Solar feature · ~1,000 km cells
Granulation
The mottled, cellular pattern covering the photosphere — the tops of convection cells about a thousand kilometres across, each lasting only minutes. Bright centres are hot plasma rising, dark lanes are cooler plasma sinking. Granulation is the direct visible signature of the convection zone beneath.
Highlights
- ›Convection cells, the visible face of the convection zone
The Sun, its layers & phenomena
Across solar physics
Knowledge connections
- Associated withThe Convection Zone
- Associated withThe Photosphere
- Associated withThe Sun
- Associated withThe Photosphere
- Associated withThe Convection Zone
- Associated withSupergranulation
- Associated withSupergranulation
Sources
The primary and reference sources this topic draws on.
- NASANational Aeronautics and Space Administration
Mission data, planetary science, space telescopes, and public-domain imagery.
Most NASA-produced imagery is in the public domain; individual items are checked for usage terms before publication.