The Van Allen Belts Surrounding Earth (IMAGE)

NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center

The Van Allen Belts Surrounding Earth

Caption

Two giant swaths of radiation, known as the Van Allen Belts, surrounding Earth were discovered in 1958. In 2012, observations from the Van Allen Probes showed that a third belt can sometimes appear. The radiation is shown here in yellow, with green representing the spaces between the belts.

Credit

Credit: NASA/Van Allen Probes/Goddard Space Flight Center

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