The Sun: Crash Course Astronomy #10

Phil takes us for a closer (eye safe!) look at the two-octillion ton star that rules our solar system. We look at the sun's core, plasma, magnetic fields, sunspots, solar flares, coronal mass ejections, and what all of that means for our planet.
This episode is sponsored by Squarespace: www.squarespace.com/crashcourse
Check out the Crash Course Astronomy solar system poster here: store.dftba.com/products/crash...
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Chapters:
Introduction: Our Sun 00:00
The Sun's Core 1:28
Convection 3:12
Photosphere 3:49
The Corona & Solar Wind 4:19
How long does it take for light to reach the Sun's surface? 5:04
Plasma & The Sun's Magnetic Fields 6:01
Sunspots & Faculae 7:09
Solar Flares & Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs) 8:20
The Earth & Solar Eruptions 9:18
Review 10:59
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PBS Digital Studios: / pbsdigitalstudios
Follow Phil on Twitter: / badastronomer
Crash Course is on Patreon! You can support us directly by signing up at / crashcourse
Want to find Crash Course elsewhere on the internet?
Facebook - / youtubecrashcourse
Twitter - / thecrashcourse
Instagram - / thecrashcourse
CC Kids: / crashcoursekids
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PHOTO/VIDEO CREDITS
Hubble extrasolar planet search field in Sagittarius: www.spacetelescope.org/images/... [credit: NASA, ESA, K. Sahu (STScI) and the SWEEPS science team]
The Sun: www.nasa.gov/sites/default/fil... [credit: SDO/HMI]
The Sun: d1jqu7g1y74ds1.cloudfront.net/... [credit: NASA/SDO/AIA]
Earth: www.nasa.gov/content/goddard/e... [credit: NASA's Earth Observatory]
Fusion in the Sun: commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fil... [credit: Borb]
Empire State Building: de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Empire_S...
Sun Structure: www.flickr.com/photos/1130437...
Photospheric granulation: solarscience.msfc.nasa.gov/ima...
Corona: philhart.smugmug.com/Sun/Queen... [credit: Phil Hart]
"Magnet0873" by Newton Henry Black - Newton Henry Black, Harvey N. Davis (1913) Practical Physics, The MacMillan Co., USA, p. 242, fig. 200. Licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons - commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fil...
Strange Days On The Sun: svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/deta... [credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center Images courtesy of NASA/SDO]
Under the Sunspots: svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/deta... [credit: NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center Conceptual Image Lab]
Raining Loops: svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/vis/a010000/... [credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center/SDO]
Coronal Mass Ejection: • NASA | NASA's Heliophy... [credit: NASA]
Aurora: • NASA - Aurorae from Space
Soloar Close-ups: svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/deta... [credit: NASA]

[@commandolam]

Phil, you're an excellent host. They picked the right man.

[@jaydeut1989]

I couldn't agree more. He is very insightful and really easy to comprehend.

[@daedra40]

And that orange shirt is simply marvelous. (really, I can't find even find the words. This episode blew my mine on how marvelously powerful the sun is, and how it can affect us too) Astronomy has found it's shining knight.

[@CarlosGomez-hk2ke]

Couldn't agree more. He's his own star.

[@piercemoore4402]

commandolam I'll echo Carlos Gomez here. Couldn't agree more. Thank you, CrashCourse, for picking Phil as the host for these videos. He describes abstract and overwhelming concepts in a very personable way that makes even difficult science accessible to people unfamiliar with it. Eager to see more videos featuring Phil!

[@tigerswood2753]

He's too old.

[@ZTP92]

As a foreigner and not native English speaker, I really appreciate the loud and clear way you talk. Reading and writing is a thing but I often struggle in understanding natives while they talk. This serie is amazing and so are you, thanks for doing this :)

[@BenDover-iw4yv]

Thomas Pratt Translator?

