What are the sun's photosphere, chromosphere and corona?

Question

Henry Asbill · Accepted Answer

The photosphere, chromosphere and corona are three layers of the Sun's atmosphere.

The photosphere is the Sun's outer shell from which light is radiated. It has a surface temperature of about 6,000K.

The chromosphere is above the photosphere. I is a low density layer which is about 2,000km thick. It is called chromosphere because it has a red to pink colour. It is normally only visible during a solar eclipse.

The corona is plasma surrounding the Sun which extends hundreds of kilometers from the surface of the Sun. It is much hotter than the surface of the Sun with temperatures reaching 3,000,000K. It is clearly visible during a solar eclipse or using a coronagraph. The shape of the corona varies with solar cycles.

Anna Armstrong · Answer

undefined The outermost layer of the Sun's atmosphere that is visible to the unaided eye is called the photosphere; it radiates heat and light; the middle layer is called the chromosphere; it is situated above the photosphere and appears reddish during solar eclipses; and the outermost layer is called the corona; it is made up of extremely hot and ionized gas and is visible as a faint, pearly white halo surrounding the Sun during a solar eclipse.