Lava
Lava is molten rock that erupts from a volcano and flows on the Earth's surface before cooling and solidifying.
1,373 KTemperatureEveryday quantities
Lava vs Sun
What are they, and what does the difference actually look like?
Two things. One honest scale.
Meet the pair
What these two things are
Sun
The Sun is the star at the centre of the Solar System.
5,772 KSurface temperatureLava is 4,399 K cooler than Sun.
Celsius and Fahrenheit zero points are offsets. Compare temperature differences, not ratios in °C or °F. The kelvin axis starts at absolute zero.
Measurements, assumptions & sources +
Lava
A chosen 1,100 °C lava-temperature model; composition and eruption conditions vary.
Defined examples — our methodology
The marked temperature is calibrated. Unmeasured illustration details are representative.
Sun
Our star, modelled with the IAU nominal solar radius. “Surface” means the visible photosphere. The core is much hotter; this is not a solid surface.
IAU — nominal solar and planetary conversion constants
The marked surface temperature is calibrated. Unmeasured illustration details are representative.
Change the comparison
Put something else beside it.
Measurement details
Why these numbers?
The visual compares temperature with surface temperature. The records below preserve each value’s basis and caveats.
Lava
1,373 KTemperature · defined reference
A chosen 1,100 °C lava-temperature model; composition and eruption conditions vary.
Sun
5,772 KSurface temperature · approximate
Our star, modelled with the IAU nominal solar radius. “Surface” means the visible photosphere. The core is much hotter; this is not a solid surface.
- Comparing
- Temperature ↔ Surface temperature
- Relative size
- Temperature comparisons use an absolute difference in kelvins rather than a multiplicative ratio.
How to read the visual
The labelled spans and stored measurements determine the scale; unmeasured illustration details do not.
- Lava is labelled defined reference; treat the displayed value as a comparison anchor rather than false precision.
- Sun is labelled approximate; treat the displayed value as a comparison anchor rather than false precision.
There’s always another scale
Follow your curiosity.
TemperatureLava1,373 KLava is molten rock that erupts from a volcano and flows on the Earth's surface before cooling and solidifying.SpaceSun1,391,000 kmThe Sun is the star at the centre of the Solar System.TemperatureAbsolute zero0 KAbsolute zero is the lowest temperature permitted by thermodynamics, where a system has the least thermal energy available to it.TemperatureRoom temperature20 °CRoom temperature describes indoor air conditions generally considered comfortable for people and suitable for ordinary activities.
Fundamental physicsPlanck temperature1.417 × 10³² KThe Planck temperature is a theoretical temperature scale at which quantum gravitational effects are expected to become important.
SpaceEarth12,740 kmEarth is the rocky planet on which we live and the third planet from the Sun.
SpaceJupiter139,800 kmJupiter is a giant planet composed mainly of hydrogen and helium, orbiting the Sun beyond the asteroid belt.
SpaceNeutron star20 kmA neutron star is the dense remnant core left after a massive star explodes as a supernova, composed mostly of neutrons.Side by side
Another point of view.
