The Van Allen Probes
by Karen C. Fox for Goddard Space Flight Center
Greenbelt, MD (SPX) Nov 12, 2012

"We now know that it has a complex shape - compressed on the side facing the sun, but stretched out into a long tail trailing off away from the sun - affected as much by incoming material from the sun as Earth's own intrinsic magnetism. This magnetic field constantly fluctuates in response to both internal instabilities and events on the sun. It also provides a home for a host of electrified particles spiraling through this complex system."

full article- [link to www.spacedaily.com]

Peace