Magnetospheres of our Solar System

  • Released Monday, September 16, 2019
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A magnetosphere is the magnetic field shields a planet against the Sun's dangerous radiation. Not all magnetospheres are alike. This animation depicts the unique magnetospheres around Earth, Mars, and Jupiter. To demonstrate their strength, each planet's magnetosphere receives a direct hit from a coronal mass ejection (CME) - a cloud of dense radiation and magnetic field from the Sun.

The impact of the CME on the planet depends on the strength of the magnetosphere. On Mars, the magnetosphere is weak and patchy, resulting in some loss of the planet's atmosphere. At Earth, the magnetosphere acts as a buffer, deforming from the impact, but protecting the planet. For Jupiter, the punch of the CME is barely felt by the massive magnetic field.

Animation of a coronal mass ejection impacting Mars, Earth, and Jupiter. Credit: NASA GSFC/CIL/Bailee DesRocher

Animation of a coronal mass ejection impacting Earth. Imagery is not to scale. Credit: NASA GSFC/CIL/Bailee DesRocher

Animation of a coronal mass ejection impacting Jupiter. Imagery is not to scale. Credit: NASA GSFC/CIL/Bailee DesRocher

Animation of a coronal mass ejection impacting Mars. Imagery is not to scale. Credit: NASA GSFC/CIL/Bailee DesRocher

Animation of a coronal mass ejection impacting Mars, Earth, and Jupiter. This version does not include text. Imagery is not to scale. Credit: NASA GSFC/CIL/Bailee DesRocher

Credits

Please give credit for this item to:
NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center Conceptual Image Lab

This page was originally published on Monday, September 16, 2019.
This page was last updated on Wednesday, May 3, 2023 at 1:45 PM EDT.