Uranus’s unique magnetosphere is susceptible to solar winds
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Uranus’s magnetic fields allows for the penetration of solar winds every 17 hours according to new research.
For the most part the magnetic fields of our planet do a good job of protecting us from harmful solar winds. On the odd occasion, however, our own magnetosphere can see particles from solar winds penetrating into our atmosphere – causing spectacular auroras.
In a New Scientist study (July 2017) it has been identified that the crooked and off-kilter magnetosphere of Uranus allows for solar winds to breach its magnetic field much more regularly.
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Carol Paty from the Georgia Institute of a Technology has highlighted the nature of Uranus’s distorted magnetosphere. She describes that Uranus has a magnetic field that is tilted and off-centre – originating from a third way towards its South Pole.
Patsy created a model of the unique magnetosphere belonging to Uranus which demonstrated that solar winds penetrated the magnetic protection, of the planet, every 17 hours or so. Her findings showed that when Uranus’s magnetosphere and axis were positioned in such a way that resulted in an alignment with the solar winds it was not breached. However, when these alignments opposed the solar winds a breach occurred. This research is beneficial to understand our own planets susceptibility to solar winds and the resulting problems that can occur – particularly electrical interference.
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