![]() ![]() Another idea is that solar tornadoes, which are giant vertical spirals of plasma that interact with the Sun’s magnetic field, could also lead to high coronal temperatures. It’s possible that millions of nanoflares, which are tiny explosions happening at the solar surface, are creating the energy that heats up the corona. Researchers aren’t sure exactly why the corona is so hot. The corona is much hotter than the Sun's surface, about 1 million ☌ compared to 5,500 ☌ (9,940 ☏). Why is the Corona So Much Hotter Than the Surface of the Sun? The corona is wispy, white streamers of plasma (charged gas) that radiate out from the surface of the Sun. During a total solar eclipse, the corona briefly comes into view as the Moon blocks out the light from the solar surface. The surface of the Sun is far too bright to allow a glimpse of the much fainter solar atmosphere. Earth actually orbits within the atmosphere of a star! We Can’t Usually See the Corona The solar wind is really just an extension of the Sun's atmosphere that engulfs all of the planets. It extends many thousands of kilometers above the visible surface of the Sun, gradually transforming into the solar wind that flows outward through our solar system. The uppermost portion of the Sun's atmosphere is called the corona. The wisps of plasma are typically hidden by the brightness of the Sun’s surface. The Sun’s corona is visible during a total solar eclipse. ![]()
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