The Chromosphere

At A Glance:

  • Lies Between The Photosphere And The Corona
  • Chromosphere mean Sphere Of Color
  • Much Less Dense Than The Photosphere
  • Temperature Rises Sharply At Outer Edge

In Depth:

The word 'Chromosphere' means sphere of color, named so because during a solar eclipse it appears as a thin ring of color around the moon. Because the chromosphere is much less dense than the photosphere, light from the photosphere is able to pass through it. Therefore, the overwhelming light from the photosphere normally blocks our view of the chromosphere. At the boundary between chromosphere and corona, there is a sharp rise in temperature that has yet to be explained.


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