A continuous stream of charged particles, mainly protons and electrons, flowing outward from the Sun's corona at speeds of 300-800 kilometers per second. This plasma stream extends throughout the solar system and creates the heliosphere.
The term was coined by American physicist Eugene Parker in 1958, combining 'solar' from Latin 'solaris' (of the sun) and 'wind' to describe the flowing nature of the particle stream. Parker's theoretical prediction was later confirmed by spacecraft measurements in the 1960s.
The solar wind is what makes comet tails always point away from the Sun, regardless of the comet's direction of travel - it's not the comet's motion but the solar wind pressure that shapes these beautiful tails! The solar wind also creates the auroras on Earth when these charged particles interact with our magnetic field, painting the polar skies with dancing lights.
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