Drawing of Earth's magnetosphere. Notice that the magnetic field is much larger than the planet!
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The Earth as a Magnet

The Earth has a magnetic field with north and south poles.

The magnetic field of the Earth is surrounded by the magnetosphere. The magnetosphere keeps most of the particles from the sun, carried in solar wind, from hitting the Earth.

Some particles from the solar wind can enters the magnetosphere. These particles create the auroral light shows.

Last modified March 29, 2010 by Randy Russell.

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