matahari

Matahari is the Indonesian and Malay word for the Sun. In everyday language it refers to the star at the center of the Solar System and to the daylight sun in general, playing a central role in culture, science, and daily life in communities where these languages are spoken.

Etymology and usage: The term combines mata (eye) and hari (day), a construction that reflects the sun as the “eye of the day.” In standard writing, matahari is usually lowercase when referring to the Sun in a general sense, and may appear capitalized in titles or when treated as a proper name.

Astronomical profile: The matahari is a G-type main-sequence star that provides most of the energy sustaining life on Earth. Its diameter is about 1.39 million kilometers, and its mass is roughly 1.99 × 10^30 kilograms. The Sun’s surface temperature is about 5,500–6,000 degrees Celsius, and its luminosity is approximately 3.8 × 10^26 watts. It sits at an average distance of about 149.6 million kilometers from Earth, known as one astronomical unit (AU), with light taking roughly eight minutes to reach our planet. The Sun’s internal structure includes a core, radiative and convective zones, and its outer layers comprise the photosphere, chromosphere, and corona.

Cultural relevance: Matahari appears in literature, poetry, and everyday speech as a symbol of brightness, life, and vigor. It is also used as a personal or brand name in Indonesian and Malay contexts, reflecting the sun’s significance across language and culture.