Interior layer
Core
The dense central region of a planet or moon, typically the heaviest material that sank inward as the body formed. In the terrestrial planets it is largely iron; where it is partly molten and convecting, as in Earth, it can generate a global magnetic field.
Highlights
- ›Where a planet's magnetic field is born
Worlds, layers & processes
Across comparative planetology
Knowledge connections
- Associated withEarth
- Associated withMercury
- Associated withPlanetary Differentiation
- Associated withPlanetary Differentiation
Sources
The primary and reference sources this topic draws on.
- NASANational Aeronautics and Space Administration
Mission data, planetary science, space telescopes, and public-domain imagery.
Most NASA-produced imagery is in the public domain; individual items are checked for usage terms before publication.