Magnetosphere
A magnetosphere is a region around an astronomical object, such as a planet. It is the region where charged particles are affected by the object's magnetic field.[1][2] The magnetosphere of the Sun is called the heliosphere. Ions and electrons of the solar wind are deflected by the heliosphere.
Since a magnetosphere is magnetic, it is invisible. However, the Earth's magnetosphere makes the Aurora Borealis. This is what causes the "Northern Lights" that shimmer in the night sky near the North Pole.
The border between magnetospheres is called a magnetopause.
Magnetosphere Media
A rendering of the magnetic field lines of the magnetosphere of the Earth.
An artist's rendering of the structure of a magnetosphere: 1) Bow shock. 2) Magnetosheath. 3) Magnetopause. 4) Magnetosphere. 5) Northern tail lobe. 6) Southern tail lobe. 7) Plasmasphere.
Infrared image and artist's concept of the bow shock around R Hydrae
Artist's rendition of Earth's magnetosphere
Diagram of Earth's magnetosphere
References
- ↑ "Magnetospheres". NASA Science. NASA.
- ↑ Ratcliffe, John Ashworth (1972). An Introduction to the Ionosphere and Magnetosphere. CUP Archive. ISBN 9780521083416.
