magnetopause

[ mag-nee-tuh-pawz ]

noun

, Astronomy.

1. the boundary between the earth's magnetosphere and interplanetary space, about 40,000 miles (65,000 km) above the earth, marked by an abrupt decrease in the earth's magnetic induction.
2. a similar feature of some other planet.

Word History and Origins

Origin of magnetopause¹

First recorded in 1960–65; magneto- + pause