[@razzolap2500]

Thomas Pratt good point

[@kelly2fly]

Thomas Pratt OP didn’t say he/she can’t write in English. English is not OP’s native language. This person is bilingual, maybe even trilingual.

[@michelleespino9814]

Wonderful I like how he talks too

[@ceezb5629]

Paid random kids to post this on KZbin. Lmao

[@TiffTaro]

You know I just take the heat of the Sun for granted, especially growing up in Arizona. Of course the Sun is hot, I know that, you know that, we all know that. But it didn't hit me until I watched this how amazing it is that I can feel that heat from so far away. I love that little feeling of realization.

[@galaxy-wy9sd]

Same brooooo

[@coxson]

The most intelligent prison inmate ever

[@wideputin6586]

Wtf dud

[@msbreezy8310]

Wtf

[@reffa2858]

Broadcasting directly from his cell.

[@animationspace8550]

i think he means the guys orange shirt

[@Googaliemoogalie]

@@wideputin6586 Bright orange shirt

[@daanush468]

Love how every subject of CC has the same intro theme, with a little pitch variations and different instruments.

[@DeadUnicornClub]

I remember the day I realized the Sun was just another star when I was a child. It was a mind blowing realization and allowed me to step into a bigger world where I understood not all things I see or experienced were correct. That there are hidden meanings, connections and explanations that everywhere in the world.

[@kusharya8006]

8===D- - - - - ((

[@lukasniebuhr6870]

ROCKET SHIP!

[@TheRojo387]

Humanity originally classified the sun as a PLANET. How embarrassing! Luckily we came to our senses and saw it fits the features of a STAR. And about time too!

[@qwikmav]

@@TheRojo387 bruh the sun has to be a planet because it's round, stars are pointy ⭐ Edit: spelling

[@FiniteAtticus]

Nice. The other day I was saying, I wish I had a really concise video about The Sun to show my daughter. You guys never fail!

[@anti-god1976]

*Hey finite I haven't seen your videos yet but I was planning to. You better have good material or else I will eat you.*

[@IvanSN]

Hey Atticus! :D

[@ABitOfTheUniverse]

It's so much more fun to talk to children about these things, rather than sit them in front of a monitor. Their reactions are priceless.

[@FiniteAtticus]

ABitOfTheUniverse​ the video would be for the stuff I missed.

[@ABitOfTheUniverse]

Finite Atticus In that case, I couldn't think of a much better complimentary source of information. Sagan's video from Cosmos here on KZbin, regarding the sun and stars, is a little gloomy. Tyson's are more comedic, but Phil's are in that sweet spot, that Goldilocks Zone. Just the good stuff, delivered with a reasonable amount of passion for the subject matter.

[@DeadUnicornClub]

The trick to landing on the Sun is to do it at night.

[@culwin]

TrulyEvilBob Or during an eclipse

[@getefix3]

culwin naaa the moon is in the way - you need to land during winter

[@YaBoiDREX]

Zurt Or while its raining.

[@natepetersen1508]

lol

[@getefix3]

ProfessorCrooks good idea - the rain can put out the sun!!! why doesnt NASA get on this? theyre wasting taxpayer money

[@rosepainter9503]

Wow... This is why I like Crash Course, because when you are done it just leaves you going "Wow, I didn't know that." Keep up the good work guys!

[@thegravegardener]

Learning about the sun while sitting in warm sunlight makes it special.

[@DuranmanX]

10:26 looks like the Mayans made a slight miscalculation

[@mariogastelum1463]

the mayans did not miscalculate. modern people misinterpreted the mayans.

[@rs-tarxvfz]

Jokes aside, They are completely RANDOM. They cannot be predicted

[@SidCurry]

CrashCourse, it's partly because of you that I started making videos (in fact, I uploaded my first videos only a couple weeks ago!) in the hopes that I can help people aspire to look at the world through a scientific perspective. And if anyone here is interested in watching more science-based videos, please give my channel a try! I strive to make my videos as visually appealing as possible, and as a grad student who is trying to put himself through school while also supporting his parents, your support and viewership would be greatly appreciated! Thank you guys :D

[@holydonkeymonkeys]

ScienceSid nice vids dude

[@AnthonyBatistanator]

I just subbed to you. Your videos are really well put together, good job bro. We need more science videos on youtube!

