The Sun shines by turning hydrogen into helium in its core. This process is called nuclear fusion. Fusion happens when lighter elements are forced together to become heavier elements. When this happens, a tremendous amount of energy is created.

What makes the sun glow?

The hottest part of the Sun is its core. The heat and light spreads out from the centre of the ball of gas toward the edges, and that's what makes the Sun glow.

Why does the sun appear to shine?

Stars produce a lot of energy, which makes them shine. The Sun looks bigger and brighter than any other star because it is closer to Earth. Its brightness means that we can see it, even though it is far away.