<P> The term Van Allen belts refers specifically to the radiation belts surrounding Earth ; however , similar radiation belts have been discovered around other planets . The Sun does not support long - term radiation belts , as it lacks a stable , global , dipole field . The Earth 's atmosphere limits the belts ' particles to regions above 200 -- 1,000 km , ( 124 -- 620 miles ) while the belts do not extend past 8 Earth radii R . The belts are confined to a volume which extends about 65 ° on either side of the celestial equator . </P>
<P> The term Van Allen belts refers specifically to the radiation belts surrounding Earth ; however , similar radiation belts have been discovered around other planets . The Sun does not support long - term radiation belts , as it lacks a stable , global , dipole field . The Earth 's atmosphere limits the belts ' particles to regions above 200 -- 1,000 km , ( 124 -- 620 miles ) while the belts do not extend past 8 Earth radii R . The belts are confined to a volume which extends about 65 ° on either side of the celestial equator . </P>
how many miles up is the van allen belt
how many miles up is the van allen belt
124 -- 620 miles
124 -- 620 miles