Solar
Radiation, Planetary Magnetism, and the Aurora
The sun is constantly emitting energy. This energy
drives countless processes in our solar system,
especially on earth. The sun
heats up our planet, drives our weather cycles, and
allows life to take place on earth. One of the more
interesting processes, and one that holds the
reverence of many, is the aurora. This naturally
occurring light show results from the interactions
of energy from the sun, our planets magnetic field,
and
high-altitude gases. This process is not unique to
our planet; many of our neighboring planets exhibit
a similar light show in their upper atmosphere. In
these pages we will be taking a closer look at the
physical process we know as the aurora.
The aurora of Jupiter's north pole
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Solar
Radiation - Solar Wind - The Magnetosphere - The Aurora - Bibliography