The sun plays an integral role in all life on Earth. One of the most basic facts about the sun is that the surface of the sun is about 5,000 degrees Fahrenheit. The interesting part about the sun, however, is that its atmosphere is much hotter, reaching between 2 million to 4 million degrees Fahrenheit. This peculiarity has caused scientists to research more about the sun throughout the years, and there have been some new insights into how the sun operates.
Scientists have recently taken images of the sun which have helped understand why the outer layer of the sun is around 800 times hotter than the sun’s surface. In July, scientists released a device called the High Resolution Coronal Imager into space. This 464-pound, 10-foot long telescope stayed outside of Earth’s atmosphere long enough to take several high-resolution images of the sun’s atmosphere.
Through these images created by the High Resolution Coronal Imager, scientists observed that small bands of magnetism near the surface of the sun would group together, snap apart, and ultimately release bursts of heat and energy. This process is what is causing the sun’s atmosphere to be hotter than its surface. Moreover, these flares and bursts of heat could be as hot as 7 million degrees.
An interesting part about this flare-up process is that there are times when it pauses. These pauses cause the heat and energy to build up, resulting in a large outburst called a flare or coronal mass ejection. Coronal mass ejections occur when great amounts of gas and magnetic fields burst from the sun, and they have been known to damage satellites and take out power grids.
Does this article make your Blasters think of the sun in a different light? The sun is such an important part in our lives, and we cannot underestimate its complexities and significance. Let us know what you think about this article!
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