Space is not Empty
Most people believe that the space between the Sun and its planets is
empty, a featureless vacuum devoid of energy or matter. But space is not
empty. Our Sun constantly emits
plasma,
a superheated state of matter
which flows out toward the planets and the limits of our solar system.
This artist's conception of the solar-terestrial environment was painted by
Steve Mercer.
Hints of Electric Space
Most Earth-dwellers never notice the changes which occur in space beyond
our atmosphere.
Electric Space drops hints of its existence, such as
magnetic storms
caused by the Sun, which can disturb electric power networks on Earth (a damaged
electric power transformer courtesy of the Electric Power Research
Institute).
Next to: Plasma, The Fourth State of Matter
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Most people believe that the space between the Sun and its planets is
empty, a featureless vacuum devoid of energy or matter. But space is not
empty. Our Sun constantly emits
plasma,
a superheated state of matter
which flows out toward the planets and the limits of our solar system.
This artist's conception of the solar-terestrial environment was painted by
Steve Mercer.
Most Earth-dwellers never notice the changes which occur in space beyond
our atmosphere.
Electric Space drops hints of its existence, such as
magnetic storms
caused by the Sun, which can disturb electric power networks on Earth (a damaged
electric power transformer courtesy of the Electric Power Research
Institute).