What Features Can You See on the Sun?

Pg 148-149

Bellwork! Write the question and answer on page 149

1. List the layers of the sun (interior and atmosphere) in order from innermost to outermost

Bellwork! Write the question and answer on page 149

1. List the layers of the sun (interior and atmosphere) in order from innermost to outermost

1. The core, Radiation Zone, Convection Zone, Photosphere, Chromosphere, Corona

What Features Can You See on the Sun?pg 149

• Features on or just above the sun’s surface include sunspots, prominences, and solar flares

• Sunspots are areas of gas on the sun’s surface that are cooler than the gases around them. Sun spots look small, but they can be larger than Earth.

• Huge loops of gas called prominences often link different parts of sunspot regions

• Sometimes the loops in sunspot regions suddenly connect, releasing large amounts of magnetic energy. The energy heats gas on the sun to millions of degrees Celsius, causing the gas to erupt into space. These eruptions are called solar flares.

Discuss with your neighbor which picture you believe is a sunspot and which is a prominence

Write the answers on page 148

Write the answers on page 148

Exit Ticket! Write the answer somewhere on page 148

1. Define prominence

2. Why do sunspots look darker than the rest of the sun’s photosphere?