"The Sun: Our Closest Star" appearing

The Sun is primarily composed of hydrogen and helium, with trace amounts of other elements. About 74% of its mass consists of hydrogen, while helium makes up roughly 24%. These two elements undergo nuclear fusion in the Sun's core, where immense pressure and temperature create the conditions for hydrogen atoms to fuse into helium, releasing vast amounts of energy in the form of light and heat. This continuous process of nuclear fusion powers the Sun and provides the energy that sustains life on Earth. In addition to hydrogen and helium, the Sun contains small amounts of heavier elements like carbon, oxygen, nitrogen, and others, which make up the remaining 2% of its composition.