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Solar Wind Facts

Solar wind is a stream of protons and electrons that travels through space at high speeds as plasma. It is caused through coronal heating of the sun. The heating of the corona causes it to expand rapidly, sending a stream of particles through space.

Velocity
- The solar wind is not uniform in its velocity. According to NASA, solar wind travels at about 800 km per second over coronal holes. It travels slowest over streamers at 300 km/s.
Temperature
- The temperature of the solar wind is 1 million degrees C. The temperature varies very little with the expansion of the corona.
Effects on Comets
- The solar wind blows comet tails backward, away from the sun on their travels through the solar system. Therefore, when a comet is returning from the sun, it leads with its tail.
Magnetic Storms
- The high- and low-velocity solar wind interacts with each other in space, causing a magnetic cloud. This magnetic cloud reacts with the magnetosphere, causing magnetic storms. The magnetic storms can disable satellite and cell phone functions.
Studying the Solar Wind
- Ulysses is a spacecraft that has orbited the corona, measuring the speed, direction and magnetic strength of the wind. The Advanced Composition Explorer is a spacecraft that provides real-time data of solar-wind conditions. These crafts become important in assessing the possible arrival of magnetic storms.

Astronomy