NASA NTRS1986
The interaction between planetary magnetospheres and solar wind flow is discussed. A proper planetary magnetosphere results from the interaction of a flowing plasma with a planet having an intrinsic, global, magnetic field of sufficient strength to stand off the impinging plasma. Upstream of such an obstacle a bow shock usually exists. The known magnetospheres have severely asymmetric shapes, being elongated approximately along the solar wind flow direction. Conditions which fundamentally determine the structure of a proper planetary magnetosphere are the state of the externally flowing plasma, the planet's magnetic moment, its vector spin, and the presence and nature of internal plasma sources and any plasma sinks. Planets known to have proper magnetospheres are Earth, Mercury, Jupiter, and Saturn. Uranus and Neptune may also have magnetospheres, with that of Uranus promising to have an exotic field configuration, because the planet's magnetic moment is expected to be nearly aligned with the solar wind flow direction. Venus and Mars are also discussed. Magnetopause surface waves are mentioned.