The heat from the Sun gets to the surface of the Earth by radiation and not by convection because:
i. Radiation does not require material medium for its propagation: Since the space between the Sun and Earth is a vacuum ( i.e it is an empty space), then the only method for the heat from to Sun to get to the Earth is by radiation. This method does not require a material medium, while convection is a method that requires material medium for its propagation.
ii. Radiation occurs without heating the intervening medium: During the propagation of the heat from the Sun to the Earth, the space between the two heavenly bodies is not heated up. Some fraction of the heat after hitting the surface of the Earth get reflected back into the Earth's atmosphere. While in convection, the medium would have been heated up in the process.
