Illustration depicting the differential rotation of the sun. Because stars are fluid bodies, not solid; they do not have a simple rotation period. The

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Illustration depicting the differential rotation of the sun. Because stars are fluid bodies, not solid; they do not have a simple rotation period. The Sun, for example, takes 26 days to spin once at the equator, but around 35 days (10 days longer) at the poles. Among other things, this is responsible for magnetic activity, because the uneven rotation buckles and kinks the global magnetic field, creating localised regions of magnetic activity where the field in amplified. This image also shows a cutaway of the interior, showcasing the core (white), the radiative zone (yellow) and the outer convective layer (red-orange). The blue and red patches on the right show one of the Sun's modes of vibration. The colours represent adjacent regions of rising and sinking surface gases.

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Size: 5912px × 5912px
Photo credit: © MARK GARLICK/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: activity, art, artwork, astronomical, astronomy, convective, core, diagram, differential, dynamo, illustration, interior, magnetic, magnetism, modes, photosphere, radiation, radiative, rotation, space, spin, spots, star, starspots, sun, sunspot, sunspots, vibration