What is the photosphere of the Sun?

What is the photosphere of the Sun?

Photosphere – The photosphere is the deepest layer of the Sun that we can observe directly. It reaches from the surface visible at the center of the solar disk to about 250 miles (400 km) above that.

What is photosphere description?

The photosphere is the visible “surface” of the Sun. The Sun is a giant ball of plasma (electrified gas), so it doesn’t have a distinct, solid surface like Earth. This level is what we see as the glowing “surface” of the Sun – the photosphere. The temperature of the photosphere is around 5,500° C (about 9,900° F).

What is the photosphere for kids?

Photosphere. The photosphere (meaning “sphere of light”) is the lowest layer of the Sun visible from Earth. This thin layer is the lowest level in the Sun’s atmosphere.

Why is it called the photosphere?

The photosphere is a star’s outer shell from which light is radiated. The term itself is derived from Ancient Greek roots, φῶς, φωτός/phos, photos meaning “light” and σφαῖρα/sphaira meaning “sphere”, in reference to it being a spherical surface that is perceived to emit light.

What does the chromosphere refer to?

Definition: Chromosphere is a reddish and glowing layer of gas above a star’s (or Sun’s) photosphere. It is actually the transition between corona and the photosphere. The chromosphere, thus, can be only seen during a complete solar eclipse.

What is photosphere chromosphere and corona?

The Sun – our central star Beginning from the outside, they are: the corona – the outermost, hot shell of the atmosphere. the chromosphere – a transparent layer between the corona and the photosphere. the photosphere – the visible “surface” of the Sun.

What is in the chromosphere?

The chromosphere is above the photosphere, the visible “surface” of the Sun. It lies below the solar corona, the Sun’s upper atmosphere, which extends many thousands of kilometers above the chromosphere into space. The plasma (electrically charged gas) in the chromosphere has a very low density.

What is the chromosphere and what occurs there?

The chromosphere (“sphere of color”) is the second of the three main layers in the Sun’s atmosphere and is roughly 3,000 to 5,000 kilometers deep. Its rosy red color is only apparent during eclipses. The chromosphere sits just above the photosphere and below the solar transition region.

What is the chromosphere made up of?

The chromosphere is mainly made of hydrogen and helium plasma, which is ionized to produce red visible light, as seen during an eclipse.

What does the chromosphere contribute to the solar spectrum?

A wavelength of 656.3 nm is in the red part of the spectrum, which causes the chromosphere to have its characteristic reddish colour. By analysing the spectrum of the chromosphere, it was found that the temperature of this layer of the solar atmosphere increases with height in the chromosphere itself.

What type of light does photosphere emit?

The Sun’s photosphere behaves pretty much like a blackbody radiator. If we look at the Sun in visible or IR light, we will pretty much be observing the photosphere. However, the Sun emits more high energy UV and X-rays than a blackbody radiator would. These high energy photons are mainly emitted from the Sun’s atmosphere.

What are dark spots on the photosphere called?

The dark spots on the photosphere are known as the sunspots. Sunspots are usually visible in groups and are temporary because they only come and go. Magnetic fields are believed to have been involved in the occurence of the sunspots.

Are sunspots located on the photosphere?

Sunspots are located in the cooler photosphere, beneath the hot gases shown in this image, and vary in phase with the emission from these hot gases-more sunspots and more emission from hot gases occur together. (credit: modification of work by ESA/NASA/SOHO)

What does photosphere mean in astronomy Dictionary?

photosphere in Astronomy Dictionary The noticeable area of Sun; the top of surface of a convecting layer of gases in the external percentage of the sunlight whoever temperature triggers it to radiate light at visible wavelengths; sunspots and faculae are found in photosphere.