Illustration showing the layers that make up the interior of the Sun. The innermost and densest part is the core, where nuclear reactions generate the power needed to keep the Sun shining. It occupies perhaps 25% to 30% of the radius. Outside this is the radiative zone, extending to around 70% of the way out. Here, energy is carried to the surface via radiative transport as a steady flow of photons. Outside the radiative zone is the convective zone. Here, gas rises in vast cells to the surface (or photosphere), in the same way that heat is transferred (by convection) in a pan of boiling water. | |
Licence : | Droits gérés |
Crédit: | Science Photo Library / Garlick, Mark |
Taille de l’image : | 6000 px × 4000 px |
Model Release : | Non requis |
Property Release : | Non requis |
Restrictions : | - |