The magnetosphere is the comet-shaped region around the Earth and other magnetic planets in which the charged particles of the solar wind are controlled by the planet's magnetic field rather than by the sun's magnetic field. The Earth's magnetosphere extends approximately 37,282 miles (60,000 kilometers) from the Earth on the side facing the sun. On the opposite side, it extends much farther. The boundary of the magnetosphere is called the "magnetopause." The magnetosphere of the Earth includes the Van Allen belts.