The Eight Layers of the Sun
For daily wit & wisdom, sign up for the Almanac newsletter.
Body
The Sun is Hotter Than Hot!
The Sun's temperature varies over time and throughout these seven layers …
Advertisement
Core
The hottest part of the Sun is the core, at 28,080,000°F, on average.
Radiative Zone
The second layer becomes cooler and is where photon particles carry energy in all directions through a process called radiation.
Tachocline
A thin third layer, the tachocline acts as a border between two differently rotating zones.
Convective Zone
The fourth layer is a zone of boiling, bubbling plasma that transfers energy outward through a process called convection.
Photosphere
The fifth layer is the visible surface where sunspots appear.
Chromosphere
The sixth layer is where the temperature begins to rise again. A thin, reddish layer, the chromosphere is seen only during eclipses or with special solar-viewing equipment.
Transition Region
The layer between the hot corona and cooler chromosphere
Corona
The eighth and outer layer of the Sun gets extremely hot, measuring 1,800,000°F more. This layer extends far into space and is shaped by the Sun's magnetic field, is visible only during eclipses or with special equipment.
Now that's hot!

See more burning facts about your Sun!
Get Almanac’s Daily Updates
BONUS: You’ll also receive our free Beginner Gardening Guide!
Comments