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Possible Magnetic Interaction of Asteroids with the Solar Wind

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  12 April 2016

Eugene W. Greenstadt*
Affiliation:
TRW, Inc.

Extract

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Investigation of extraterrestrial objects is habitually accompanied by the observation of extraterrestrial magnetic fields, which often have significant effects on the solar wind in the vicinity of the objects. Should we be surprised to find this experience repeated at an asteroid?

A recent study considered the conditions that would have to be satisfied by the surface magnetic field of a small planetary body at asteroidal distances so that the field would be an obstacle capable of stopping the solar wind or deflecting it sufficiently to generate a detectable magnetic interaction (Greenstadt, 1971).

Type
Part III-Possible Space Missions and Future Work
Copyright
Copyright © NASA 1971

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