noun
- the visible surfaces of stars from which light is emitted
Usage: astronomy; plural of photosphere
Examples
- The photospheres of different stars vary greatly in temperature.
- Astronomers study photospheres to understand stellar composition.
- The Sun’s photosphere has a temperature of about 5,800 Kelvin.
- Sunspots appear as dark patches on stellar photospheres.
- The photospheres of red giant stars are much cooler than those of blue stars.
- Scientists use spectroscopy to analyze the light from photospheres.