Spacephysics — Foundations of Space Physics + 5 more topics

Space physics is basically the study of plasma in space. Most of the visible universe isn't solid, liquid, or gas; it's plasma.

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You know Earth has a magnetic field, right? Well, that field extends far out into space, creating what we call the magnetosphere. It's essentially a bubble of magnetic influence that protects us from the solar wind – a continuous flow of charged particles from the Sun. Without it, our atmosphere would be stripped away, much like Mars'.

The magnetosphere isn't a perfect sphere; it's compressed on the side facing the Sun (the dayside) and stretched out into a long tail (the magnetotail) on the nightside. This shape is due to the solar wind's pressure.