Let's imagine something that will not happen. What if the Sun went out? It is only make-believe. The Sun will not suddenly disappear. Scientists have no reason to expect it. So think about what the Sun does for us.
The Sun has been shining for billions of years. As of November 2026, it will keep shining for about 5 billion more years. The Sun is a star. It is the star at the center of our solar system. It is a giant, glowing ball of hot gas.
Our galaxy is called the Milky Way. The Sun is one star among 100 billion or more in it. Here are two big numbers. The Sun is much bigger than any planet. It would take almost 1,000 Jupiters to fill it up.
Earth is the third planet from the Sun. The Sun is far away. It is about 93 million miles (150 million kilometers) from Earth, as of November 2026. Light from the Sun takes about 8 minutes to reach Earth.
The Sun gives Earth its light and its warmth. Plants take in sunlight. Photosynthesis is how they turn that light energy into food. Think of a green plant on a sunny day. It is using the Sun.
The Moon does not make its own light. It shines because sunlight lights up and reflects off its surface. So the light you see from the Moon began at the Sun. Look up at the Moon some night.
The Sun pulls on Earth and the other planets. This pull is called gravity. It keeps them circling around the Sun. Earth is the only planet in our solar system with liquid water on its surface. Liquid water is water that flows.
Words to know
- galaxy: a star city
- gravity: a pulling force
- photosynthesis: plants making food
- reflects: bounces back
