The Sun (IMAGE) University of Delaware Caption The sun is a fiery ball of plasma gas some 93 million miles from Earth. The part of the sun we can see is estimated to be as hot as 6,500 degrees Kelvin (11,000 degrees Fahrenheit). However, the atmosphere around the sun is estimated to be much hotter, at over 1 million degrees Kelvin (1.8 million degrees Fahrenheit). Credit Image courtesy of NASA, Solar Dynamics Observatory, September, 2010. Usage Restrictions Image should include credit to NASA. License Licensed content Disclaimer: AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert system.