The IMF is represented by the blue arcs in the picture above. This picture shows the spiral nature of the IMF. Click on image for full size (105K JPEG) Courtesy of NASA

IMF stands for Interplanetary Magnetic Field. It is another name for the Sun's magnetic field.

The Sun's magnetic field is enormous and is carried by the solar wind. The solar wind and magnetic field are twisted into a spiral by the Sun's rotation. All the planets reside within this field, which is why the Sun's magnetic field can be called interplanetary.

Eventually the solar wind and IMF encounter the interstellar magnetic field and plasma of interstellar space. The boundary between space dominated by the Sun (or the heliosphere) and interstellar space is called the heliopause.

The IMF is represented by the blue arcs in the picture above. This picture shows the spiral nature of the IMF. Click on image for full size (105K JPEG) Courtesy of NASA

IMF stands for Interplanetary Magnetic Field. It is another name for the Sun's magnetic field.

The Sun's magnetic field is huge! It goes beyond any of the planets. The Sun's magnetic field got its name because of that. We call the Sun's magnetic field the Interplanetary Magnetic Field meaning it has all of the planets within it.

The magnetic field of the Sun is carried by the solar wind which comes out from the Sun. The solar wind and magnetic field are twisted into a spiral by the Sun's rotation.

Eventually the solar wind and IMF encounter interstellar space. The boundary between space dominated by the Sun (or the heliosphere) and interstellar space is called the heliopause.

The IMF is represented by the blue arcs in the picture above. This picture shows the spiral nature of the IMF. Click on image for full size (105K JPEG) Courtesy of NASA

The Sun's magnetic field has a fancier name, the Interplanetary Magnetic Field (IMF). This just means that the Sun's magnetic field is so huge that it passes all of the planets. Can you imagine a bar magnet that is so huge and powerful that it reaches all the way out to Pluto?! The Sun's magnetic field does hit a boundary way past Pluto called the heliopause.

The magnetic field of the Sun is carried by the solar wind which comes out from the Sun. The solar wind and magnetic field are twisted into a spiral by the Sun's rotation.