Science ****

solar maximum

greatest number of sunspots in any given solar cycle.

hydrogen

element found within the core of the sun; takes place in the process of nuclear fusion to create helium and energy alike

plasma

ionized gas, a gas into which sufficient energy is provided to free electrons from atoms or molecules and to allow both species, ions and electrons, to coexist. The funny thing about that is, that as far as we know, plasmas are the most common state of matter in the universe

photons

particle representing a quantum of light or other electromagnetic radiation.

random walk

path of the Photons through the Sun's plasma

solar flares

giant eruptions on the sun's surface

helioseismology

science of studying vibrations the sun.

space weather

solar flares and stuff that happens on the sun

Aurora Australis

A natural electrical phenomenon characterized by the appearance of streamers of reddish or greenish light in the sky, usually near the northern or southern magnetic pole

solar minimum

Similar to 'Solar Maximum', however it is the opposite of the greatest amount of sunspots. Rather, it is the minimum

Solar wind

The solar wind is a stream of energized, charged particles, primarily electrons and protons, flowing outward from the Sun, through the solar system at speeds as high as 900 km/s and at a temperature of 1 million degrees (Celsius). It is made of plasma.

CME

a coronal mass ejection is] a massive burst of gas and magnetic field arising from the solar corona and being released into the solar wind

prominences

a large, bright, gaseous feature extending outward from the Sun's surface, often in a loop shape. Prominences are anchored to the Sun's surface in the photosphere, and extend outwards into the Sun's corona

radiation zone

a layer of a star's interior where energy is primarily transported toward the exterior by means of radiative diffusion and thermal conduction, rather than by convection. Energy travels through the radiation zone in the form of electromagnetic radiation as photons.

geomagnetic storms

a temporary disturbance of the Earth's magnetosphere caused by a solar wind shock wave and/or cloud of magnetic field that interacts with the Earth's magnetic field."

chromosphere

a thin region below the corona, only 30,000 km thick

convection zone

above the radiative zone and below the photosphere. This region is 200,000 thick, and is where gases circulate.

corona

an aura of plasma that surrounds the sun and other celestial bodies. The Sun's corona extends millions of kilometres into space and is most easily seen during a total solar eclipse, but it is also observable with a coronagraph

photosphere

below the Chromosphere and above the convection zone. This layer is the one we see from the earth every day.

core

center of the sun where nuclear fusion takes place; nuclear fusion is the source of the sun's constant flow of energy, and as a result has allowed the sun to live for billions of years.

helium

colorless, odorless, tasteless, non-toxic, inert, monatomic gas that is created within the sun's core through the process of nuclear fusion

fusion

combination of the nuclei of small atoms to form a larger nucleus; releases energy."

sunspots

cooler, dark spots of the photosphere of the sun."

fission

splitting of an atom

solar wind

stream of energized, charged particles, primarily electrons and protons, flowing outward from the Sun, through the solar system at a temperature of 1 million degrees (Celsius). It is made of plasma."