[@SindriMjolnir]

I normally don't check out people in the comments but for some reason you didn't come off as the typical obnoxious attetion-seeking spammer you'd normally find in the comment section. Man, am I glad that I checked you out. You just earned yourself a new subscriber! :D

[@tigerswood2753]

How about you be a big boy and pay for advertising? You won't get active subscribers doing it like this.

[@tigerswood2753]

***** Right. You are probably (key word is probably) a sock account of OP. There are numerous of occasions where idiots thought they could be famous by pandering on videos. Turns out they just close their channels because of how many inactive subscribers they got.

[@abdulazizbature2615]

"The thin corona" *Me watching from 2020*

[@TheRealVoltaire1]

*corona theory 19*

[@lilywalton1418]

Conspiracy theory: Phil (if that’s his name idk) and doctor Phil created a cult of Phil’s that created the corona virus and set the pandemic off into China..I think I just cracked the case 😳😳

[@learnwell7849]

@@lilywalton1418 yeah

[@arlojackcheese823]

i had to look for this

[@vilstef6988]

His name really is Phil Plait. See his book Death From Space.

[@iOutSider]

Phil, thank you and everyone at CrashCourse and PBS very much for doing a phenomenal job. I love this show and the whole channel.

[@nowheregirl921]

Phil, you are such an amazing host. Your passion for astronomy shows in your lectures and frankly, I am becoming more and more passionate about this subject myself because of this. Great job!

[@BryanSeigneur0]

I always get a few interesting tidbits I didn't know before in every single one of this guy's episodes.

[@MrReggieLew]

He is absolutely brilliant, and he knows how to convey important information so easily.

[@afonsodeportugal]

What kind of idiot dislikes these videos? They're among the very best things one can find on KZbin!

[@YusukeShirogane]

+Afonso de Portugal Flat earth people dislikes.

[@falirobleh9680]

+Srdjan Smudja schmitty?

[@thomashem-larsen9669]

+Srdjan Smudja center of the universe people

[@sillysaili]

Yeah people, like this video don't dislike. If you dislike this, the i like trains kid will say i like trains!

[@daviddevora1420]

flat heads

[@KerriCz]

I really love this guy he has such a great way of speaking and explaining things.

[@IstasPumaNevada]

Such a concise but easily understood explanation. Crash Course Astronomy continuing to be my favorite Crash Course and probably my favorite series on KZbin.

[@phrostedbaron]

this was one of the coolest CC episodes !

[@justinatnos5160]

It needs to be said... PRAAIIISSE THE SUN!!!!!!!

[@chantelstenner2553]

I love you good sir. PRAISE THE SUN!

[@legalfictionnaturalfact3969]

no thx.

[@BeowulfNorther]

Legal Fiction Natural Fact solaire will be sad if you aren't a sunbro

[@goldenopportunity4544]

praised

[@legalfictionnaturalfact3969]

no way for me to bro at all, luckily.

[@benjaminwilde6541]

This series is great for passing the time while setting up a communications network in KSP.

[@mahmoudagha4060]

Surprisingly this crash course makes me interested in Astronomy!

[@TonyMshana]

This show has reignited my thirst for knowledge and hope, remiding me that the internet isn't all just a bright loudness distracting us from intelligence :)

[@eliascastillo1641]

Thank you for these videos. They’re put together in a educational yet entertaining way. I’ve learned a lot.

[@Danploof]

Can we have a 5 year update series for Crash Course Astronomy? Like a mini-series where we go over all the things we've learned in the last 5 years?

[@sunnywubwub3649]

You guys should make a crash course on the great scientists/historical figures and their greatest works

[@dadodetres]

Phil, it would be great to have an episode on "practical tips on astronomy" without technology. Being the basics how to identify North and South. I'm sure there are lots of more thing one can figure out using astronomy without technology.

