From space, the Sun appears as a bright, glowing sphere of light. It is a massive ball of hot, glowing gases, primarily composed of hydrogen and helium. The Sun's surface, known as the photosphere, has a temperature of around 5,500 degrees Celsius (9,932 degrees Fahrenheit). The photosphere emits visible light, giving the Sun its characteristic yellow-white color.
When observed from space, the Sun's surface may show various features, including dark spots called sunspots, bright regions called faculae, and intense bursts of energy called solar flares. These features are caused by the Sun's complex magnetic field interacting with its hot plasma.
To study the Sun more closely, specialized space-based observatories, such as the Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) and the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO), have been launched to capture detailed images and data about its structure, activity, and solar phenomena. These satellites provide scientists with valuable information to understand the Sun's behavior and its impact on Earth's space weather.