The Solar Core

An artist's picture of the solar interior. Energy is generated in the solar core Click on image for full size (19K GIF) Image courtesy of NASA

The solar core is made up of a really hot and dense gas (in the plasma state). The temperature of 15 million degrees Kelvin (27 million degrees Faranheit) keeps the core at a gaseous state.

The core is where the energy of the Sun is made. The density and temperature are just right for nuclear fusion reactions to take place. These reactions release energy in two forms, light (electromagnetic radiation) and particles (in particular neutrinos). Despite the reactions, the Sun's core is a very dark place!