Our Life-Giving Sun

Activity on the Sun during the solar cycle often cause "solar wind". Solar wind is a mix of magnetic fields and particles from the Sun that travel from the Sun into the galaxy. Typical solar winds blow at about 350 kilometers per second. Hold on to your hat, because that's an astounding 217.5 miles per second, blowing fiercely through space!

You should never, ever look up at the Sun. Not even with dark sunglasses on! The Sun is so bright that it can permanently damage your eyes if you look directly at it. This is even true during a Solar eclipse, which is when the Sun becomes partly or entirely blocked by our Moon. Solar eclipses happen frequently around the world (about twice a year). You can only see a solar eclipse if you are on the part of the world that lines up perfectly with the Sun and the Moon, forming an eclipse. Because solar eclipses are so beautiful, there are special glasses you can wear just to watch a solar eclipse without hurting your eyes.

Without the Sun, life on Earth would be impossible. The planets would all be so cold that nothing could survive. Without light, it would be night all the time, so even if it were somehow warm on a planet's surface, nothing could grow. The Sun provides us with very good vitamins and nutrients, which help keep us healthy. One such vitamin is Vitamin C.

Too much of the Sun isn't necessarily a good thing, though. Most of us have been sun-burned at some time. If you stay out in the Sun without protection, your skin will burn. That's how bright and powerful our Sun is! Too much sunburn can be bad for your health as you age. So always wear sun block and protective clothing like hats if you are going to be in the Sun for long-even in the middle of Winter.

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