Astron. [f. CHROMO- 2 + SPHERE.
The form of this word has been objected to in favor of chromatosphere. But although the latter shows the usual Greek type of compounds from sbs. in -μα, ματ-, the shortened form was also used: see, e.g., the compounds in σπερμο- for σπερματο-, also those in ὑδρο- not ὑδατο-.]
The red gaseous envelope round the sun, outside the photosphere.
Stellar chromosphere: the gaseous envelope supposed to exist round a star.
1868. (19 Nov.) Lockyer, in Phil. Trans., CLIX. 430. The continuity of this envelope, which I propose to name the Chromosphere, a name suggested by Dr. Sharpey.
1869. Roscoe, Elem. Chem., 288. Hydrogen is found … surrounding the luminous portions of the sun’s body as a zone of incandescent gas, termed the solar chromosphere.
1878. Huxley, Physiogr., xxi. 367. Above the luminous photosphere is another envelope, which is known as the chromosphere.
1879. Newcomb & Holden, Astron., 304. The chromosphere or sierra.
