Magnetopause - Solar System Magnetopauses

Solar System Magnetopauses

Overview of the Solar System magnetopauses
Planet Number Magnetic moment Magnetopause distance Observed size of the magnetosphere variance of magnetosphere
Mercury 1 0.0004 1.5 1.4 0
Venus 2 0 0 0 0
Earth 3 1 10 10 2
Mars 4 0 0 0 0
Jupiter 5 20000 42 75 25
Saturn 6 600 19 19 3
Uranus 7 50 25 18 0
Neptune 8 25 24 24.5 1.5

Research on the magnetopause is conducted using the LMN coordinate system (which is set of axes like XYZ). N points normal to the magnetopause outward to the magnetosheath, L lies along the projection of the dipole axis onto the magnetopause (positive northward), and M completes the triad by pointing dawnward.

Venus and Mars do not have a planetary magnetic field and do not have a magnetopause. The solar wind interacts with the planet’s atmosphere and a void is created behind the planet. In the case of the Earth’s moon and other bodies without a magnetic field or atmosphere, the body’s surface interacts with the solar wind and a void is created behind the body.

Read more about this topic:  Magnetopause

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