This total solar eclipse in 1980 was photographed from Palem, India. HAO and Rhodes College.

Some people try to understand the structure of the inside of the Sun, and how it changes over time. They collect detailed information about the Sun, and try to learn about the basic physical processes that affect the interior.

Others focus on the magnetism of the Sun and the related events that we see near the surface. This research connects the study of the physical conditions in the interior with the activity in the hot gas above the surface.

Another group of scientists build instruments to observe the outer atmosphere of the Sun, and try to understand the changes that we see over hours or even years. Radiation and particles move out from the Sun, sometimes in sudden eruptions.

As the light and gas from the Sun reaches the Earth, others study the impact of the Sun's output on the magnetic field and atmosphere of our planet. This helps us protect satellites and astronauts, and teaches us how the Sun affects the global climate.