From ultra-long-wavelength radio waves to extremely high-energy X-rays and everything in between, the Sun emits radiation that spans the entire electromagnetic spectrum. The visible region of the spectrum is where this emission peaks.
Generally speaking, different light wavelengths originate from various parts of the Sun’s atmosphere or are caused by specific atoms emitting light at particular wavelengths (spectral emission lines). For instance, the photosphere (or surface) is the source of visible light, while the lower chromosphere, which is directly above, is the source of the majority of infrared light. The Sun’s outer atmosphere provides a large portion of the high-energy UV and X-ray photons.
From ultra-long-wavelength radio waves to extremely high-energy X-rays and everything in between, the Sun emits radiation that spans the entire electromagnetic spectrum. The visible region of the spectrum is where this emission peaks.
Generally speaking, different light wavelengths originate from various parts of the Sun’s atmosphere or are caused by specific atoms emitting light at particular wavelengths (spectral emission lines). For instance, the photosphere (or surface) is the source of visible light, while the lower chromosphere, which is directly above, is the source of the majority of infrared light. The Sun’s outer atmosphere provides a large portion of the high-energy UV and X-ray photons.