Our Sun: The Nearest Star
Abstract
This chapter describes the structure of the Sun and the physical processes that occur within it. The text is without mathematics and is written for a general audience. Extensive references are given to allow the reader to pursue certain issues in more depth. In the first ten sections, the different layers are described, starting from the core and advancing to the outer atmosphere, the solar wind and the heliosphere. In the next five sections, some special topics are considered, such as the internal rotation of the Sun; the physical origin of the solar cycle; solar activity; and the heating of the outer atmosphere and acceleration of the solar wind. In the last part, the Sun's influence on the Earth is discussed briefly.
- Publication:
-
Astronomy and Astrophysics
- Pub Date:
- October 2012
- Bibcode:
- 2012aaa1.book..290Z