What is the magnetosphere and how does it interact with solar wind?

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What is the magnetosphere and how does it interact with solar wind?

The magnetosphere is the region surrounding Earth where the planet's magnetic field dominates the behavior of charged particles. It is created by the interaction between Earth's magnetic field and the solar wind, which is a stream of charged particles emitted by the Sun. The magnetosphere acts as a protective shield, deflecting and trapping most of the solar wind particles, preventing them from directly reaching the Earth's surface. However, some solar wind particles can enter the magnetosphere through openings in the magnetic field, such as the polar regions, resulting in phenomena like the auroras.