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Our Sun
Question | Answer |
---|---|
Core | Center of the sun where fusion takes place. |
Radiative / Radiation Zone | Middle layer of the sun. Energy travels from the core through this zone by radiant (wave) energy |
Convective / Convection Zone | Top layer of the sun. Energy travels from the radiation zone to the outer surface through here by means of convection cells. |
Photosphere | Lowest layer of the sun's atmosphere. Appears yellow to us. Provides the light from the sun. VERY thin layer |
Chromosphere | Middle layer of the sun. Thicker than the photosphere. Appears as a reddish rim during a solar eclipse. |
Corona | Outer atmosphere of the sun. Varies in size. Hottest part of the sun. Only seen during a solar eclipse. |
Granulation | Grainy appearance of the photosphere. |
Magnetic Storm/ geomagnetic storm | disruption in the Earth's magnetic field due to discharges of solar winds from the sun. |
Prominence | Large gaseous loop anchored in the photosphere. Can extend into the corona of the sun |
Space Weather | Conditions relating to the sun and it's solar winds that can impact technology and life on earth. |
CME | Coronal Mass Ejection. Mass release of gas and magnetic field from the corona of the sun released into the solar wind. |
Flare | sudden flash of brightness released over the sun's surface. Fantastic amount of energy. Usually seen over the limb of the sun |
Plages | French for "Beach". White spots usually found surrounding sunspots |
Sunspots | Cooler areas of the sun. Caused by disruption in the magnetic field. Located on the photosphere |
Coronal Hole | Darker, colder areas of the corona that create a "hole" in the energy of the corona |
Solar Wind | plasma that streams off from the corona of the sun |
Spicules | small, needle-like projections found in the chromosphere. Last just minutes. |
Helmet Streamers | features that usually occur over sunspots. Look like the points on old helmets. Found in the corona |
Photons | packet of light energy |
Limb | edge of the sun |
Filaments | Prominences that are seen directly instead of on the limb of the sun. |