Stellar corona

A corona (pl.: coronas or coronae) is the outermost layer of a <a href="/facts/Star/PFbd6ICx">star</a>'s <a href="/facts/Stellar_atmosphere/Ll4LjxIn">atmosphere</a>. It is a hot but relatively <a href="/facts/Luminosity/1tdhpk9l">dim</a> region of <a href="/facts/Plasma_(physics)/1d3btMVU">plasma</a> populated by intermittent coronal structures known as solar <a href="/facts/Solar_prominence/ShLDJjCn">prominences</a> or filaments.
The <a href="/facts/Sun/CadPCVHh">Sun</a>'s corona lies above the <a href="/facts/Chromosphere/TurLRnLk">chromosphere</a> and extends millions of kilometres into outer space. Coronal light is typically obscured by <a href="/facts/Diffuse_sky_radiation/HqPS9Ugv">diffuse sky radiation</a> and <a href="/facts/Glare_(vision)/AzWTpN9x">glare</a> from the solar disk, but can be easily seen by the naked eye during a total <a href="/facts/Solar_eclipse/2XsCFG1a">solar eclipse</a> or with a specialized <a href="/facts/Coronagraph/ggUUrlYY">coronagraph</a>. <a href="/facts/Spectroscopic/mj71FuNK">Spectroscopic</a> measurements indicate strong <a href="/facts/Ionization/W13Ceavd">ionization</a> in the corona and a plasma temperature in excess of 1000000 <a href="/facts/Kelvin/E3trzC4C">kelvins</a>, much hotter than the surface of the Sun, known as the <a href="/facts/Photosphere/32a139LB">photosphere</a>.
Corona (<a href="/facts/Latin_language/pM3Kge85">Latin</a> for 'crown') is, in turn, derived from <a href="/facts/Ancient_Greek_language/LIK7NlUh">Ancient Greek</a> κορώνη (korṓnē) 'garland, wreath'.

Stellar corona open-in-new

Stellar corona