光球是恒星向外辐射出光线的区域。它从天体的表面向内延伸，直到气体变得不透明的区域，大约相当于光深度（光的减弱距离以自然对数形式表示）2/3的位置。换言之，光球是天体外层对普通的光线透明，光子的平均散射次数小于1的区域。恒星辐射的总能量相当于在该半径处气体辐射的总能量。由于恒星没有固体的表面（除了中子星），光球通常指的就是太阳或恒星可以被看见的视觉表面。这个字的英文源自古希腊的字根φως¨- φωτος／photos和σφαιρος／sphairos，意思就是光和球，事实上就是被观察到表面发光的球体。

The photosphere is a star's outer shell from which light is radiated. The term itself is derived from Ancient Greek roots, φῶς, φωτός/phos, photos meaning "light" and σφαῖρα/sphaira meaning "sphere", in reference to the fact that it is a spherical surface that is perceived to emit light. It extends into a star's surface until the plasma becomes opaque, equivalent to an optical depth of approximately 2/3. In other words, a photosphere is the deepest region of a luminous object, usually a star, that is transparent to photons of certain wavelengths.