The Sun's Fiery Layers: Exploring the Solar Atmosphere

June 2nd, 2024

Team LTG

 Ever wondered what makes up the Sun's atmosphere? It's not just one layer, but several! Each with unique properties and extreme temperatures.

The visible surface we see from Earth. Sunspots and granules appear here. Temperature: ~5,500 °C (9,932 °F) 

Photosphere 

A thin layer above the photosphere, visible during eclipses as a reddish glow. Temperature: ~10,000 °C (18,032 °F)

Chromosphere

A rapid temperature change occurs between the chromosphere and the corona. Temperature: ~500,000 °C (900,032 °F) 

Transition Region

The Sun's outermost layer is visible during a total solar eclipse. Temperature: ~1-3 million °C (1.8-5.4 million °F)

Corona

A stream of charged particles flows from the corona into space, affecting Earth's magnetic field and causing auroras.

Solar Wind

Powerful bursts of radiation from the Sun's surface can disrupt Earth's communication systems.

Solar Flares

Large expulsions of plasma and magnetic fields from the corona can trigger geomagnetic storms on Earth.

Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs)