stellar wind
Star's particle stream
Stellar wind is the continuous flow of charged particles—mostly protons and electrons—that streams outward from a star into space.
Our sun produces solar wind, which is simply the stellar wind specific to our solar system.
These particle streams can extend far beyond planetary orbits, shaping the boundaries between a star's influence and interstellar space.
Stellar winds vary dramatically in intensity depending on a star's size, temperature, and stage of life.
Star's outermost atmosphere
- heliosphereSun-dominated space bubble
- solar flareMagnetic eruption from sunspots
- sunspotDark stellar surface region
- solar cycleRecurring pattern of stellar activity
photosphere · chromosphere · solar radiation · interplanetary · magnetosphere · aurora · geomagnetic · space weather
Aged star with cooled, expanded envelope
- supernovaExploding massive star
- white dwarfExhausted star's compact corpse
- planetary nebulaIonized gas from dying star
- mass lossReduction in matter
Interstellar gas formation
- galacticRelating to stellar systems
- cosmic raysEnergetic particles from beyond
- Oort cloudTheoretical cometary halo
- termination shockSolar wind deceleration zone
heliopause · mass loss · circumstellar · outflow · emission · spectroscopy · Voyager
Atoms with net electricity
- protonPositive nuclear particle
- electronNegative subatomic particle
- ionizationCharge acquisition process
- magnetic fieldForce zone around magnets
supersonic · flux · ion · thermal energy · kinetic energy · acceleration · density · temperature
corona
Star's outermost atmosphere
- heliosphereSun-dominated space bubble
- solar flareMagnetic eruption from sunspots
- sunspotDark stellar surface region
solar cycle · photosphere · chromosphere · solar radiation · interplanetary · magnetosphere · aurora · geomagnetic · space weather · ionosphere
red giant
Aged star with cooled, expanded envelope
- supernovaExploding massive star
- white dwarfExhausted star's compact corpse
- planetary nebulaIonized gas from dying star
nebula
Interstellar gas formation
- galacticRelating to stellar systems
- cosmic raysEnergetic particles from beyond
- Oort cloudTheoretical cometary halo
termination shock · heliopause · mass loss · circumstellar · outflow · emission · spectroscopy · Voyager
charged particles
Atoms with net electricity
- protonPositive nuclear particle
- electronNegative subatomic particle
- ionizationCharge acquisition process
magnetic field · supersonic · flux · ion · thermal energy · kinetic energy · acceleration · density · temperature · collision
stellar windelectromagnetic radiation
Wave-propagating energy through space
star, wind, starlight, stellar, starlit, interstellar, starlike