Earth's Magnetosphere

67K  JPEG NASA Image from MSFC Space Plasma Physics Earth's Magnetic Field

The Earth's magnetic field is like that produced by a large bar magnet. However, the interior of the Earth is not permanently magnetized. The magnetic field may be explained by the dynamo theory. In this theory, the magnetic field is produced by rotation of Earth's fluid metallic core.

97K  JPEG NASA Image from MSFC Space Plasma Physics The Solar Wind and Earth's Magnetosphere

 

Magnetic Anomalies The strength of the magnetic field is not uniform over the surface of the Earth. Variations in the magnetic field (anomalies) are related to the nature of the rocks of the Earth's crust. Most anomalies in the oceans can be related to either oceanic ridges or deep-sea trenches.

 

Explorer 1
Explorer 1, the United States' first successful satellite, was launched on Jan. 31, 1958. The model shown here of the Explorer 1 satellite is on display in Milestones of Flight (gallery 100) in the National Air and Space Museum.  Data from Explorer 1 led to the first discovery using an artificial satellite, the Van Allen Belts.	Explorer 1 Photo ©Smithsonian Institution #80-4976 by D. Penland

 

The Van Allen Belts
	Charged particles such as protons or electrons, may be trapped by the Earth's magnetic field. These trapped particles that surround the Earth are called the Van Allen Radiation Belts, after their discoverer, Dr. JamesVan Allen. < NASA Image from MSFC Space Plasma Physics

 

Aurorae
44K  JPEG	Clouds of ionized (electrically charged) gases from the solar wind become trapped in the magnetosphere to form the aurorae or northern lights (aurora borealis) and southern lights (aurora australis) . The aurorae generally occur at altitudes above 100 kilometers (60 miles) in rings about 17 degrees from the magnetic poles.  These images show spectacular views of Earth's aurorae taken by astronauts aboard the Space Shuttle.
NASA Space Shuttle Image STS039-23-020 Aurora Australis, Sinuous Loop May, 1991

 

40K   JPEG NASA Space Shuttle Image STS039-342-026 Aurora Australis, Spike & Sinuous Red & Green Airglow May 1991	35K JPEG NASA Space Shuttle Image STS047-20-015 Aurora Australis Sept, 1992	24K   JPEG NASA Space Shuttle Image STS059-52-029 Aurora Australis & Orion April, 1994
All Aurora images from  NASA Image Exchange

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