Introduces the sun, its physical characteristics, and the history of human observation of the sun.

The author is associated with the Kiepenheurer Institute for Solar Physics in Freiburg, West Germany. Exercises punctuate the text, and key references are provided.

What makes the Sun shine? What is the Sun made of? Will the Sun last forever? Find the answers in this book! The Sun makes life possible on our planet. It can also harm us.

This is an account of the many ways in which the Sun affects our planet, how its influence has changed over the last few centuries and millennia, and the extent to which we can predict its future impact.

A description of the sun, the star of our solar system, which includes information on its origin, physical composition, and characteristics, as well as on studies made of the sun by instruments and satellites.

ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly.

Gives an overview of what recent scientific research has revealed about the sun and its origins, and includes two hundred images that capture the sun from on the ground as well as from space.