Star (IMAGE)
Caption
A stellar flux transport simulation, top, shows positive (white) and negative (black) magnetic polarity on the surface of a star. At bottom, associated coronal magnetic field lines show outward (magenta) and inward (green) lines that extend into interplanetary space, forming the magnetic field of the inner asterosphere, while those in black represent closed lines with ends rooted in the stellar photosphere. Researchers at Rice University used the models to help determine that some exoplanets may not be habitable despite having orbits in the so-called "Goldilocks" zones around their stars.
Credit
Alexander Group/Rice University
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License
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