The Sun's Corona - Definition, Examples, Quiz, FAQ, Trivia
Discover the mysterious outer atmosphere of our nearest star!
What is the Sun's Corona?
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The corona is the sun's outer atmosphere! It's the glowing halo of super-hot gas that surrounds our star. Even though the sun's surface is about 10,000°F (5,500°C), the corona is much hotter—over 1 million degrees! This is one of the biggest mysteries in solar science.
Definition: The corona is the outermost part of the sun's atmosphere, made of plasma (superheated gas) that extends millions of kilometers into space. It's visible during a total solar eclipse as a beautiful, pearly-white crown around the darkened sun.
Solar Fact!
The word "corona" comes from Latin and means "crown"—which is exactly what it looks like during a solar eclipse!
Amazing Corona Features
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The corona isn't just a smooth halo—it has fascinating structures that scientists study:
Coronal Holes
Dark, cooler areas where solar wind escapes into space
Streamers
Long, wispy structures that follow magnetic fields
Loops & Arches
Bright curves formed by magnetic fields trapping hot gas
Solar Wind
Constant stream of charged particles flowing from corona
Temperature Mystery
Why is the corona hotter than the sun's surface?
Scientists use special telescopes called coronagraphs to study the corona. These instruments create an artificial eclipse by blocking the bright face of the sun, allowing us to see the fainter corona any time!
Did You Know?
The corona is about 200 times hotter than the sun's surface! Scientists think magnetic waves might be heating it, but the mystery isn't completely solved yet.
Solar Eclipses & The Corona
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The best time to see the corona is during a total solar eclipse when the moon completely covers the sun's bright face. This creates temporary darkness on Earth and reveals the beautiful corona!
During a total solar eclipse:
• The moon perfectly aligns between Earth and sun
• The sun's bright surface is completely blocked
• The fainter corona becomes visible
• This lasts only a few minutes at any location
Eclipse Safety
Never look directly at the sun without special eclipse glasses! The corona is only safe to view with your naked eyes during the brief total phase of a solar eclipse.
Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs)
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Sometimes the sun releases enormous bubbles of plasma and magnetic fields called Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs). These solar storms travel through space at millions of miles per hour!
When a CME reaches Earth:
• It can create beautiful auroras (northern lights)
• It might disrupt satellites and power grids
• Astronauts in space need special protection
• Scientists monitor CMEs to predict space weather
Solar Superstorms
The largest CMEs can release as much energy as a billion hydrogen bombs! The Carrington Event in 1859 was so powerful it caused telegraph systems to fail.
Solar Quiz
Test your solar knowledge with this quiz about the sun's corona! Answer all 5 questions to see how much you've learned.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are answers to some common questions about the sun's corona:
Solar Trivia
Discover some amazing facts about the sun's corona:
Reaching Far
The corona extends millions of miles into space—so far that Earth could fit between the sun and its corona more than 100 times!
Solar Wind Speed
The solar wind streams from the corona at speeds between 500,000 to 2 million miles per hour! It takes about 4 days to reach Earth.
Touching the Sun
NASA's Parker Solar Probe is the first spacecraft to "touch" the sun's corona. In 2021, it flew through the corona at 364,600 mph!
Surprisingly Thin
Despite being extremely hot, the corona has very low density—about one trillion times less dense than Earth's atmosphere at sea level!
