The Solar Wind

The solar wind is a flow of tiny particles that comes from the Sun. These particles zoom out through the whole solar system. The wind moves at more than one million miles per hour. It reaches Earth and even goes past Pluto. Earth's magnetic field protects us from the solar wind.

Blowing from the Sun

The Sun is so hot that its outer layers boil off into space. These layers become the solar wind. The wind is made of protons, electrons, and other tiny particles. The Sun never stops making the solar wind. It blows all the time in every direction.

Pretty Lights in the Sky

When the solar wind hits Earth, it can make beautiful lights. These lights are called the aurora. The green and pink lights shine near the North and South Poles. The solar wind can also cause problems for satellites. Strong blasts can even knock out power on Earth.

Fun Facts

• The solar wind was first observed in 1959 by a Soviet spacecraft.
• It takes about four days for the solar wind to reach Earth from the Sun.
• The bubble the solar wind creates in space is called the heliosphere.

Did You Know?

A NASA spacecraft called the Parker Solar Probe is flying through the solar wind closer to the Sun than anything else ever has.