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Why does the chromosphere appear pink during a total solar eclipse?
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Joshua trees at sunset, Joshua Tree National Park, southern California, U.S.
The chromosphere appears pink during a total solar eclipse primarily due to the intense red light emitted by hydrogen atoms.12
Specifically, this coloration is caused by the hydrogen alpha (Hα) spectral line, which occurs at a wavelength of 6562.8 angstroms. During a total eclipse, the Moon obscures the brilliant photosphere, allowing this thin, vibrant layer of the Sun's atmosphere to become visible as a bright, pinkish ring around the edge of the solar disk. Because the chromosphere is transparent between its emission lines, this distinct hue stands out against the dark sky during the brief period of totality.123