An Overview of Neptune's Magnetosphere

The magnetosphere of Neptune is very much like that of Uranus, medium sized but still much larger than the Earth's. Like that of Uranus, is probably generated in the icy middle layers of the interior, rather than with a metallic component at the core.

Like Uranus, the magnetosphere of Neptune has an extreme tilt, almost 60 degrees from the vertical. Because the rotation axis of Neptune is not tilted however, the magnetosphere of Neptune has a more standard, but still completely unique structure.

Mathematical theory suggests that the rings of Neptune affect the motion of particles in this unique magnetosphere, and also are responsible for the presence of three small plasmaspheres instead of one large version!

Like Saturn, Neptune's magnetosphere produces faint aurora, as well as radio emissions and other waves, such as whistler waves, chorus and hiss.




"What is a Magnetosphere?"

Detecting Magnetic Fields with Spacecraft

The Poles of Neptune

Last modified April 22, 2009 by Randy Russell.

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