The magnetopause is the boundary between a planet's magnetosphere and the plasma solar wind emitted by the sun. It behaves roughly like a droplet of liquid exposed to supersonic flow. It is common for the magnetopause to ripple, flap and even to have large droplets break off in the wake of a planet. See also heliopause and magnetosphere. |
The magnetopause is the boundary between a magnetosphere and the surrounding plasma. For planets in the solar system the surrounding plasma is the solar wind emitted by the sun. It behaves roughly like a droplet of liquid exposed to supersonic flow. It is common for the magnetopause to ripple, flap and even to have large droplets break off in the wake of a planet. See also heliopause, magnetosphere and solar system. |
See also heliopause, magnetosphere and solar system.