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bwprog t1_j8r9tcj wrote

Hypothetically, you can do just about anything.

But a magnetosphere is not necessary for Mars. Because of the inverse square law, Mars would see less than half of the solar wind and radiation as Earth.

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Pornelius_McSucc OP t1_j8rab6e wrote

Would you say it is the case for Venus? I would imagine the level of solar radiation is not remotely negligible at that distance. Especially if the atmosphere is converted to be breathable, and thus dramatically reduced in density.

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bwprog t1_j8rcddm wrote

Venus already has a magnetosphere, created differently but still effective.

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Pornelius_McSucc OP t1_j8rczza wrote

mom can we have magnetic field?

no honey, we have a magnetic field at home

magnetic field at home:

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EarthSolar t1_j8rqiez wrote

It’s actually more effective at preventing atmosphere from escaping. Intrinsic field causes polar wind as the particles just escape through that hole. Does not happen in an induced field.

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Pornelius_McSucc OP t1_j8rqsq6 wrote

Would it still occur if we were to change the atmosphere of Venus in order to live there? That's neat as well.

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EarthSolar t1_j8rrerb wrote

IIRC we had some really good answers from actual scientists about why magnetic field doesn’t do jack about the atmosphere, but idk why they’re not here. I’ll try to find it.

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Pornelius_McSucc OP t1_j8rrzm3 wrote

So there is really no benefit after all? Except maybe radiation in a less dense atmosphere like ours?

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EarthSolar t1_j8rsitb wrote

Found it

I’m not sure how much thinner atmosphere would be required for radiation to be a big issue - I mean it doesn’t just instantly become an issue once it crosses a certain threshold - but I think it’s likely that any breathable mix is going to reduce the radiation to negligible levels.

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Pornelius_McSucc OP t1_j8ru4vo wrote

Well wow. That's a big weight off, I suppose is one way to look at it lol. Possibly still a good idea for Jovian moons being baked by Jupiter's radiation? But then again, any settlement on a Jovian ice moon will be completely enclosed to begin with, as terraforming is an impractical impossibility I assume.

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EarthSolar t1_j8rw19v wrote

And why would you want to terraform those iceballs anyway? Just dig down and live in the ice shell or the subsurface oceans. Not much difference really.

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