The Sun: A Diagram | Worksheet - Free Printable

1. A flare is a sudden, intense burst of energy and radiation from the sun’s surface, while a prominence is a large, bright feature extending outward from the sun’s surface, often in a loop shape, made of plasma.

2. The photosphere produces the most amount of heat and light that reaches Earth; it is the visible surface layer of the sun where sunlight originates.

3. During a solar eclipse, the chromosphere and the corona become visible because the bright photosphere is blocked by the moon, allowing these fainter outer layers to be seen.

4. Sunspots appear darker because they are cooler than the surrounding photosphere, though they are still extremely hot — their lower temperature makes them less bright relative to the hotter areas around them.

5. The corona, the outermost layer of the sun’s atmosphere, is not usually visible from Earth due to the overwhelming brightness of the photosphere; it can only be seen during a total solar eclipse or with special instruments.