[@ioa1024]

thanks for using metric

[@rafaelvillegas2295]

Excellent presentation..teachers should look to follow same approach in education...good job

[@tobithedestructor9129]

We are there for you Crash course! Keep teaching the good stuff.

[@Jorgetrader]

I really really like this guy.Thank you crash course. RIP John green :(

[@Bjork1107]

I saw the corona today at a total eclipse!!! It was amazing!

[@TheFireflyGrave]

This might be my favorite Crash Course going right now.

[@Shoop18]

CRASH COURSE you're so helpful my school uses your videos in most subjects.

[@AxeltheD]

Wow, even though I already knew everything told in this video, hearing it still is truly (and not in the overused sense of the word) awesome! Great video next to the information; loved the animations.

[@rcga1978]

Great job Phil. Congratulations to you and your team. Thanks for making astronomy this interesting.

[@ann-krestenebazan3834]

These episodes are such an awesome brain workout. Cheers from a homeschooling mom in Seattle!

[@netsonix6147]

and we all love you Crash Course make more! all your videos are awesome and learnable

[@classicalblue14]

First!!!! Finally. Keep on doing what youre doing Crash Course, I love you :)

[@crashcourse]

Alex Blue Thanks, friend! DFTBA! -Nicole

[@badastronomy]

Alex Blue Thanks!

[@SvenLeuschner1]

***** for me, you're the best thing on KZbin right now. I really like how you explain things and I love this topic.

[@badastronomy]

***** Wow, thanks!

[@Liannghawrlastar]

Alex Blue PRAISE THE SUN \o/

[@qwertykins76]

The Sun is also starkly white. It only look slightly yellow in our atmosphere. If you ever see an image of the Sun in space, and it isn't white, that means it's been artificially colored. It's done all the time.

[@DarxusC]

There is no one true color of white light. "The color temperature of sunlight above the atmosphere is about 5900 K."

[@alphabond1116]

I've been writing a post apocalypse story where a CME struck the Earth, causing world wide black outs. I just happened to set the CME event in 2012. Didn't even know that actually nearly happened that year until I watched this.

[@Kavlantis]

Loving this. The only bad thing about this is that it has less than 140,000 views. The world would be a lot better place if it had 1,400,000 views.

[@TheLiberatedMonkey]

This is so awesome! Keep doing this! You're great at it.

[@coweatsman]

The 1859 event called the Carrington Event crashed the telegraph system. It was a once in a 500 year event. It will happen again in the future and the effects will be far more reaching than in 1859.

[@isabellavillaluna4913]

Just imagine how different things would be if the CME occurred in 2012. And as Phil says, we'd still be recovering! It's astonishing to think of all the things that we would have experienced if those particles from the Sun hit our planet Earth.

[@cutie_playsyt411]

Wow astronomy is awesome! I really want to learn more things about the solar system and teach it to others!

[@martoantoniuk]

This was an amazing episode. Thank you :)

[@chatlydeguit4873]

"The sun is a 2 octillion ton Gorilla, we need to respect that." Love that line😂

[@GP-qb9hi]

Excellent explanation! Thanks.

[@ChaosCrayons]

My favorite video so far! Thanks guys.

[@NoahTopper]

"If solar storms were like Earth storms, a solar flare is like a tornado, and a CME is like a hurricane." -John Green

[@hot4crocs443]

These Crash Course videos are going to save me from failing my science exam this semester...

[@tomctutor]

1.4KWatt for each square meter at the earths equator, on a good day of course. That's the amount of EM from the sun we get, that's what enable's us to have solar panels that can produce clean energy. The UV from the sun is what generates photosynthesis for plants and is the source of ALL your food. Thankyou Sol for all those free things. ☼

[@freddan6fly]

I found your series during a hospital visit when being too tired for reading, Really great stuff thank you Phil.

