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  3. Magnetosphere
Planetary Science

Magnetosphere

Definition

The region of space surrounding a planet dominated by its magnetic field. Earth's magnetosphere extends tens of thousands of kilometers, shielding the planet from harmful solar wind particles. Without it, solar radiation would strip the atmosphere.

Related Terms

Aurora

A natural light display in Earth's sky, predominantly seen in high-latitude regions. Auroras are caused by charged parti...

Solar Wind

A continuous stream of charged particles from the Sun's corona at 300-800 km/s. It shapes planetary magnetospheres, driv...

Van Allen Belts

Two doughnut-shaped zones of energetic charged particles trapped by Earth's magnetic field. The inner belt is at 1,000-5...

Explore Related Topics

Dive deeper into magnetosphere and related concepts on Cosmos Observatory.

Solar System Explorer

Explore planets, moons, and orbital data.

Mars Rover Photos

Surface imagery from Curiosity and Perseverance.

Asteroid Tracker

Monitor near-Earth objects in real time.

Full Glossary

Browse all 66+ space and astronomy terms.

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