The Sun
By: Mikayla Sinclair
Core
The sun's core is where nuclear reactions occur that ultimately lead to the release of energy, causing visible light.
The Photosphere
The Photosphere is the visible surface of the sun that we see most.
The Chromosphere
The chromosphere is an irregular layer above the photosphere. With the extremely high temperatures it sustains, 20,000 degrees Celsius, hydrogen emits reddish light.
The Corona
The Corona is the outermost layer of the sun. It is above the photosphere and cannot be seen without a solar eclipse or a coronagraph.
The Radiative Zone
The radiative zone is the section of the sun's interior between the innermost core and the outer convection zone. In the radiative zone, energy from nuclear fusion in the core moves as electromagnetic radiation(also known as energy being conveyed through photons).
The Convection Zone
The convection zone goes from a depth of 200,000 km to the surface of the sun. Energy is transferred through convection here.
Sunspots
Sunspots are dark, planet-sized spots on the sun that appear dark because they are colder than the places around them.
Prominence
A solar prominence is a bright feature extending from the sun's surface.
The Aurora
The Aurora Borealis and the Aurora Austrailis are caused by solar winds blowing particles to the Earth's atmosphere.
Sources
- http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/iris/multimedia/layerzoo.html
- https://www.cora.nwra.com/~werne/eos/text/convection_zone.html
- http://www.swpc.noaa.gov/phenomena/aurora
- https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/sunearth/news/News022411-monsterprom.html
- http://www.qrg.northwestern.edu/projects/vss/docs/space-environment/3-what-is-solar-flare.html
- http://www.windows2universe.org/sun/atmosphere/sunspots.html
- http://www.windows2universe.org/sun/Solar_interior/Sun_layers/radiative_zone.html