Formation of unusual ring of radiation around Earth explained
Sunday, September 22, 2013 - 15:30
in Astronomy & Space
Since the discovery of the Van Allen radiation belts, scientists believed these belts consisted of two rings of highly charged particles. In February, scientists reported the discovery of a previously unknown third radiation ring -- a narrow ring that briefly circled the Earth for a month. Space scientists have successfully modeled and explained the unprecedented behavior of this third ring, and show that its energetic particles are driven by very different physics than the others.