magnetosphere

The region extending from the outer (ionised) part of the atmosphere into space, surrounding the entire Earth and forming a protective shield against the highly energetic electric charges that make up the solar wind. The Earth's magnetic field deflects that flow of particles towards the magnetic poles, with the interaction between the two occurring at around 100,000 kilometres from the Earth's surface facing the sun, at the so-called magnetopause. The magnetosphere is not exclusive to Earth, since other planets in the Solar System that also possess a magnetic field have one too.