magnetosphere

[ mag-nee-tuh-sfeer ]

noun

, Astronomy.

1. the outer region of the earth's ionosphere, where the earth's magnetic field controls the motion of charged particles, as in the Van Allen belts. Compare magnetopause.
2. such a region of another planet:

   Jupiter's magnetosphere.

magnetosphere

/ mæɡˌniːtəʊˈsfɛrɪk; mæɡˈniːtəʊˌsfɪə /

noun

1. the region surrounding a planet, such as the earth, in which the behaviour of charged particles is controlled by the planet's magnetic field

magnetosphere

/ măg-nē′tō-sfîr′ /

1. A highly asymmetrical region surrounding the Earth, beginning about 100 km (62 mi) above the surface on the side of the Earth facing the Sun and extending hundreds of thousands of kilometers into space on the opposite side. In this region the Earth's magnetic field exerts a significant influence on any charged particles that encounter it. The magnetosphere deflects most of the charged particles in the solar wind , but also traps and deflects some of these particles toward the Earth's magnetic poles, causing magnetic storms and auroras .

Derived Forms

• magnetospheric, adjective

Other Words From

• mag·ne·to·spher·ic [mag-nee-t, uh, -, sfer, -ik], adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of magnetosphere¹

First recorded in 1955–60; magneto- + -sphere

Example Sentences

They explored a planet’s ability to form a magnetosphere—a magnetic field that protects it from solar radiation, like the one around Earth does for us—as a window into habitability, Kraus says.

From Popular-Science

Other factors can decide whether a magnetosphere will form, too, such as how well the material in the core lets heat or electricity flow through it.

From Popular-Science

We needed a moon for tidal action, plate tectonics, magnetosphere, and these are just rare in the universe.

From Nautilus

Future satellite observations could confirm whether electrons from the magnetosphere are pouring into the atmosphere in the region of a STEVE picket fence, he says.

From Science News

Those night lights are instead generated by electrons raining down on the atmosphere from inside the magnetosphere.

From Science News For Students