What is the sun made of?

The Sun is a star, and like all stars, it is primarily made up of hydrogen and helium. Hydrogen accounts for about 74% of the Sun's mass, while helium makes up about 24%. The remaining 2% is made up of other elements, including oxygen, carbon, neon, and iron, among others.

Inside the Sun, hydrogen atoms undergo nuclear fusion, in which they combine to form helium, releasing energy in the process. This energy is what makes the Sun shine and provides the Earth with heat and light. The Sun's core is where the fusion process occurs, and the energy generated there is transported outward through the layers of the Sun to the surface, where it is released into space as light and heat.

Scientists study the Sun to better understand the processes that occur within stars, and to learn more about the origins of the solar system and the universe as a whole. NASA and other space agencies have launched numerous missions to study the Sun and its effects on the Earth and the solar system.