pho
tos
phere
Plural
photospheres
1
the visible surface of a star, including the Sun, where energy is emitted as light and other forms of electromagnetic radiation
- The photosphere of the Sun appears as a bright, glowing disk when observed with proper solar filters.
- Astronomers study the photospheres of distant stars to determine their temperature and chemical composition.
- The temperature of the photosphere of a star like Sirius can reach over 10,000 degrees Celsius.
- Solar flares and sunspots often originate from disturbances in the Sun's photosphere.
- The photosphere marks the boundary between a star's opaque surface and its outer atmosphere.