Magnetosfeer

Magnetosfeer is the region surrounding a celestial body, such as Earth, where its magnetic field dominates over the solar wind. This magnetic field is generated by the motion of electrically charged fluids within the body's core. The magnetosfeer acts as a protective shield, deflecting most of the charged particles that constitute the solar wind, which is a stream of plasma emanating from the Sun. Without this shield, these particles could strip away the atmosphere and pose a significant hazard to life.

The shape of the magnetosfeer is not symmetrical. It is compressed on the sunward side by the pressure of the solar wind, forming a bow shock. On the night side, it is stretched out into a long tail, known as the magnetotail. The interaction between the solar wind and the magnetosfeer is a dynamic process that can lead to phenomena like auroras, which are visible displays of light in the polar regions caused by charged particles from the solar wind interacting with the Earth's upper atmosphere. The magnetosfeer also plays a role in trapping energetic particles in radiation belts, such as the Van Allen belts around Earth.