Third Van Allen Radiation Belt Discovered

NASA’s twin Van Allen Probes, launched just last August, have revealed a previously unknown third radiation belt around Earth. Video and highlighted quote courtesy NASA.

Van Allen Probes Discover a New Radiation Belt

Previous observations of the Van Allen belts dating back to the late 1950s have documented two distinct regions of trapped radiation surrounding our planet, known as the inner and outer radiation belts. Particle sensors aboard the twin Van Allen Probes quickly revealed to scientists the existence of a transient, third radiation belt. Scientists observed the third belt for four weeks before a powerful interplanetary shock wave from the sun annihilated it.

What a surprise – the Sun modulates the Van Allen Belts.

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