The Sun

The Sun is one of the seven planets and one of the largest creations explicitly mentioned in the order of the Six Days of Creation.

Nature of the Sun

The Sun possesses both matter and form. Its form, which represents its spiritual aspect, drives the Sun's body to travel thousands of parsaot (biblical measurement of distance), as the Sun's body, which is 11,000 parsaot wide, travels tens of thousands of parsaot in a single rotation, all out of a desire to bow before Hashem. The Sun possesses more daat (knowledge/consciousness) than humans but less than malachim (angels).

Size

The Rambam wrote that the Sun's size is 167 times larger than Earth's sphere.

Some question this, as astronomy books state it's 1.25 million times larger. The Rebbe addressed this, saying that like other similar "scientific" questions - the questioner is ignorant in science! The explanation is that the 1.25 million figure refers to volume, while the Rambam spoke about diameter.

The current diameter value in astronomy books is about 110 (not 167), but this measurement only accounts for certain layers of the Sun, not all of them, since the outermost layers (according to current astronomers) change through contraction and expansion significantly over time. Not all layers are visible to the eye, and only their effects can be "seen," making them difficult to measure. They also don't account for Protuberance, though sometimes they've observed and measured expansions that made the Sun's diameter more than 170 times Earth's diameter, before later contracting.

Distance from Earth

According to our Sages, before Adam HaRishon's sin, the Sun was seven times closer to Earth than its current proximity, and now it's seven times further from that distance, which is why it appeared larger then.

Movement

Since even researchers have determined it's impossible to know whether the Sun orbits Earth or vice versa, not due to lack of information or primitive thinking, but because with any two bodies in relative motion, it's impossible to determine which one is moving, there's certainly no reason not to learn according to the simple meaning of the pesukim (verses) - that the Sun orbits the Earth.

Solar Eclipse

A total solar eclipse occurs when the moon blocks between the Sun and Earth, causing its concealment. This type of eclipse is more common than lunar eclipses, but the chance of seeing a total solar eclipse from any given settlement is rare and happens only once every few hundred years. This is in contrast to lunar eclipses which are easier to observe, a difference stemming from the stars' sizes.

It is accepted from Chazal regarding the pasuk "Do not be dismayed at the signs of heaven" that when Yidden do Hashem's will, they need not fear solar or lunar eclipses. However, while there is nothing to fear, it generally serves as a bad sign for the entire world.

The Rebbe explains that Hashem predetermined there would be times of eclipse when the negative mazal would rule the world, with the eclipse serving as a sign of this. However, when Yidden behave properly, they have nothing to fear since there is nothing to punish them for, making the negative mazal's dominance meaningless for them. Additionally, they need not worry about the negative inclination during this time (in personality traits and the like), since Yidden can transcend the influence of the spheres and mazalot through their avodah in Torah and mitzvot.

Its Significance According to Chassidut

[This section is incomplete. Please contribute to Chabadpedia and complete it. There may be more details in the discussion page.]

See Also

• Sunlight in the Sun

Sources

• The Lubavitcher Rebbe, in Shaarei Emunah