When we look up at the sky, the Sun often appears yellow, orange, or even red depending on the time of day. But have you ever wondered — what is the Sun’s actual colour?
According to NASA and multiple astronomical studies, the true colour of the Sun is white.
“The Sun emits all colors of visible light fairly evenly. When combined, this produces white light,” explains NASA in its educational resources on solar radiation [1].
This white light contains all wavelengths in the visible spectrum, which is why when viewed from space, without Earth’s atmosphere interfering, the Sun appears pure white.
☀️ Why Does the Sun Look Yellow from Earth?
The yellowish appearance of the Sun from Earth is caused by Rayleigh scattering — the same effect that makes the sky blue. As sunlight passes through Earth’s atmosphere, shorter blue and violet wavelengths are scattered away, leaving behind the longer yellow and red wavelengths. This is especially noticeable during sunrise and sunset.
📊 Scientific Backing
A study by the National Optical Astronomy Observatory states that the Sun’s surface temperature is about 5,778 K, which corresponds to a white light emission in the blackbody radiation spectrum [2].
🧠 Quick Fact:
“If you could see the Sun from the Moon or from space, it would look white — not yellow,” says astrophysicist Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson [3].
🛰️ Summary
| Perception | Reason |
|---|---|
| Yellow/Orange from Earth | Due to Earth’s atmosphere scattering shorter wavelengths |
| White in Space | Sun emits all visible wavelengths evenly |
So, while the Sun might look yellow from your backyard, in reality, it’s a brilliant white star shining at the center of our solar system.
References
[1] NASA – Solar Radiation Basics (https://science.nasa.gov)
[2] National Optical Astronomy Observatory – Solar Spectrum Analysis
[3] Neil deGrasse Tyson – Astrophysics for People in a Hurry (2017)
