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Properties

Magnitude -26.74
Angular Size 1920 arcmin
Type: Sun
Distance: 0.000 AU
Orbital Period: 0.0 days
Diameter: 1,392,700 km
Atmosphere: Hydrogen, helium
Features: Sunspots, prominences, corona
Our star; observe only with proper solar filters. Position computed from Earth's orbital elements.

Position & Identifiers

RA 05h 02m 53.1s
Dec +22° 47' 12.5"
Constellation Taurus
Catalog Sun

1 Physical Properties

Magnitude −26.74 (apparent)
Abs. Magnitude 4.83 mag
Spectral Type G2V
Star Color Yellow (B-V 0.656)
Temperature 5,778 K
Radius 1.00 R☉ (696,340 km)
Luminosity 1.00 L☉ (3.828 × 1026 W)
Mass 1.00 M☉ (1.989 × 1030 kg)
Age ~4.6 billion years
Star Type Main Sequence (Dwarf)
MK Class G2V
Distance 8.3 light-minutes (1 AU)
Metallicity [Fe/H] = 0.00 (reference)
Rotation ~25.4 days (equatorial)
2

How to observe the Sun

Never look at the Sun without proper protection.

Direct viewing through any unfiltered telescope, binoculars, or camera viewfinder will cause permanent retinal damage in seconds. Always mount a certified solar filter on the front of the optic — eyepiece filters are unsafe. Approved methods: ISO 12312-2 eclipse glasses (naked eye only), full-aperture white-light filter (e.g. Baader film), Herschel wedge for refractors, or a dedicated H-alpha telescope.

Live solar imagery, sunspot regions and observing guides

3

Size Comparison

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Compare Stars

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Spectral Classification

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Hertzsprung-Russell Diagram

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Stellar Lifecycle

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Blackbody Spectrum

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Stellar Absorption Spectrum

Simulated absorption spectrum based on spectral type. Hover over lines to identify elements.

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Stellar Fusion

Community Photos (2)

Credit: Matúš Motlo. License: CC BY-SA 4.0. (Wikimedia Commons)

Credit: Matúš Motlo. License: CC BY-SA 4.0. (Wikimedia Commons)

Skybred Feb 28, 2026

1
Partial Eclipse, Hamburg, March 20, 2015

Partial Eclipse, Hamburg, March 20, 2015

Skybred May 3, 2026

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