How Deeply Can We See Into the Sun?

  • Context: Graduate 
  • Thread starter Thread starter blumfeld0
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Sun The sun
Click For Summary
SUMMARY

This discussion focuses on the depth of visibility into the Sun, emphasizing that visibility varies with the line of sight. It clarifies that what we observe is light emitted from a low-density plasma, contrasting it with the challenges of seeing through fog. The conversation confirms that wavelength significantly influences visibility, as the photon mean free path, which is dependent on wavelength, determines how deeply we can see into the Sun. The product of the mean free path and plasma density ultimately dictates optical depth.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of photon mean free path
  • Knowledge of plasma physics
  • Familiarity with optical properties of light
  • Basic concepts of wavelength and its effects on visibility
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the relationship between photon mean free path and plasma density
  • Explore the principles of plasma physics in astrophysics
  • Study the effects of wavelength on light scattering and absorption
  • Investigate optical depth in astrophysical contexts
USEFUL FOR

Astronomers, astrophysicists, and students interested in solar physics and the optical properties of stellar plasmas.

blumfeld0
Messages
146
Reaction score
0
How deeply into the Sun can we see?
What are we actually seeing?
Is wavelength related to how much we can see into the sun?
 
Astronomy news on Phys.org
blumfeld0 said:
How deeply into the Sun can we see?

Varies with the line of sight.
What are we actually seeing?

Light emitted from a low density plasma, kinda like the opposite of trying to see through fog over a great distance (since the plasma is emitting, rather than scattering and blocking the light)

Is wavelength related to how much we can see into the sun?

Yes, because the photon mean free path (how far photons travel before being scattered or absorbed) is wavelength dependent, and it is the product of the mean free path and density that determine how 'deep' we can see optically.
 
Last edited:

Similar threads

High School What If We Could See the Past by Placing a Mirror on the Sun?
  • · Replies 13 ·
Replies
13
Views
3K
High School Brightness of different layers of the Sun
  • · Replies 29 ·
Replies
29
Views
3K
High School How bright is the Sun compared to the sky?
  • · Replies 17 ·
Replies
17
Views
4K
High School Can We See This Massive Coronal Hole on the Sun?
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
2K
Undergrad Angle of Sun by date and zip code?
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
2K
High School Seeing a half Moon - where is the Sun?
  • · Replies 19 ·
Replies
19
Views
3K
Graduate Radius of the Sun: Can We Accurately Predict It Through Theoretical Models?
  • · Replies 15 ·
Replies
15
Views
2K
High School The Sun's Influence on the Moon's Orbit: Is it Negligible?
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
3K
Undergrad Orbital distance increase during the white dwarf phase of the Sun
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
1K
Undergrad Granules On The Sun: Photosphere Or Convection Zone?
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K