Solar granule

In solar physics and observation, granules are convection cells in the Sun's photosphere.

They are caused by currents of plasma in the Sun's convective zone, directly below the photosphere.

The grainy appearance of the photosphere is produced by the tops of these convective cells; this pattern is referred to as granulation.

A typical granule has a diameter on the order of 1,500 kilometres (930 mi)[1] and lasts 8 to 20 minutes before dissipating.

Below the photosphere is a layer of "supergranules" up to 30,000 kilometres (19,000 mi) in diameter with lifespans of up to 24 hours.

An illustration of the structure of the Sun
High-resolution image of the Sun's surface taken by the Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope (DKIST).