chromosphere

[ kroh-muh-sfeer ]

noun

, Astronomy.

1. a scarlet, gaseous envelope surrounding the sun outside the photosphere, from which enormous quantities of hydrogen and other gases are erupted.
2. a gaseous envelope surrounding a star.

chromosphere

/ ˈkrəʊməˌsfɪə; ˌkrəʊməˈsfɛrɪk /

noun

1. a gaseous layer of the sun's atmosphere extending from the photosphere to the corona and visible during a total eclipse of the sun

chromosphere

/ krō′mə-sfîr′ /

1. A glowing, transparent layer of gas surrounding the photosphere of a star. The Sun's chromosphere is several thousand kilometers thick, is composed mainly of hydrogen at temperatures of 6,000° to 20,000°K, and gives off reddish light.

Derived Forms

• chromospheric, adjective

Other Words From

• chro·mo·spher·ic [kroh-m, uh, -, sfer, -ik, -, sfeer, -], adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of chromosphere¹

First recorded in 1865–70; chromo- + -sphere

Example Sentences

One more picture of prominences (Fig. 80) is introduced to show the continuous stretch of chromosphere out of which they spring.

From Project Gutenberg

In the same way as the corona, the chromosphere and prominences were for a time supposed to belong to the moon.

From Project Gutenberg

When the chromosphere, in its turn during a total eclipse, has been covered by the moon, the corona alone is left.

From Project Gutenberg

The Corona lies next in order outside the chromosphere, and is, so far as we know, the outermost of the accompaniments of the sun.

From Project Gutenberg

The eruptive prominences spurt up directly from the chromosphere with immense speeds, and change their shape with great rapidity.

From Project Gutenberg