NASA's Cosmicopia -- Glossary IJ

I

Impulsive flares

One of two general types of solar flares. Impulsive flares accelerate mostly electrons, with some protons. They last for minutes or hours, and most occur near the solar equator. They happen at a rate of about 1000 per year during solar maximum.

Interplanetary

Between the planets in our solar system.

Interplanetary Shock Particles

Particles accelerated by shocks associated with solar flares and CMEs

Interstellar

Between the stars.

Interstellar dust

Solid clumps of particles (atoms, molecules, and/or ions) in the interstellar medium. They may have a charge due to some loss of electrons.

Interstellar gas

Single particles (atoms, molecules, and ions) in the interstellar medium. Interstellar gas particles travel at considerably less than the speed of light, in contrast to galactic cosmic rays. They may have a charge due to some loss of electrons.

Interstellar medium

The gas and dust in the space between the stars.

More about the interstellar medium...

Ion

An atom that carries a positive or negative electric charge as a result of having lost or gained one or more electrons.

More about ions...

Isotope

Atoms that have the same number of protons but a different number of neutrons. They are atoms of the same element that have different masses. The isotope number is the number of protons plus the number of neutrons.

Glossary: I and J

I

J

Glossary:
I and J