The sun makes up 99 86 of the mass of the solar system it s so big that you could squeeze 1 3 million earths inside of it

The Sun: A Colossal Celestial Body

The sun, that fiery ball of energy in the sky, is an absolute giant in our solar system. In fact, it accounts for a staggering 99.86% of the mass of the entire system. Can you believe it? Just let that number sink in for a moment. It’s mind-boggling, to say the least.

To put the size of the sun into perspective, consider this fascinating fact: you could fit about 1.3 million Earths inside it. Yes, you read that correctly. If we had the means to scoop up 1.3 million of our own home planet and squeeze them all together, they would comfortably fit inside the sun without causing any significant disruptions.

But how is this possible? How can a celestial body contain so much mass? Well, the key lies in the sun’s composition and its ability to harness nuclear fusion. Deep within the sun’s core, immense pressure and temperatures reaching 15 million degrees Celsius (27 million degrees Fahrenheit) are present. These extreme conditions trigger a nuclear fusion reaction, where hydrogen atoms combine to form helium, releasing an incredible amount of energy in the process.

The sun’s immense size is directly linked to its mass. It boasts a diameter of about 1.4 million kilometers (870,000 miles) and a circumference of approximately 4.4 million kilometers (2.7 million miles). To put it another way, you could fit about 109 Earths side by side just along the sun’s equator. That’s an astonishing image, isn’t it?

The sun’s size has far-reaching implications for the planets in our solar system. Its immense gravity plays a vital role in maintaining their orbits. Planets, such as Earth, revolve around the sun due to the gravitational force exerted by this colossal star. Without it, our planets would wander aimlessly through the vastness of space.

It’s important to remember that the sun, despite its awe-inspiring size, is just one star among billions in our galaxy, the Milky Way. The universe itself is a vast expanse, with countless mysteries waiting to be unraveled.

In conclusion, the sun’s mass makes up a staggering 99.86% of the total mass of our solar system. It’s so immense that you could easily fit 1.3 million Earths inside it. This celestial giant, with its colossal size and gravitational pull, is undeniably the centerpiece of our little corner of the cosmos.

Source: How Many Earths Can Fit Inside the Sun?