Glossary
Aurora
A glow observed in the night sky, usually in the polar zone
Aurora Borealis
An aurora that occurs in earth's northern hemisphere; also called the northern lights
Dynamo Effect
The process through which motion of a conductive body in the presence of a magnetic field acts to regenerate that magnetic field
International Geophysical Year (IGY)
An international scientific effort that lasted from July 1, 1957, to December 31, 1958
Interplanetary Coronal Mass Ejections (ICMEs)
Large, fast-moving bursts of plasma
Ionized
To convert or be converted into ions
Ionosphere
The part of the atmosphere that is ionized by solar radiation
Ions
An atom or group of atoms that carries a positive or negative electric charge as a result of having lost or gained one or more electrons
Magnetosphere
An asymmetrical region surrounding the earth, extending from about one hundred to several thousand kilometers above the surface, in which charged particles are trapped and their behavior is dominated by the earth's magnetic field
Magnetotail
Part of the magnetosphere farthest from the Sun (on the night side)
MMS
Magnetospheric Multiscale
Particle
Any of the basic units of matter and energy (as a molecule, atom, proton, electron, or photon)
Plasma
Physics. An electrically neutral, highly ionized gas composed of ions, electrons, and neutral particles. It is a phase of matter distinct from solids, liquids, and normal gases
SMART
Solving Magnetospheric Acceleration, Reconnection, and Turbulence
Solar Maximum
The peak of solar activity that occurs during the sun cycle
Solar Minimum
The lowest point of solar activity that occurs in the sun cycle
Solar Wind
A stream of high-speed, ionized particles ejected primarily from the sun's corona
Sun Cycle
A cycle that tracks the suns activity from Solar Maximum to Solar Minimum back to Solar Maximum
Thomas Gold
From Cornell University, coined the term “magnetosphere”