1.Sun

The Sun
Photosphere: normally mean surface of the sun
Chromosphere: The gases of the Sun extend far beyond the photosphere, which may be considered the lowest level of the solar atmosphere.
Corona: During a total eclipse of the Sun, few minutes the Moon completely covers the Sun's face, a glow appears around the darkened Sun the solar corona.
Size: 1,392,000km

Sunspots: Sunspots are cool, dark patches on the sun's surface. They come in many shapes and sizes; they often appear in groups. These spots are much bigger than the Earth. They can be over 10 times the diameter of the Earths.

Prominences: A solar prominence (also known as a filament) is a gas that erupts from the surface of the Sun. Most prominences will erupt, spewing enormous amounts of solar material into space.

Solar flares: A solar flare is a magnetic storm on surface of the sun which appears to be a very bright spot and a gaseous surface eruption.


Will solar flares destroy the Earth in 2012?
Apparently the energy from these solar flares can be enough to produce 100 billion atomic bombs. But it's nothing to be concerned about it because this all happens low down in the sun's corona (outer surface). This electromagnetic radiation produced from these solar flares includes radio waves, x-rays and gamma-rays.
Solar activity consists on an 11 year cycle and the Sun being more active in the 11th year. The next cycle to be completed will be in 2012. This is why some are expecting that will happen large solar flares in 2012.