmth and protection from the things that roamed the realms of darkness (nighttime).

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Egypt

Ra was the Egyptian Sun God, otherwise known as Horus of the horizon. Seen as the vreator of the world and all of its life cycles it was the ultimate in heavenly bodies. The Egyptian Pharaoh was seen as the embodiment of the Sun God here on Earth, the mirror image represented in an Earthly body.

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Greece

The Greek Sun god was Apollo, son of Zeus. Apollo represents, light, clarity, truth and rational consciousness. Vanquisher of unconscious terrors, a god of music and the lyre, god of medicine and was seen as a bringer of as much death as he was at giving and sustaining life. Quite a busy god really.

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China

Chinese mythology tells of how there were ten suns in the sky at the beginning, but nine were shot down by Hou Yi. The world then began to bring forth life.

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Hinduism

Hinduism speaks of Surya Deva, the Sun personified. The Aditya's are a group of twelve solar deities and there are several more stories and names associated with the Sun, its origins and of those associated to it.

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Indonesia

In some Indonesian tribes, the Sun is seen as both father and founder of the tribes. This idea is most prominent in Australia where the leaders of tribes are seen as direct heirs to the Sun god.

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Sun Spots

Sun spots are large dark spots on the surface of the Sun. They are magnetic storms and can reach 50,000 miles across. they are seen to move across the Suns surface. You can easily see sun spot activity with the use of a telescope and a piece of blank white paper. If you can, mount your telescope in a shaded or dimly lit location, but obviously allowing the image collector access to the Sun.

Do NOT look at the Sun directly through the eye piece

All you have to do is hold the piece of paper in front of the eye piece and move the telescope until you get a bright round disk appear on the paper. Adjust your focus and you'll soon begin to see all of the surface activity on the Sun. To make the image of the Sun bigger on the paper, move it further away from the eye piece.

Things to look for include dark spots that just appear and move across the surface and ripples, or waves, also. These ripples look just like ocean waves. You may see other anomalies too. If you get the chance to try this, do so. It's simple and easy and a great topic for all ages.

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Solar eclipse

Solar eclipse by Steve Meads

A solar eclipse occurs when the Moon crosses the direct path in between the Sun and Earth.

Through out history, many cultures saw an eclipse as a sign of change, be it good or bad, it was an omen. Many rituals and sacrifices were made during the time of an eclipse. The Mayan culture, in particular, were heavily into the worship of the Sun.

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