The Sun Our Main Star Layers of the

The Sun Our Main Star

Layers of the Sun • There are 3 main Layers to the Sun’s atmosphere: – Photosphere – Chromosphere – Corona

Photosphere • • The lowest layer of the Sun’s Atmosphere The visible surface of the Sun Where most of the light is emitted (given off) Temperature about 5800 K or 9980 F

Chromosphere The next layer up above the photosphere 2500 Km thick Temperature 30, 000 K or 53, 540 F Usually only visible during a solar eclipse, the photosphere needs to be blocked • Appears red • •

Chromosphere

Corona “Crown” • The top layer of the Sun’s atmosphere • Several million kilometers thick • Temperature is between 1 million and 2 million degrees Kelvin • Made of gas, so it is very dim

Corona

Other Features of the Sun • Solar Winds- Gas that flow off of the corona

Sunspots • Areas that appear on the photosphere. • Look darker because they are cooler

Solar Flares • Violent eruptions of particles and radiation from the Sun’s surface

Prominence • Arc of gas ejected from the chromosphere

Sun & Nuclear Fusion Notes • The Sun is a typical star. 1. The Sun is about 75% hydrogen and 25% helium.

Sun & Nuclear Fusion Notes • In nuclear fusion, small atoms combine into larger atoms, releasing huge amounts of energy.

Sun & Nuclear Fusion Notes • The Sun changes more than 600 million tons of hydrogen into helium every second!