#Photosphere definition free#

The solar photosphere, located above the convection zone. This texture is caused by the numerous convection cells within the underlying convection zone. The photosphere is the visible surface of a star (optical wavelengths), and in particular the Sun. The granulated, orange-peel like, appearance of the Sun originates from the photosphere.

#Photosphere definition free#

When these magnetic field lines effectively break, the previously constrained material can burst free at high speeds in the form of solar flares. The photosphere is the portion of the atmosphere where we are able to measure with some confidence the magnetic field that pervades the Sun outer layers. Sunspots arise when strong magnetic fields inhibit the hot plasma from rising up through the underlying convection zone. Dark spots move across the surface of the sun, contracting. The typical temperature of the photosphere is some 6000 oC, although relatively cool (4000 oC) regions known as sunspots are not uncommon. The lowest visible layer of a star, lying beneath the chromosphere and the corona. Sunspots are regions on the photosphere of the sun that appear dark because they are cooler than the surrounding photosphere. It is only a few hundred kilometres thick. noun photosphere the visible surface of the sun, several hundred kilometres thick 0 noun photosphere the visible surface of the sun 0 See all 4 definitions of photosphere. The term itself is derived from Ancient Greek roots,, /phos, photos meaning light and /sphaira meaning sphere, in reference to the fact that it is a spherical surface that is perceived to emit light.

The photosphere is effectively the radial zone at which the density of ionised hydrogen atoms becomes low enough that the photons can escape unhindered. Photosphere is the lowest visible layer of a star, lying beneath the chromosphere and the corona. While the chromosphere resides above the photosphere, and, in turn, the corona envelopes the chromosphere, the density of the chromosphere and corona are so low that they are transparent. The photosphere is typically regarded as the surface of our Sun.