137
(^4) PROMINENCE
Giant clouds and sheets of relatively cool gas
that loop and arch from the surface are called
prominences. This one extends out the
equivalent of about 20 Earths. The gas
is propelled from the surface by
enormous force built up by magnetic
fields inside the Sun.
(^5) SPICULES
Short-lived flame-like jets of gas
called spicules continuously leap
about 10,000 km (6,200 miles)
from the surface.
(^6) ATMOSPHERE
Directly above the surface is
the chromosphere, the inner
atmosphere that extends out
about 2,500 km (1,550 miles).
Beyond is the corona, which
extends for millions of kilometres
into space. Only the inner
corona is visible here.
(^7) FACULAE
The hottest areas, which appear
almost white, are faculae. They
are particularly active regions
produced by concentrations
in the Sun’s magnetic field.
(^8) SPIN
Unlike Earth, which is solid and
spins as a whole, different parts of
the Sun spin in different amounts
of time. The equator makes one
rotation every 25 days; regions near
the poles take another five or so days.
(^9) CORONAL MASS EJECTION
This twisting prominence was associated
with a coronal mass ejection – a large
bubble of billions of tonnes of gas that
blasted away from the Sun.
6
7
8
9
5
136_137_Sun.indd 137 10/01/19 2:26 PM