[@ragnarbirgisson394]

so we are basically fucked if the sun farts on us?

[@Nate303]

Sadly, yes we are all screwed when it happens, and it's bound to eventually. Be ready!

[@user-ed1mj5zk6f]

Not in so elegant words. The sun,other stars, pulars, magnetars, supernovas, and others . I enjoy this .

[@coweatsman]

The sun giveth and the sun taketh.

[@yes-nd7bx]

yep!

[@militantpacifist4087]

All hail the Sun! ☀️ 🙆

[@huemanyeet5608]

Militant Pacifist the ☀️is a god

[@swapnilsonawane9874]

Yes. Chief god in pretty much all cultures across world.

[@lutraenhydris3231]

_Goddess._ Her name is Amaterasu.

[@artinarakelian660]

Phil, Seeing you in person I know how passionate are you about Astronomy & Science. You are doing great job on educating us. Thank you.

[@mattr7229]

I love these videos… thanks Phil… you rule!

[@filipinordabest]

Sun is love, sun is life.

[@huemanyeet5608]

filipinordabest yea

[@skydragon3857]

@a ramdom astronomy star wow

[@thaliavinyaya3025]

Please tell me I'm not the only one who rocks out to the theme song!!!!!!!!!! :D

[@helenmarfleet6330]

Excellent videos for people who want to learn about outer space, should be required viewing for flat earthers. BTW, I love the model of the NX-01 you have to the left :)

[@koki8399]

Awesome Video Series! Brillant and so great to watch!!!!!

[@charlesramsey8773]

great video!!

[@RYN988]

Earth: I’m so cool. The Sun: Hold my Corona.

[@noahdavis401]

Puppy Perkins lol i was just going to say that

[@callumedits]

Ayyyyeeeee it’s corona time XD

[@davidcerny1501]

Love the sun animation at the beginning

[@Vaydore]

I have seen you on science channel, Phil!! you are a great astronomer and teacher!!

[@THE_YAD]

i wish we had youtube when i was in school, physics would have been more interresting...

[@Entropic_Alloy]

Considering how important and powerful the Sun is, ancient civilizations had the right idea worshiping it.

[@faraazaleem3047]

neoepochx worship its creator.

[@lulmiek]

Man, I love crash course! My Science teacher shows it at school and I loved eeeeeeeet

[@Fitzibutzi]

Haha nice, I have a exam about the sun tomorrow, and you connected all what I have learned over the last few days in one video. Thank you for that.

[@per_ringnes]

we in Norway had a total eclipse some days ago :)

[@jmrjmr8254]

CRASH COURSE PHILOSPHY PLEASE!

[@cuckoophendula8211]

Oh my gosh, that would be too awesome.

[@Alexaflohr]

This I would love to see. That and Crash Course Sociology.

[@JuniorAngel8888]

This needs to happen.

[@alexsitaras6508]

they might be hesitant to touch on it since some topics might be controversial, but i would like to see it

[@B4brenda]

There is Crash Course Philosophy. I believe Hank Green is the host.

[@Rubinicus]

This makes me think about the time Gabe from the USA The Office show shouted at Andy : Shut about the Sun! Great clip!

[@thevoidlookspretty7079]

I love that when describing starts, people have to do crazy math because there aren’t many actual ways to describe its size, mass, or energy with comparisons to things we know.

[@jayit6851]

The sun brought us into this world and it can take us out. Respect mama Sol.

[@namename2273]

8:05 I want a banna to scale!

[@malignor9035]

It would be nice to cover the material density at the different depths.

[@mistery4437]

Very informative and I enjoyed it a lot.

[@lincolnpepper816]

8:06 has this mystery been solved (since it has been 5 years and he said we may solve it soon)

[@brokenlizard56]

The sun is a mass of incandescent gas, a gigantic nuclear furnace

[@culwin]

***** The sun is a producer of videos on KZbin such as SciShow, CrashCourse, and VlogBrothers and brother of novelist John Green.

