Flux of particles, chiefly proton s, electron s, and helium nuclei accelerated by the hot solar corona 's high temperatures to speeds high enough to allow them to escape the Sun.
Solar flare s increase its intensity. The solar wind deflects planets' magnetosphere s and the ion tails of comet s away from the Sun. The uninterrupted portion of the solar wind continues to travel to a distance of about 20 astronomical unit s, where it cools and eventually diffuses into interstellar space. See also heliopause .