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atmosphere

Layer of gases surrounding a material body

EntityQ8104

Subclass of: gas
, shell of an astronomical object
Part of: astronomical object

Overview

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia · Read full article · Text CC BY-SA 4.0

An atmosphere is a layer of gases that envelop an astronomical object, held in place by the gravity of the object. The name originates from Ancient Greek ἀτμός (atmós) 'vapour, steam' and σφαῖρα (sphaîra) 'sphere'. An object acquires most of its atmosphere during its primordial epoch, either by accretion of matter or by outgassing of volatiles. The chemical interaction of the atmosphere with a solid surface can change its fundamental composition, as can photochemical interaction with the host star. A body retains an atmosphere for longer durations when the gravity is high and the temperature is low. The stellar wind works to strip away a body's outer atmosphere, although this process is slowed by a magnetosphere. The further a body is from its star, the lower the rate of atmospheric stripping.

Overview

All data

60 statements · 18% with external sources · numbers in brackets are citations

Has effect: atmospheric pressure
Different from: firmament
Members / parts: aerobiosphere
Studied by: atmospheric physics
Has characteristic: atmospheric phenomenon
Opposite of: outside the atmosphere

On other databases

41 identifiers linking atmosphere across the web's reference databases

Data quality

statements

18%

externally sourced

Source last edited October 7, 2026. AIDb refreshes this page daily.

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AIDb. (2026). atmosphere (Q8104). Retrieved from https://aidb.si/e/atmosphere-Q8104