Science & Nature · 2
What is the name of the outermost layer of the Sun?
Answer
Corona
The corona is the outermost layer of the Sun's atmosphere, extending millions of kilometers into space and becoming visible only during total solar eclipses. Composed of sparse plasma at extremely low density, the corona's temperature reaches millions of degrees Celsius, far hotter than the Sun's visible surface (photosphere) at 5,500°C. This temperature paradox remains one of astronomy's puzzles. The corona is responsible for solar winds, solar flares, and coronal mass ejections that impact Earth's magnetosphere and can disrupt satellites and power grids.
💡 Did you know?
The Sun's corona reaches temperatures of 2-3 million Kelvin, millions of times hotter than its surface—a mystery that has puzzled scientists for decades.
Other options people guess
- Core
- Photosphere
- Chromosphere
Topics
- astronomy
- sun
- solar-physics
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