photosphere

noun

pho·​to·​sphere ˈfō-tə-ˌsfir 

1

: a sphere of light or radiance

2

: the luminous surface layer of the sun or a star

photospheric

ˌfō-tə-ˈsfir-ik 

-ˈsfer-

adjective

Examples of photosphere in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Its Solar Optical Telescope is the first ever dedicated to measuring the strength and direction of the sun's magnetic field at the photosphere, the surface of the sun, NASA has said. — Tariq Malik, Space.com, 22 Sep. 2026

That’s despite the sun’s visible surface — its photosphere — being much cooler. — Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 15 Aug. 2026

The imagery and time-lapse video reveal an unprecedented look at the sun’s complex and dynamic photosphere, the visible surface of the sun that exists as a thin layer of atmosphere shaped by magnetic fields and currents of fluid plasma. — Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 5 Aug. 2026

To see them in the solar photosphere, the team pushed DKIST to its limits, zooming in on the outskirts of a sunspot and revealing dozens. — Lee Billings, Scientific American, 5 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

photo- + -sphere; in sense 2 probably as translation of German Lichtatmosphäre

First Known Use

1664, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for photosphere

• atmosphere
• biosphere
• centromere
• chemosphere
• chromosphere
• hemisphere
• hydrosphere
• lithosphere
• mesosphere
• microsphere
• miserere
• mountaineer

Kids Definition

photosphere

noun

pho·​to·​sphere ˈfōt-ə-ˌsfi(ə)r 

: the shining surface of the sun or a star

photospheric

ˌfōt-ə-ˈsfir-ik 

-ˈsfer-

adjective