BETA
Chapter 1
The solar engine
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Answer
Chapter 2
Earth's magnetic shield
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Answer
Chapter 3
The atmospheric neon sign
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Chapter 4
Global legends and sister lights
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YOUR GOAL
Master of Why the northern lights happen
Ch 2 · Earth's magnetic shield
artiteacher Deflect solar storms with Earth's magnetic shield to discover how the northern lights glow.
artiteacher Earth's Magnetic Shield
Safe in our shield, safe in our shield Solar winds turn into neon lights!
artiteacher Magnetic field lines guide charged solar particles down toward Earth's polar regions.
artiteacher The solar wind squashes Earth's magnetic field on one side and stretches it on the other.
Fun Fact
Earth's shield: Without Earth's magnetic field, the solar wind would have stripped away our atmosphere billions of years ago.
Glossary
magnetosphere (noun)
The region surrounding an astronomical body in which its magnetic field dominates. In 2015, NASA's Magnetosphere Multiscale mission began mapping how this protective boundary interacts with solar winds.
The region surrounding an astronomical body in which its magnetic field dominates. In 2015, NASA's Magnetosphere Multiscale mission began mapping how this protective boundary interacts with solar winds.
Quiz
Which planetary layer acts as the geodynamo that generates Earth's magnetic field?
Quiz
What are the ring-like regions around Earth's poles where auroras typically appear?
Quiz
What event occurs when a massive solar storm temporarily disrupts Earth's magnetic field?