If you are not that much into astronomy then it is a very common misconception among people that “The Sun is not a Star”. The short answer to your question is that the Sun is the only star in our solar system.
If you read this article till the end then you will understand why exactly the Sun is a Star. Why the misconception/confusion about the Sun not being a star is out there? So, let’s start from the beginning.
What is a Star?
A star is a big ball of gas that shines brightly in the sky. Imagine a giant glowing ball, kind of like a lightbulb, but much, much bigger! Stars are mostly made up of hydrogen and helium, which are two types of gases. They are so big that they have their own force called gravity that pulls everything toward them. The star’s gravity also squeezes the gases inside the star very tightly.
Inside the star, there is a continuous ongoing fusion reaction between hydrogen and helium. The fusion reactions are like tiny explosions. These tiny explosions aka fusion reactions release a lot of heat and energy. That’s why the stars glow and shine.
During the night time when you look in the sky, you see many twinkling stars. These stars are very very far away and that’s why they look like a shining dot. Some of these dots look bigger and some look very tiny. This is because every star is different, some of them are much bigger than the sun and some of them are tinier than the sun.
All these stars are classified into different types according to the stage of their life cycle. Every star is at a particular stage of its life cycle. Let’s see briefly the types of stars
Types of stars
Main Sequence star
These are stars in the phase of their lifecycle where the fusion reaction is going on in their core and it releases massive energy. The best example of such a star is our own sun.
Red Giant Stars
Red giants star is at a later stage of its life. When a main sequence star like Sun runs out of hydrogen in its core then the core of the star starts to contract and heat up. As the core of the star contracts its outer layer expands and cools down. This gives a star its characteristic red color, that’s why we call them a red giant. An example of the such star is the Beatelguese.
White dwarf stars
This is even the later stage after the red giant stage in the life of a star. When a red giant shed out all of its outer layers then only the core remains. This core is known as a white dwarf, they do not produce any more heat and is in the cooling stage. In the next 10 billion years our Sun will become a white dwarf.
Neutron Stars
When a star which is much more massive than the sun runs out of fuel and stops the fusion reaction. It collapsed and releases a huge amount of energy. These stars are known as Neutron stars. They are usually responsible for the formation of supermassive black holes.
Red Dwarfs
Red dwarfs are the smallest main-sequence stars. The red dwarfs are much smaller than the Sun. They appear orange and much cooler than the Sun. These stars are too faint to see with the naked eye. You need a telescope to see them.
Is Sun a star?
Yes, the sun is a Star and the only star in our solar system. It is the star we see rising and setting up every day. The fact is every other star mentioned before is known by a different name. Sun is the name we use for a star that is in our solar system.
Why are people confused that the sun is not a star?
There are many reasons for people’s confusion that the sun not being a star;
The terminology “The Sun”
When we say Sun, we mean the celestial object which is in the center of our solar system. While when we say a “Star” it is usually termed as a general term for a celestial object which produces heat and releases energy. In simple language just like we use different names for different stars, for example, Betelgeuse is a star, and Polaris is a star. Similarly, Sun is a star that is in the center of our solar system.
Its Size and Brightness
As the sun is much closer to earth than any other star. So, it appears huge from the earth. Because it is closer, we can experience its brightness daily more than any other star which is visible from the earth. This is a very significant difference between the sun’s appearance and brightness compared to any other star, which makes people think that the sun is just some other celestial object and not a star.
Daytime Visibility
Unlike other stars, which are most visible during the night, the Sun is visible during the day. This contrast in visibility contributes to the perception that the Sun is a distinct entity from the stars we see at night.
Cultural and historical context
Throughout history, many civilizations have worshipped the Sun as a deity or considered it a symbol of life and light. This unique cultural and religious significance can make it seem like the Sun is a unique celestial object rather than just another star.
So these are some of the reasons that the sun is usually confused as not being a star. But our own sun is very much of a star. It is a star of our solar system, it is a star of the life of human civilization. Without the sun we are nothing.
Sanskrit shloka Describing Sun
The following shlok about Sun in Hindu Scriptures describes the sun for humans perfectly;
ॐ सूर्य आत्मा जगतस्तस्युषश्च
आदित्यस्य नमस्कारं ये कुर्वन्ति दिने दिने।
दीर्घमायुर्बलं वीर्यं व्याधि शोक विनाशनम्
सूर्य पादोदकं तीर्थ जठरे धारयाम्यहम्॥
ॐ The sun is the soul of the universe(universe in terms of human civilization) and its the sun.
Those who offer obeisances to the sun day by day.
Long life, strength, vigor, destruction of disease, and sorrow.
I hold the holy water of the feet of the Sun in my abdomen
Conclusion.
The Sun is a Star like any other star you see in the night sky, but it is at a different stage of its life. It will remain at this stage for the next billions of years.
