The Sun | Astronomy.com

A black and white photograph of a total solar eclipse. The Moon appears as a dark circular disk at center, surrounded by the Sun's glowing white corona extending outward in streaks and rays — most prominently upward and to the lower left. The background is nearly black, emphasizing the dramatic contrast of the corona's light.

Science, Solar System

Why is the Moon exactly the same apparent size from Earth as the Sun?

A vibrant sunrise colors the sky with bold streaks of bright pink, purple, and orange behind a silhouette of large stone pillars arranged in a circle. The dark, grass-covered ground in the foreground contrasts sharply with the colorful sky. A crowd of many people stands gathered amongst and around the towering stones, facing toward the bright glow on the horizon.

Today in the History of Astronomy

June 21, ca. 2500 BCE: Summering at Stonehenge

A group of people wearing white protective laboratory suits and hairnets stand in a brightly lit, high-ceilinged room. A woman in the center of the group points toward a large, complex piece of industrial machinery wrapped in shiny silver, gold, and red paneling. The spacious background features white walls, a large blue letter "E," and various ladders and equipment scattered across the gray floor.

Solar System, Today in the History of Astronomy

June 10, 1927: The birth of Eugene Parker

Today in the History of Astronomy

May 23, 1967: A solar flare jams missile detectors

Robotic Spaceflight, Today in the History of Astronomy

April 27, 2001: SOHO sees the farside of the Sun

Human Spaceflight

How the Artemis astronauts are protected from dangerous space radiation

Today in the History of Astronomy

April 2, 1845: The first photo of the Sun

Milky Way, Solar System, Stars

The Sun’s galactic migration may have made life on Earth possible

Today in the History of Astronomy

Feb. 27, 1942: The birth of solar radio astronomy

Human Spaceflight, Robotic Spaceflight, Today in the History of Astronomy

Feb. 14, 1980: SolarMax launches

Several distinct coronal streamers can be seen in this image of the Aug. 21, 2017, total eclipse, when solar activity was moderate.

Science, Solar System

How did ancient astronomers predict solar eclipses?

Science, Solar System

Michael’s Miscellany: 10 More Cool Things About the Sun