noun
corona
kuh-ROH-nuh/kəˈrəʊnə/
A luminous ring or halo around a body.
During a total eclipse, the Sun's corona glows around its darkened disk.
Etymology
Latin corona meant a crown or garland. The astronomical meaning carries that surrounding shape into the sky: the luminous region around the sun appears like a crown during a total eclipse.
In context
… once the photosphere is fully covered by the moon the sun's wispy outer atmosphere appears this is the corona
More examples
- Thin clouds create a pale corona around the Moon.
- The Sun's corona is much hotter than its visible surface.
- Astronomers study the coronas of stars using specialized instruments.
Forms
corona · coronas · coronae