corona
/kəˈroʊnə/
Definition
The outermost, rarefied part of a star's atmosphere, characterized by extremely high temperatures and visible as a glowing halo during an eclipse.
Etymology
Derived directly from the Latin word for 'crown' or 'wreath' due to its appearance as a halo around the sun. It entered English in the 16th century to describe various crown-like structures in anatomy and astronomy.
In the news
The word is used in the context of the Parker Solar Probe, which became the first spacecraft to fly directly through the Sun's corona to study its properties. It highlights the extreme environment the probe investigates to better understand solar activity.
Northwest Earth and Space Science Pathways Project Celebrates Student Innovation Through ROADS from Earth to Venus National Challenge
Read the full article ↗NASA Science (.gov)