Weblog
14 October 2014
Photo voltaic Dynamics Observatory
If you have a look at a picture of the Solar, you would possibly discover that it’s edge seems barely dimmer than its middle. That is an impact generally known as limb darkening, and its really fairly helpful to astronomers.
Wikipedia
All of it has to do with our line of sight to the Solar. After we view the center of the Solar, we’re trying straight into the Solar. After we view the sting of the Solar, we see gentle coming at a glancing edge by way of the Solar. Due to the density of the Solar’s environment, the sunshine we observe all the time comes from about the identical distance by way of the higher layer of the Solar. So within the center we see to a sure depth into the Solar, however on the sting we see gentle from a extra shallow depth. The depth we observe will be decided by easy geometry, so by trying throughout the Solar, we are literally seeing to a various depth at totally different factors.
NASA/Hubble
The rationale the Solar seems dimmer close to the sting is as a result of the Solar will get hotter the deeper you go. This is smart, however with limb darkening we are able to show it. The truth is, with detailed measurements of limb darkening, we are able to decide simply how the temperature of the Solar varies with depth.
An analogous impact happens with different stars. There are only some stars the place we are able to resolve this straight, however Betelgeuse is an effective instance. Within the case of Betelgeuse, the darkened area is way wider than that of the Solar, which signifies Betelgeuse has a a lot thicker environment. That is typical of crimson large stars, which, whereas bigger than the Solar, are a lot cooler and fewer dense.
