{"id":8287,"date":"2026-10-07T21:21:08","date_gmt":"2026-10-07T18:21:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.aso.com.tr\/how-hot-is-the-sun-temperature\/"},"modified":"2026-10-07T21:21:08","modified_gmt":"2026-10-07T18:21:08","slug":"how-hot-is-the-sun-temperature","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.aso.com.tr\/en\/how-hot-is-the-sun-temperature\/","title":{"rendered":"How Hot Is the Sun? Surface and Core Temperature"},"content":{"rendered":"
In short:<\/strong> The Sun’s visible surface (photosphere) is about 5,500 \u00b0C (10,000 \u00b0F)<\/strong> and its core is about 15 million \u00b0C (27 million \u00b0F)<\/strong>. The Sun’s outer atmosphere, the corona, is far hotter than the surface and can reach 2 million \u00b0C<\/strong>.<\/div>\n

\"Temperature<\/p>\n

Note: the labels in the image are in Turkish \u2013 \u00c7ekirdek = core, Y\u00fczey (fotosfer) = surface (photosphere), Ta\u00e7 (korona) = corona.<\/em><\/p>\n

Temperature inside and outside the Sun<\/h2>\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Layer<\/th>\nApproximate temperature<\/th>\nDescription<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Core (inside)<\/td>\n15 million \u00b0C \/ 27 million \u00b0F<\/td>\nWhere the Sun’s energy is produced<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Surface \u2013 photosphere (outside)<\/td>\n5,500 \u00b0C \/ 10,000 \u00b0F<\/td>\nThe layer that emits the light we see<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Corona<\/td>\nup to 2 million \u00b0C \/ 3.5 million \u00b0F<\/td>\nOuter atmosphere, visible during a total solar eclipse<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n

Why is the Sun so hot?<\/h2>\n

The Sun is a glowing ball of hot gas (plasma) made mostly of hydrogen and helium. It does not burn like a fire: under the enormous pressure and temperature of the core, hydrogen nuclei fuse into helium. The energy released by this nuclear fusion<\/strong> is the source of the Sun’s light and heat.<\/p>\n

Key facts about the Sun<\/h2>\n
    \n
  • Distance from Earth:<\/strong> about 150 million km (93 million miles); sunlight reaches Earth in about 8 minutes 20 seconds.<\/li>\n
  • Diameter:<\/strong> about 1.4 million km; about 1.3 million Earths would fit inside it.<\/li>\n
  • Age:<\/strong> about 4.5 billion years; a yellow dwarf star.<\/li>\n
  • Mass:<\/strong> more than 330,000 times the mass of Earth.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    Frequently asked questions<\/h2>\n

    How hot is the Sun?<\/h3>\n

    The Sun’s surface is about 5,500 \u00b0C (10,000 \u00b0F) and its core is about 15 million \u00b0C (27 million \u00b0F). Its outer atmosphere, the corona, can reach 2 million \u00b0C.<\/p>\n

    What is the temperature of the Sun’s surface?<\/h3>\n

    The photosphere, the Sun’s visible surface, is about 5,500 \u00b0C (10,000 \u00b0F).<\/p>\n

    What is the temperature of the Sun’s core?<\/h3>\n

    The Sun’s core is about 15 million \u00b0C (27 million \u00b0F). At this temperature hydrogen nuclei fuse into helium.<\/p>\n

    Why is the corona hotter than the surface?<\/h3>\n

    The corona reaches up to 2 million \u00b0C while the surface is about 5,500 \u00b0C. Scientists think magnetic energy carried up from below heats the corona; the exact mechanism is still being studied by missions such as NASA’s Parker Solar Probe.<\/p>\n

    How long does sunlight take to reach Earth?<\/h3>\n

    Because the Sun is about 150 million km away, its light takes about 8 minutes 20 seconds to reach Earth.<\/p>\n