Magnetic Reconnection Throughout the Solar System

  • Released Thursday, March 12, 2020
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Magnetic reconnection at a black hole (fast version)

Magnetic reconnection is one of the most important processes in the space. Reconnection occurs when crossed magnetic field lines snap, explosively flinging away nearby particles at high speeds. The following animations illustrate this magnetic explosion on the Sun, near black holes, around Earth.

Magnetic reconnection at a black hole (slow version)

Magnetic reconnection at Earth during a solar storm (Fast version)

Magnetic reconnection at Earth during a solar storm (slow version)

Magnetic reconnection on the Sun (fast version)

Magnetic reconnection on the Sun (slow version)

The solar wind flows around Earth's protective magnetic field, the magnetosphere. Reconnection occurs in small bursts when the magnetosphere is impacted by the solar wind.

For More Information

See nasa.gov

Credits

Please give credit for this item to:
NASA's Conceptual Image Laboratory

This page was originally published on Thursday, March 12, 2020.
This page was last updated on Wednesday, May 3, 2023 at 1:45 PM EDT.