47 Our Shining Star-Mid

Our Shining Star FOCUS Question How does the Sun change weather on Earth?

It's a Star! You know that the Sun is bright and can be hot. But did you know that the Sun is also a star? Our Sun is like the tiny points of light you see in the sky at night. Why does the Sun look so big and other stars look so small? The Sun is much closer to us than all the other stars.

Hot Stars Stars give off energy. Energy can make things warmer, like a fire. If the Sun were farther away. Earth would be much cooler. Wowser! Did you ever try to pick up a cookie just out of the oven? Watch out It is too hot! The surface of the Sun is 29 times hotter!

Warming Planet Earth The Sun makes Earth warmer. Energy from the Sun warms the surface of Earth and other planets. The planets are different distances from the Sun. The closest one is Mercury. The farthest one is Neptune. Earth is in the right place to get just enough energy from the Sun. Plants and animals use this energy to live.

Day and Night Is it warmer on Earth during the day or the night? The Sun is out during the day so days. are warmer. The Sun is not out at night, so nights are cooler.

Temperature Temperature (TEM-per-uh-chur) is how hot or cold something is. Temperature is part of weather. Thermometers (thur-MOM-uh-turz) are used to measure temperature. The Sun makes the temperature go up. Does picture A or B show a colder temperature?