(SPACE.com) In a strange twist of solar physics, the shape of our sun is rounder than previously thought, yet at the same time, it is also flatter -- or squashed -- more often, making the star ...

That's because even slight changes in the sun's shape can alter its brightness and, as a result, influence weather and climate on Earth. But getting a read on the sun's shape from the ground is ...

Silhouette photography obscures the details and instead emphasizes shape and form ... Outside, make sure your subject is between you and the sun, or frame them against a bright sky.