Illustration of Earth's magnetic field, 2011-07-08

An illustration of Earth's magnetic field used in a public education display entitled "A Cosmic Connection: The Sun and it's Influence on the Earth". The caption reads: The Earth's magnetic field shields us from many of the gusts of particle radiation sent from the Sun. Plasma piles up on the Earth's sunward side, shown in red, with blue regions representing areas of relatively empty space. The lines depict the magnetic field of the Sun and Earth. On the downwind side of our planet the field forms an extended tail due to the pressure from the solar wind. Image courtesy NCAR/HAO.