Cosmicopia title
BASICS .. COSMIC RAYS .. SUN .. SPACE WEATHER

Glossary:
M and N

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N.. O.. P.. Q.. R.. S.. T.. U.. V.. W.. X.. Y.. Z..



M

Magnet, solenoid
A solenoid magnet is a coil of insulated wire, usually cylindrical in shape and with a length greater than its diameter. An electric current passing through the solenoid produces a magnetic field similar to that of a bar magnet.

Magnetic field
A region of space near a magnetized body or electrical current where magnetic forces can be detected.

Magnetic field lines
Magnetic field lines around a magnet


These lines are a way to show the structure of a magnetic field. A compass needle will always point along a field line. The lines are close together where the magnetic force is strong, and spread out where it is weak.


Magnetic storm
A disturbance in the magnetosphere due to solar activity.

More about magnetic storms...

Magnetism (Electromagnetism)
A physical property of an object that shows attraction for iron, as in a magnet. Electromagnetism acts between particles with an electric charge, such as electrons, protons, and ions. It is believed to be associated with moving electricity, and it creates fields of force.

Magnetometer
An instrument that measures the magnitude (strength), and sometimes direction of a magnetic field.

Magnetopause
Magnetosphere The location in space where Earth's magnetic field balances the pressure of the solar wind. It is located at the edge of the magnetosphere. See the image on the right.



Magnetosheath
The region between the bow shock and the magnetopause. It contains very turbulent plasma. See the image above.

Magnetosphere
The region surrounding a planet where the planet's magnetic field dominates. See the image above.

More about Earth's magnetosphere...

Magnetotail
The extreme extension of a magnetosphere, on the side of a planet opposite the Sun, caused by the solar wind. See the image on the right above.

Mass
The total amount of matter in a body. Mass remains the same even with changes in gravity.

Meteor
This term describes the bright streak of light caused by a meteoroid as it burns up in Earth's atmosphere. Other names for a meteor include "shooting star" and "falling star".

Meteorite
MeteoritePart of a meteoroid that survives travel through Earth's atmosphere to land on Earth. This image of a meteorite is courtesy of NASA ARC.

More about meteorites...


Meteoroid
Small bodies in orbit about the Sun which may fall to Earth or to another planet.

More about meteoroids...

Molecule
The smallest part of any substance which has the qualities of that substance, and which can exist alone in a free state. As an example, a molecule of water consists of two atoms of hydrogen and one of oxygen.

Moon
Earth's moonA natural body orbiting another larger one. It is a natural satellite. This image of Earth's moon is courtesy of NASA ARC.

More about Earth's moon...




N

NASA
NASA logoNational Aeronautics and Space Administration



Nebula
Crab Nebula
(plural=nebulae) A mass of gas and dust in space. This image is the Crab nebula.



Neutral
Having no electric charge.

Neutron
The part of an atom that has no charge. It is part of the nucleus.

More about neutrons...

NOAA
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Nuclear energy
The energy used or produced in changing the composition of the atomic nucleus.

Nucleon
A particle from the nucleus of an atom, either a proton or a neutron.

Nucleosynthesis
The creation of new elements in stars by combining lighter nuclei to make heavier nuclei.

More about nucleosynthesis...

Nucleus
(plural=nuclei) The small, massive center of an atom containing its protons and neutrons bound together by nuclear force, the strongest force known in nature. The term is also used to describe the central body of a comet.

More about the atomic nucleus...



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BASICS .. COSMIC RAYS .. SUN .. SPACE WEATHER

TRACE sun mosaic Supernova 1006 (ASCA) 30
Doradus ACE
spacecraft TRACE solar flare IMAGE magnetosphere
Click on images above to learn more about them


A service of the Heliophysics Science Division at NASA's GSFC

Questions and comments to: cosmicopia@cosmicra.gsfc.nasa.gov
Curator: Dr Eric R. Christian, NASA
Responsible NASA Official: Dr Eric R. Christian

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This file was last modified: December 14, 2004