The Sun
The Sun is the main star in our solar system and is a middle sized yellow star. Everything in our solar system revolves around the Sun. The Sun makes up 99.86% of the total mass of the Solar System. The Sun's light, heat and energy is created by thermonuclear fusion. Hydrogen is burnt during this process where heat travels outwards toward the surface and radiates into the universe. The gases of the Sun are constantly heating and cooling creating a circular motion as they rise and fall. This is called convection. On the surface of the Sun there are darker spots called Sun Spots which are caused by intense magnetic activity. Although there are records dating back to 360 BC, the first telescopic view of a Sunspot occurred in 1610. Generally Sunspots increase and decrease over a period of 11 years known as the Saros Cycle. Sometimes during times of high solar activity, the Sun will release large amounts of gas, plasma and magnetic energy into its atmosphere. These are known as Solar Flares. Larger Solar Flares can sometimes interfere with satellites orbiting the Earth causing them to malfunction. Sunspots and Solar Flares can assist scientists to predict space weather.