The Sun, in detail.

Universe is unimaginably vast and complex. In spite of all advancements in science and technology we are clueless of many mysteries of our solar system. We are still in cradle, we have to go a long way ahead to unfold what Universe has in its sleeves. You would be amazed to know that although Sun, being the biggest star of our solar system is nothing compared to the size of stars seen in galaxies far away.

Sun is the center of our solar system holding whole planetary system in place giving life, light, energy to our planet earth. Sun is a huge ball, containing hydrogen and helium held together by its own gravity

From the center to the out most layer Sun is divided into two main regions:

                   

   1.Interior regions of the sun.

             2.Outer  zones of the sun.

 

       

The figure above shows all inner and outer layers/zones of sun.You can see heliosphere, a Magnetic bubble extending beyond all 9 planetary orbits.

Lets study Interior regions in detail.Interior regions of the sun is further subdivided in to three parts which are as follows:

 

                 1. The Core:

         The core is the hottest part of the sun. This is due to the Nuclear fusion reactions where hydrogen atoms fused to form helium. This reactions are power source for sun's  heat and light. Here temperatures can go up to 27 million degree farenheit(15 million degree centigrade) with the thickness of about 86000 miles(138,000 kilometers) and density of about 150 grams per cubic centimeters.

    2. The Radiative Zone:

The Radiation from core zone bounces around Radiative zone. Radiation travels from Radiative zone to the next zone called Convection zone.

   3.The Convection zone:

 

It takes 170,000 years for radiation to reach at the top of Convection zone from the Core. In the Convection zone temperature drops below 3.5 million degree fahrenheit(2 million degree centigrade). Here large bubbles of hot plasma of ionized atoms moves upwards towards photosphere, which falls in the outer regions of sun's atmosphere.

Now, let's study the outer regions or sun's surface in details.

Outer regions or sun' surface, is further divided in to three parts which are as follows:

   1.Photosphere:

The sun's surface unlike any other planetary surface is not solid as we see on the earth. But as the name photosphere suggests, it is just a layer of visible light sphere, which we see from the earth's surface.

Although we call it a surface, photosphere actually is a first layer of sun's solar atmosphere. Its 250 miles thick with temperatures reaching up to 10000 degree farenheit (5500 degree centigrade). That's much lower than the blazing Core region but its still hot enough to make carbon forms like diamond and graphite - not just melt but boil. Most of the radiation from photosphere escapes outwards into space.

    2.Chromosphere - The transition zone:

 

This is a very thin layer comes next to photosphere.

   3.Corona: 

The chromosphere rapidly heats up and transforms into Corona.

   Sun's Atmosphere:

The three layers Photosphere, Chromosphere and Corona forms the Sun's atmosphere also called sun's upper atmosphere where we see features such as sunspots, coronal holes and solar flares

    Heliosphere:

Once material leaves corona, the outermost sun's layer, it travels at a supersonic speeds and becomes solar winds, which forms a huge magnetic bubble around the Sun called Heliosphere.

The heliosphere extends beyond the orbits of the planets of our solar system. Our Earth do comes inside the heliosphere. Outside the heliosphere is interstellar space.

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