[@billc0sby183]

Thank you so much! I have a surprise quiz tomorrow and this video helped save me from failing !

[@tiffanyo8792]

All of this is so fascinating! The way you deliver the information can only be described in one word...perfection! I can’t wait to learn more from you!

[@SanguineThor]

Praise the Sun! And all of its terrifying yet life giving glory

[@headrockbeats]

So, America, are you glad you didn't allow Romney to shut down PBS?

[@Tyngdlyftning1]

Flashback?

[@headrockbeats]

Just curious.

[@anti-god1976]

*Fuck that guy.*

[@headrockbeats]

***** During the presidential race in 2011/2012, Mitt Romney - the Republican who eventually ran against Obama - kept saying that if he became president, he would shut down PBS. That's the Public Broadcast Service, a government-funded public channel (like most democratic countries have). PBS mostly produces educational shows and other nationally-significant "boring" programs - including this particular Crash Course series - rather than producing reality TV and other stupid sh*t that makes lots of money. The reasons why Republicans thought this was a good idea may be hard to understand if you're a rational person. Basically it's all about cutting government spending and making money. Fortunately he didn't become president, PBS was not shut down, and we all got Crash Course Astronomy. YAY!!!

[@headrockbeats]

***** What, pray tell, did I lie about? That Romney promised to shut down PBS? Because this is KZbin, you know, the video footage is here.

[@Aydin2122]

Thanks guys you saved the day! Thank you for taking time away from your families so nice of you... I really appreciate it you're too kind.

[@ranchdressing1037]

I enjoyed this learning session immensely.

[@jesperonesand5616]

I love the orange shirt :) realy nice (y)

[@gregmiller9710]

He must be waiting to transfer to another prison lol

[@janAlekantuwa]

Harambe lives on in the Sun

[@saigesheen]

Max Burger-Roy R.I. P

[@Doc_Loc]

rip harambe the king

[@youngbougie5560]

Where are your parents?

[@Artyforpeace]

Great video!! Keep it up!

[@calencor]

Thanks Phil! im binging these for the past couple days!

[@AnthonyBatistanator]

This episode was so dam hot, but no mention of supernovas. Does this mean theirs going to be a whole episode on supernovas?

[@nfetters]

We're talking about the sun which won't go supernova, there still might be an episode about supernovas though.

[@AnthonyBatistanator]

nfetters I should have have known that lol. Yes, an episode on all the types of stars and supernovas would be cool. Don't think it could be considered CC astronomy if you didn't mention them.

[@AbsurdJosh]

Anthony Batista Hey Rob Stark.

[@Matthew-hp1bb]

4:21 Oh no the sun has Coronavirus!

[@zfloyd1627]

Lolol

[@xelaboksan]

Every episode is fantastic! Thank you Phil!

[@Zzeo7]

as a graphic designer/space lover, this video is just perfect! very clear and informative :D

[@Shadbraw]

next time I look at the sun....I'll say, "thanks, you're amazing!" Right before I go blind

[@awesometico]

The sun is so beautiful..... This proves I am right about the Flying Spaghetti Monster.

[@anti-god1976]

*Sorry dude. But one night I got a little hungry...the spaghetti monster was the first thing I saw. He tastes great with parmesan.*

[@awesometico]

It is him, the false deity "god" you make eat his spare noodles but you will never have his infinite mass of knowledge.

[@awesometico]

Oh you watch drunken peasants :) all is forgiven #ban TJ

[@anti-god1976]

awesometico #BanScotty

[@anti-god1976]

awesometico *YOU SPELLED MY NAME WRONG BITCH ITS God NOT god!*

[@isaidromerogavino8902]

Hey, great work explaining such a topic! It was, to me, a perfect manner. At the start, it seemed like this video was going cool, but it just went nuts when focusing on the Sun's magnetic field. It's great to learn about the relations between its magnetic field and the dynamics of those Solar events. Thanks a lot!

[@ohaimochi]

Amazing stuff, can't wait for episode 11!