Light takes about 8 minutes to reach us from the Sun's surface. But the energy was made in the core, and bouncing its way out through the dense inside of the Sun takes tens of thousands of years or more.
Truth label: Established. Strong evidence and broad agreement among experts.
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A random walk
Energy is absorbed and re-emitted countless times, zigzagging slowly outward.
Estimates vary
Calculations range from about 10,000 to over 100,000 years.
Learn
- What powers it. In the core, hydrogen fuses into helium at around 15 million degrees Celsius.
Test yourself
How long does sunlight take to reach Earth from the Sun's surface?
8 minutes. About 8 minutes and 20 seconds.
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