The sun is the beating heart of our solar system and supports all life on Earth. At Live Science, you can learn more about this precious star as it reaches a major peak in solar activity called a solar maximum. Whether it's the dazzling "shooting stars" discovered in the sun's atmosphere, a massive solar explosion felt on Earth, the most devastating solar storm in recorded history, or just spectacular images of the sun, our expert writers and editors will have you in awe of that bright ball in the sky with the latest sun news, features and articles.
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Latest about The Sun
Solar eclipse glasses: Where to buy a safe, certified pair before the March 29 eclipse
You MUST wear protective eyewear to view a partial solar eclipse like the one coming to North American on March 29. Here's how to find a pair of certified solar eclipse glasses from an approved vendor.
March 29 solar eclipse: Where and when to see the rare sunrise solar eclipse from North America
A dramatic solar eclipse on March 29 will be the first one visible in North America since April 2024. Here's how to get the best view of the partial eclipse before it ends.
Powerful 'equinox auroras' may arrive soon: Why changing seasons can bring the best northern lights
Expect an uptick in aurora sightings near the spring equinox on March 20, as celestial geometry swings in favor of geomagnetic disturbances.
Sun quiz: How well do you know our home star?
Test your knowledge on the giant ball of burning gas at the heart of the solar system.
Gigantic 500,000-mile 'hole' in the sun's atmosphere aims aurora-sparking solar wind at Earth (photo)
The gigantic coronal hole is blasting high-speed solar wind toward Earth, potentially igniting vibrant auroras and minor geomagnetic activity on Jan. 31.
Invisible 'flickering' on the sun could predict potentially dangerous solar flares hours in advance
Images captured by NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory have revealed that "coronal loops" give off subtle flashes of ultraviolet light before a solar flare, which could act as an early warning system for dangerous space weather.
Auroras predicted over US this weekend as solar storm rips toward Earth
A solar explosion called a coronal mass ejection is poised to graze Earth on Friday or Saturday (Jan. 24 or Jan. 25), potentially triggering colorful auroras over the northern U.S.
X-class solar flares hit a new record in 2024 and could spike further this year — but the sun isn't entirely to blame, experts say
There were significantly more X-class solar flares in 2024 than any other year for at least three decades. The arrival of solar maximum was a key reason for the spike, but other factors were also at play.
