Did You Know: Space – How hot is the sun?
The sun is a sizzling ball of gas. It is our closest star and the hottest thing in our solar system. If you were able to stick a thermometer on its surface, it would read a scorching 11,000°F (6,000°C). The hottest part of the sun, however, is its center, or core.
Corona
The second-hottest part of the sun is its outer atmosphere (layer of gas), called the corona. Scientists do not yet understand why it is hotter than the surface.
Solar flare
Solar flares are gigantic eruptions of energy from the surface of the sun.
They can take days to build up before exploding in a dramatic fashion. They are the biggest explosive events in the solar system,and they can last from a few minutes to several hours.
Sunspots
Sunspots are dark spots that appear on the sun’s surface. They are the coolest parts of the sun and often appear in pairs.
Which planets are the hottest?
Mercury
Temperatures on tiny Mercury can reach a searing 790°F (420°C). It is the closest planet to the sun.
Venus
Even though Venus is farther away from the sun than Mercury, it is actually hotter.
Venus has a thick atmosphere covered by clouds that trap in the sun’s heat.