The Solar Atmosphere

• Photosphere
• Lowest, densest level of the solar atmosphere
• Place where most of the Sun's energy escapes into space
• Source of visible sunlight
• Effective temp of 5780 K
• Pressure is only 0.0001 that of the Earth's atmosphere at sea level

• Chromosphere
• Relatively thin
• Temperature rises to 10,000 K
• Gas density  drops to 1 million times less than photosphere

• Corona
• Extends to the edge of the solar system
• Temperature rises to 1 million K
• Very low density
Next  Outline