The Sun dominates our solar system, accounting for a staggering 99.8% of its total mass. But just how much bigger is the Sun compared to Earth? Let’s explore the sheer scale difference using various measurements.
Measuring the Difference: Mass, Volume, and Diameter
Comparing the Sun and Earth can be done in several ways, each providing a unique perspective on their size disparity.
Mass Comparison
The Sun’s mass is approximately 1,988,500 x 10^24 kg, while Earth’s mass is about 5.9724 x 10^24 kg. This means the Sun is roughly 333,000 times more massive than Earth. To put it another way, it would take 333,000 Earths to equal the Sun’s mass.
An image of the Sun captured by NASA
Volume Comparison
Looking at volume, the Sun occupies 1,412,000 x 10^12 km^3, whereas Earth’s volume is only 1.083 x 10^12 km^3. Consequently, about 1.3 million Earths could theoretically fit inside the Sun, assuming they could be compressed without any gaps.
Diameter Comparison
The Sun’s diameter stretches an impressive 1,392,000 km (864,000 miles), dwarfing Earth’s diameter of 12,742 km (7,917 miles). If you lined up Earths side by side, it would take approximately 109 Earths to span the Sun’s diameter. Furthermore, the Sun’s surface area is a staggering 12,000 times greater than Earth’s.
Comparing Other Planets to the Sun
The immense size difference isn’t limited to Earth. Even the largest and smallest planets in our solar system are dwarfed by the Sun.
Jupiter and Mercury
Jupiter, the solar system’s largest planet, boasts a mass 318 times that of Earth. However, even Jupiter would fit inside the Sun approximately 1,000 times. On the opposite end of the spectrum, tiny Mercury, with a mass only 0.330 x 10^24 kg, would require a staggering 21.2 million copies of itself to fill the Sun.
Pluto and the Moon
Dwarf planet Pluto, possessing just 1% of Earth’s mass, highlights the Sun’s immense scale. Over 200 million Plutos would be needed to equal the Sun’s mass. Even our Moon, 400 times smaller and 27 million times less massive than the Sun, would require 64.3 million copies to match the Sun’s mass.
Conclusion
The Sun’s colossal size compared to Earth and other celestial bodies in our solar system underscores its dominance. Whether measured by mass, volume, or diameter, the Sun reigns supreme, truly a star of epic proportions.
