s8pe-41401-ca 10/31/05 7:09 PM Page 455 MAZER PDF

Layers of the Sun

Energy produced by fusion in the Sun’s
core flows out through its layers.
prominence

1
Energy is produced in
the Sun’s core.
sunspots

2
Energy moves by radia-
tion through the
radiative zone.

3
Currents of hot gas in
the convection
zone carry energy
outward.

4
The photosphere is
the visible layer of
the Sun.

5
The chromosphere
is the middle layer of
the Sun’s atmosphere.

6
The corona, the
Sun’s outermost layer,
has a very low density.

Corona

Energy travels by radiation

and convection from the
Sun’s core out into space.

During a solar eclipse, the corona

becomes visible because the much
brighter photosphere is hidden.
The corona varies in shape.

Chapter 14: Stars, Galaxies, and the Universe 455