Sun
The Sun is the star at the centre of the Solar System.
3.828 × 10¹⁴ TWLuminosityEveryday quantities
Sun vs Power station
What are they, and what does the difference actually look like?
Two things. One honest scale.
Meet the pair
What these two things are
Power station
The electrical power produced by a facility that generates electricity for distribution to users.
1 GWPowerThe luminosity of Sun is about 3.83 × 10¹⁷ times the power of Power station.
01
Sun3.828 × 10¹⁴ TWLuminosity
02
Power station1 GWPower
Power is energy per unit time: one watt is one joule per second.
Measurements, assumptions & sources +
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 luminosity is calibrated. Unmeasured illustration details are representative.
Power station
A chosen 1 GW electrical output. Capacity and actual generation differ.
Defined examples — our methodology
The marked power is calibrated. Unmeasured illustration details are representative.
Change the comparison
Put something else beside it.
Measurement details
Why these numbers?
The visual compares luminosity with power. The records below preserve each value’s basis and caveats.
Sun
3.828 × 10¹⁴ TWLuminosity · 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.
Power station
1 GWPower · example
A chosen 1 GW electrical output. Capacity and actual generation differ.
- Comparing
- Luminosity ↔ Power
- Relative size
- Sun is larger on this measurement by a factor of about 3.83 × 10¹⁷.
How to read the visual
The labelled spans and stored measurements determine the scale; unmeasured illustration details do not.
- Sun is labelled approximate; treat the displayed value as a comparison anchor rather than false precision.
- Power station is labelled example; treat the displayed value as a comparison anchor rather than false precision.
There’s always another scale
Follow your curiosity.
SpaceSun1,391,000 kmThe Sun is the star at the centre of the Solar System.PowerPower station1 GWThe electrical power produced by a facility that generates electricity for distribution to users.
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.
SpaceEarth–Sun distance1 AUThe Earth–Sun distance, or astronomical unit, is the standard measure of separation between Earth and the Sun used in astronomy.
PowerLED bulb9 WThe electrical power drawn by a light-emitting diode lamp used for illumination.
PowerElectric kettle3 kWThe electrical power used by an electric kettle to heat water.Side by side
Another point of view.
