The sun doesn't have a scientific name, it is sometimes called Sol. Solis is Latin for sun; Sol is the Roman equivalent of the Greek sun God Helios. The sun does have a symbol, which is a circle with a dot in the center. The International Astronomical Union, at this stage have agreed on a official name for the sun.

The sun has extremely important influences on our planet: It drives weather, ocean currents, seasons, and climate, and makes plant life possible through photosynthesis. Without the sun's heat and light, life on Earth would not exist.

The Sun is a huge, glowing sphere of hot gas. Most of this gas is hydrogen (about 70%) and helium (about 28%). Carbon, nitrogen and oxygen make up 1.5% and the other 0.5% is made up of small amounts of many other elements such as neon, iron, silicon, magnesium and sulfur.