The unimaginably hot outer layer of the sun s atmosphere can reach temperatures of 1.7 million degrees Fahrenheit due to campfires on the surface, study finds.
In June last year, ESA released the closest images ever taken of the sun, by the Solar Orbiter, which, for the first time, showed campfires dotted across its surface.
The images revealed around 1,500 small, flickering brightenings that last for between 10 and 200 seconds and span between 248 and 6,500 miles across.
New data from the European Space Agency s (ESA) Solar Orbiter suggests these campfires are driven by a process that may also contribute to heating of the sun s outer atmosphere, or corona, triggering temperatures of 1.7 million Fahrenheit.
Solar campfires may heat the Sun s atmosphere to scorching temperatures | Science
sciencemag.org - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from sciencemag.org Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Small solar flares helping shed light on the Sun s mysterious heating process | East London and West Essex Guardian Series
guardian-series.co.uk - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from guardian-series.co.uk Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Small solar flares helping shed light on the Sun s mysterious heating process
barryanddistrictnews.co.uk - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from barryanddistrictnews.co.uk Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.