The Sun
The Center of the Universe
The Sun's Layers
The sun has 6 Layers
The Core
- central, center region of the sun
- where nuclear reactions take hydrogen and form helium
- the reactions release energy that leaves the suns surface as light
The Radiative Zone
- energy is generated by nuclear fusion in the core
- it moves outward as electromagnetic radiation
- energy is conveyed by photons
The Convective Zone
- energy is transported by convection in the convective zone
- the surface of this zone is where photons are created
- top layer is called the photosphere
The Photosphere
- the visible surface of the sun
- about 100 km thick
- where solar light appears to be emitted
- not solid
The Chromospere
- emits reddish glow as hot hydrogen burns off
- can only be seen during a solar eclipse
The Corona
- the aura of plasma that surrounds the sun and other planets
- most easily seen during a solar eclipse
- can be seen with a coronagraph
Sunspots
- dark spots that appear on the suns surface due to the suns magnetic field rising up to the photosphere
Prominence
- a large bright arc of gas extending outward from the surface of the sun
- strong magnetic fields hold a prominence above the suns surface
Solar Flare
- when the high, intense radiation erupts on the sun's surface
- caused by magnetic field of the sun
Aurora
- auroras appear as bright dancing lights
- causes by collisions between electrically charged particles from the sun that enter the earth's atmosphere
- seen above north and south poles
Citations
https://www.google.com/search?q=the+sun%27s+Corona&espv=2&biw=1024&bih=610&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwj2i4uD39LJAhWSth4KHTndCfYQ_AUIBygB#imgrc=6_p3LCSkCMixuM%3A
http://web.utah.edu/astro/sun.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chromosphere
study.com/.../the-suns-chromosphere-definition-temperature-facts.html
science.howstuffworks.com/sunspot1.htm
www.space.com/29326-biggest-sun-solar-flare-2015-video.html
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HFT7ATLQQx8
http://www.fotomage.com/gorgeous-aurora-borealis/
www.aurora-service.eu/aurora-school/aurora-borealis/