Earth's Magnetosphere and the Solar Wind
Earth's Magnetosphere and the Solar Wind
The Earth's magnetosphere is an encompassing magnetic field that protects the Earth from harmful radiation and charged particles from the Sun and other sources. In the absence of other bodies, the magnetosphere would be radially symmetrical, but the solar wind distorts it drastically. This dragging effect allows radiation to penetrate but also explains events like the northern and southern lights. Use the slider to see how the magnetosphere changes depending on the Earth's position with respect to the Sun (the Demonstration is always initialized with the Earth's current orientation). Check out the three-dimensional perspective for a wider scope.