The Sun releases energy that powers the entire Solar System. Charged particles from the core's chemical reactions create a stream of plasma that escapes the Sun's atmosphere. That stream is called the solar wind and contains the entire spectrum of electromagnetic radiation. The Sun creates an enormous magnetic field that regularly twists, triggering mass ejections or flares that turn the solar wind into a storm. The Sun is only one of more than 200 billion stars in the Milky Way. Students will see the enormous span of the Universe, some of our neighboring stars and an excellent description of the life of a star.

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Three and a half stars. Highly Recommended. Part of the Wonders of Astronomy & Space collection in the Show Me Science series aimed at grades 4-9, this brief program explains the science behind our friendly neighborhood star, better known as the Sun. Combining striking photographs with computer graphics, The Sun presents facts and explores mysteries regarding the fiery orb, including the composition and the ongoing combustion that generates the heat that is essential for life on Earth. Viewers learn that various chemical reactions lead to eddies of activity (such as sun spots - areas on the surface of the sun that are temporarily cooler than their surroundings), and about the conditions that create what what is called "solar wind". The program also covers the life of a star, discussing such things as white dwarfs, red giants, and supernovas, and points out that even the sun's life-giving power will come to an end, billions of years from now. Putting the topic into a broader context, the film also describes the Milky Way and the larger, awe-inspiring span of the universe. Informative and visually captivating, this is highly recommended. Video Librarian

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