· Scientists have measured the magnetic field of an explosion from the Sun's atmosphere, the Department of Science and Technology (DST) has offered a rare glimpse into the star's interior.
· Study of phenomena in the Sun's atmosphere or solar corona provides insight into its inner workings.
· This was done for the first time by observing the weak thermal radio emission associated with the exploded plasma.
· Scientists from the Indian Institute of Astrophysics used data from their radio telescope to measure the magnetic field.
Important facts
About the sun
v Largest: If the Sun were as tall as a typical front door, the Earth would be about the size of a nickel.
v Most Massive: The Sun is the center of our Solar System and makes up 99.8 percent of the mass of the entire Solar System.
v Different rotations: At the equator, the Sun rotates once every 25 days, but at its poles the Sun rotates on its axis once every 35 Earth days.
v Can't Stand on It: As a star, the Sun is a ball of gas (92.1 percent hydrogen and 7.8 percent helium) held together by its own gravity.
v Ringless: The Sun has no rings.
v Under study: Many spacecraft constantly observe the Sun, helping us keep track of space weather that can affect satellites and astronauts.
v Energy for Life: Without the intense energy of the Sun, there would be no life on Earth.
v Nuclear Fusion: The core of the Sun is approximately 27 million degrees Fahrenheit (15 million degrees Celsius).
v Moonless: but orbiting eight planets, at least five dwarf planets, tens of thousands of asteroids, and three trillion comets and icy bodies.
v What we see: The visible surface of the Sun sometimes has dark spots, which are regions of intense magnetic activity that can cause a solar explosion.
