magnetoszféra

The magnetosphere is the region of space surrounding a planet or other celestial body that is significantly influenced by its magnetic field. It is formed by the interaction between the planet's intrinsic magnetic field and the charged particles of the solar wind, which is a stream of plasma emanating from the Sun.

The Earth's magnetosphere acts as a protective shield, deflecting most of the harmful charged particles from the solar wind and cosmic rays. These particles are channeled by the magnetic field lines, often accumulating in regions known as the Van Allen radiation belts. The magnetosphere is not a perfect sphere; it is compressed on the sunward side by the solar wind and stretches out into a long tail, called the magnetotail, on the anti-sunward side.

The dynamic nature of the magnetosphere leads to phenomena such as the aurora borealis and aurora australis. When charged particles from the solar wind penetrate deeper into the magnetosphere, they can interact with gases in the Earth's upper atmosphere, exciting them and causing them to emit light. Variations in the solar wind and solar activity can cause disturbances in the magnetosphere, known as geomagnetic storms, which can affect satellite operations and power grids. Other planets in our solar system also possess magnetospheres, though their size, shape, and strength vary depending on the planet's magnetic field and its interaction with the solar wind.