Sun's Corona Heat Mystery Solved by Indian Researchers
Indian researchers have shed light on the extreme temperatures of the Sun's outer atmosphere, offering new insights into solar physics.
The Cliff News | 15 August 2026
Scientists at the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA) in Bengaluru have successfully addressed a long-standing enigma concerning the Sun: the astonishingly high temperatures of its corona.
The Sun's outer atmosphere, known as the corona, typically hovers around one million degrees Celsius, a stark contrast to the visible surface, which measures a mere 6,000 degrees Celsius. During intense solar flares, these temperatures can escalate to tens of millions of degrees, posing a significant puzzle to astrophysicists worldwide.
Solar Corona's Extreme Heat
This groundbreaking study, conducted by a dedicated team at IIA, delves into the mechanisms that drive these extraordinary thermal conditions in the solar corona. The research aims to unravel the physical processes responsible for heating the Sun's outermost layer to temperatures vastly exceeding those of its well-known surface.
The disparity between the Sun's surface temperature and its corona has been a persistent question in solar physics. While the visible surface is where most of the Sun's energy is radiated outwards, the corona remains inexplicably hotter, a phenomenon that has challenged scientific understanding for decades.
New Insights into Solar Dynamics
The IIA researchers' work points towards the Sun's complex magnetic activity as the key driver. The Sun's magnetic field is not static; it is in constant motion, creating dynamic patterns and energetic events.
The study suggests that the intricate "magnetic dance" occurring within the Sun's outer atmosphere plays a crucial role in transferring energy, thereby heating the corona to its extreme temperatures. This could involve processes like magnetic reconnection, where tangled magnetic field lines suddenly reconfigure, releasing vast amounts of energy.