a charged particle (atomic nucleus) which is accelerated somewhere out in the galaxy to near the speed of light
a high-speed particle--either an atomic nucleus or an electron--that travels throughout the Milky Way Galaxy, including the solar system
High energy charged particles traveling through interstellar space at nearly the velocity of light. more
An extremely fast, energetic and relativistic (high speed) charged particle.
High energy sub-atomic particles from outer space that collide with the earth’s atmosphere to produce a shower of gamma rays (and other particles) at high energies.
Atomic nuclei (mostly protons) that are observed to strike the Earth's atmosphere with extremely high amounts of energy.
Very energetic particles (atomic nuclei) that constantly bombard the earth's atmosphere. Balloons do not fly high enough to actually detect cosmic rays, but they do detect their by-products.
an extremely energetic charged particle that bombarded Earth from space.
a charged particle, usually a proton, traveling very close to the speed of light
Atomic nuclei that enter earth's atmosphere at nearly the speed of light. Some originate in solar flares, and some may come from supernova explosions, but their true nature is not well understood.
High-energy particles that fly through the universe at speeds approximating the speed of light. Cosmic rays are mostly the atomic nuclei of hydrogen, helium, carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen that were possibly ejected from supernovae.
Electromagnetic rays of extremely high frequency and energy; cosmic rays usually interact with the atoms of the atmosphere before reaching the surface of the Earth. Some cosmic rays come from outside the solar system while others are emitted from the Sun and pass through holes in the corona.
In astrophysics, cosmic rays are radiation consisting of energetic particles originating beyond the Earth that impinge on the Earth's atmosphere and the interstellar medium. Cosmic rays are composed mainly of bare nuclei, roughly 87% protons, 12% alpha particles (helium nuclei) and most of the rest being made up of heavier atomic nuclei with relative abundances comparable to those found in the Sun. Electrons, gamma rays, and very high-energy neutrinos also make up a much smaller fraction of the cosmic radiation.
