Depiction of Magnetic Reconnection - Asymmetrical (Animated GIF) (IMAGE)

NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center

Depiction of Magnetic Reconnection - Asymmetrical (Animated GIF)

Caption

On Earth's dayside, magnetic reconnection is asymmetric -- meaning it flings particles, like ions and electrons, unequally in different directions. In this simulation, particles are seen primarily moving upwards away from the site of reconnection along the black magnetic field lines. View animated GIF: https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/thumbnails/image/assymetrical.gif

Credit

Paul Cassak/NASA Goddard/Joy Ng

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