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Solar rotation
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<p>Solar rotation varies with <a href="/facts/Latitude/IBYqkjhU">latitude</a>. The <a href="/facts/Sun/CadPCVHh">Sun</a> is not a solid body, but is composed of a gaseous <a href="/facts/Plasma_(physics)/1d3btMVU">plasma</a>. Different latitudes rotate at different periods. The source of this differential rotation is an area of current research in solar astronomy. The rate of surface <a href="/facts/Rotation/yChkz49x">rotation</a> is observed to be the fastest at the <a href="/facts/Equator/CjaxbVaN">equator</a> (latitude <i>φ</i> = 0°) and to decrease as latitude increases. The solar <a href="/facts/Rotation_period/vHcCt6cu">rotation period</a> is 25.67 days at the equator and 33.40 days at 75 degrees of latitude. </p><p>The Carrington rotation — a system for tracking the Sun's rotation, as seen from Earth — at the current <a href="/facts/Coordinated_Universal_Time/2EnjfSyu">UTC</a> time of 29 May 2025 04:49:01, is CR2298 (see: § Carrington rotation, below). </p>