Bow Shock

The top image shows the bow shock of an U.S. Air Force plane as it flies through the air. The bottom image is for comparison. It shows the bow shock of the magnetosphere.
Click on image for full size version (55K GIF)
Image courtesy of NASA

The Bow Shock in front of a planetary magnetosphere, or other magnetic object in the solar wind, is very similar to the bow wave of a boat as the bow of the ship passes through the water. It is similar to the wave in front of a rock in a stream. A plane traveling at supersonic speeds also produces a bow shock in the air in front of the plane, while it is flying.

The bow shock helps force the solar wind to go around the magnetosphere or ionosphere.

What is Interplanetary Space?

What is a Magnetosphere?

Bow Shock

The top image shows the bow shock of an U.S. Air Force plane as it flies through the air. The bottom image is for comparison. It shows the bow shock of the magnetosphere.
Click on image for full size version (55K GIF)
Image courtesy of NASA

The Bow Shock in front of a magnetosphere is very similar to the wave which appears in front of a boat as the ship passes through the water. It is similar to the wave in front of a rock in a stream. A plane traveling at supersonic speeds also produces a bow shock in the air in front of the plane, while it is flying.

The bow shock helps force the solar wind to go around the magnetosphere.

What is Interplanetary Space?

What is a Magnetosphere?

Bow Shock

The top image shows the bow shock of an U.S. Air Force plane as it flies through the air. The bottom image is for comparison. It shows the bow shock of the magnetosphere.
Click on image for full size version (55K GIF)
Image courtesy of NASA

The Bow Shock in front of a magnetosphere is very similar to the wave which appears in front of a boat as the ship passes through the water. It is similar to the bow shock in front of a plane flying through the air.

The bow shock helps force the solar wind to go around the magnetosphere.

What is Interplanetary Space?

What is a Magnetosphere?

Last modified April 4, 2002 by the Windows Team

The source of this material is Windows to the Universe, at http://www.windows.ucar.edu/ at the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR). © The Regents of the University of Michigan. All Rights Reserved. Site policies and disclaimer

Bow Shock

The top image shows the bow shock of an U.S. Air Force plane as it flies through the air. The bottom image is for comparison. It shows the bow shock of the magnetosphere. Click on image for full size version (55K GIF) Image courtesy of NASA

Bow Shock

The top image shows the bow shock of an U.S. Air Force plane as it flies through the air. The bottom image is for comparison. It shows the bow shock of the magnetosphere. Click on image for full size version (55K GIF) Image courtesy of NASA

Bow Shock

The top image shows the bow shock of an U.S. Air Force plane as it flies through the air. The bottom image is for comparison. It shows the bow shock of the magnetosphere. Click on image for full size version (55K GIF) Image courtesy of NASA

The top image shows the bow shock of an U.S. Air Force plane as it flies through the air. The bottom image is for comparison. It shows the bow shock of the magnetosphere.
Click on image for full size version (55K GIF)
Image courtesy of NASA

The top image shows the bow shock of an U.S. Air Force plane as it flies through the air. The bottom image is for comparison. It shows the bow shock of the magnetosphere.
Click on image for full size version (55K GIF)
Image courtesy of NASA

The top image shows the bow shock of an U.S. Air Force plane as it flies through the air. The bottom image is for comparison. It shows the bow shock of the magnetosphere.
Click on image for full size version (55K GIF)
Image courtesy of NASA