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The Psalytranscope

The photosphere : it's a star's outer shell from which light is radiated. The term itself is derived from Ancient Greek roots, photos meaning "light" and sphaira meaning "sphere", in reference to the fact that it is a spherical surface that is perceived to emit light. It extends into a star's surface until the plasma becomes opaque, equivalent to an optical depth of approximately 2/3. In other words, a photosphere is the deepest region of a luminous object, usually a star, that is transparent to photons of certain wavelengths.

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Uploaded on June 9, 2017