3 ms·
Nit of a nit; the energy might take that long, but the photons that reach us on Earth are not directly created by the nuclear fusion reactions in the sun's core
by qnleigh 1y ago
Nit of a nit; the energy might take that long, but the photons that reach us on Earth are not directly created by the nuclear fusion reactions in the sun's core. Fusion creates high-velocity nucliei and other particles, but not visible light. The resulting heat creates photons which are rapidly destroyed by absorption. Only photon emission from the outer most layers of the sun reach Earth.
- greenbit 1y agoI.e., that bit they refer to as the photosphere, effectively the radiating 'surface' of the sun, is the source of the solar photons that strike us here. That trip takes about 8 minutes.
- HardCodedBias 1y agoYou are totally right! I knew HN would nit my nit, well done!