if the sun was any closer would we melt?
952186
It's generally true that the further the Earth were from the Sun, the colder it would be, and the closer the warmer.  However, this is not necessarily the most important factor.  For example, the Earth is closer to the Sun when it is winter in the Northern Hemisphere, not further.  But the winter is cold because the Northern Hemisphere tilts away from the Sun at this time.  In a nearly circular orbit, the tilt of the axis is a stronger effect than the orbit's eccentricity.  However, with all other things equal, the planet's temperature would vary with distance from the Sun.\n\nThe Sun has a range of orbits around it that are considered a "habitable zone."  The Earth could have different orbital distances within this range, and life on Earth could theoretically continue, but probably with great disruption to the ecosystem.  Not all species would survive.  Humans would have a good shot because we could use technology to warm or cool our enviornment as needed.  Closer to the Sun that the habitabile zone, the heat and radiation are too intense for life as we know it.  Further away, the heat and light available are insufficient to sustain life.\n\nEarth could quite possibly exist as a habitable planet in the orbits current occupied by Venus and Mars.  Venus is extremely hot, but much of that comes from Venus' runaway greenhouse effect that makes its surface hotter than that of Mercury, which is closer to the Sun.  Mars is rather cold, but that is partly due to the planet's lack of greenhouse gases, preventing it from retaining the Sun's energy to the extent that Earth does.
101964
none, because the center of the earth is approximately 3000 to 5000 degrees celsius.
10868
It could, because it doesn't need to be freezing on the GROUND, only in the air, for the moisture in the air to crystalize and fall. It would melt, of course.
862744
Not unless we had left the region.  Even inside the Earth we wouldn't survive because our Earth would be torn apart, some radiation would still reach us and we would have nothing to go back to on the surface (take your pick of the best reason).\n\nBut the one fellow is right, our sun is not massive enough to supernova it will turn into a red giant (which would likely kill us anyway from the increased radiation) and then would slowly collapse, then shed it's layers as a planetary nebula.\n\nEven if it were large enough we would get a warning though, a star swells (to a red supergiant) before it supernovas!
1138859
solar rays could do that
703047
No, I would think melting it would give off some fumes too.  You boys play safe outside in open air, lol
1010702
Yes, the sun will burnout. It is using hydrogen as a nuclear fusion fuel and will run out of it in about 5 billion years. At that time, the hydrogen in the Sun's core will be gone, the outer layers will expand and the Sun will become a red giant. It will continue burning hydrogen (and hellium) from these outer layers for about 1 billion years. Then all the fuel will be gone and what has left form the sun will collapse to form a white dwarf. The white dwarf won't have fuel to burn, but it will be initially very hot, so it will emit radiation for many millions of years before it cools down.\n\nI believe by that time life forms on Earth will be advanced enough to survive in one way or another, including the ancestors of humans. In fact, life forms will be affected by the Sun much earlier. In a 100 million years, the Sun will become hot enough to accelerate hydrogen molecules in the Earth's atmosphere enough so that they leave the planet. This would eventually lead to the evaporation of the oceans (affecting marine life) and all other water. However, by that time, human ancestors or other life forms should have the knowledge and ability to prevent this from happening (moving Earth further away from the Sun, building a protective shield, etc.)\n\nThank you!
654750
No its not necessarily closer to the sun(visit usgs.org) and even if its closer, it may be closer by 0.000001%.What big difference does that make.Its the difference in air pressure that makes the peaks colder.The higher you go up in the earth's atmosphere,the pressure decreases.And even an object 90% closer to the sun may not be that hot.
382741
The sun is the closest star to Earth.
472595
doubt it the suns outa layer alone has a temp of 6,000°C (11,000°F. and the inner core with a temp of  15,000,000° C; 27,000,000°F. and pressure (340 billion times Earth's air pressure at sea level) is so intense that nuclear reactions take place. so its highly doubtful but if there where they'd be some strong little ufos no human nor animal or even a earths creature could possibly survive the heat that intense
260369
No but it would affect existence on the planet! There is a delicate balance to be maintained and if polar ice caps melted, this balance would be tipped over.  You can certainly expect weird weather.
177229
The human race will survie with great difficulty. The average temprature of earth will plumit to near Zero degrees. World Strom Systems will become depleted of Water vapours thus creating huge famine all over the world.
260515
Apparently, lesser sunlight will get in. That will cause some imbalance on earth.
205247
probably not.  Unless the sun explodes
435456
If the moon was covered with aluminium foil, the reflected light would be brighter but not as bright as daylight, in accordance with the proportion of the moon that is visible.\n\nAnd yes, the earth would heat up a little, because the reflection contains not just extra light, but extra heat as well... and since night is the time when the shadowed earth dissipates the heat, it wouldn't be able to do that if the moon was reflecting some warmth.
262822
No, they'd be extremely too cold.  Unless Mars had a microwave...
926185
You must be kidding.  The Sun is millions of degrees Fahrenheit.  It could melt lead in seconds.  As far as other Stars, a good deal of them are far larger and hotter than our Sun, so it would be humanly impossible.