Relative locations of the bow shocks of the terrestrial planets

Journal Article · Sat Oct 01 04:00:00 EDT 1977 · Geophys. Res. Lett.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/GL004i010p00387· OSTI ID:5351552

Russell, C T

The observed bow shock encounters at Mercury, Venus and Mars are least square fit using the same technique so that their sizes and shapes can be intercompared. The shock front of Mercury most resembles the terrestrial shock in shape, and the shock stand off distance is consistent with the observed moment. The shapes of the Venus and Mars shock fronts more resemble each other than the earth's and the stand off distances are consistent with direct interaction of the solar wind with the ionosphere on the dayside. The Venus shock is closer to the planet than the Mars shock suggesting more absorption of the solar wind at Venus.

• Research Organization: Institute of Geophysics and Planetary Physics, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90024
• OSTI ID: 5351552
• Journal Information: Geophys. Res. Lett.; (United States), Journal Name: Geophys. Res. Lett.; (United States) Vol. 4:10; ISSN GPRLA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640107* -- Astrophysics & Cosmology-- Planetary Phenomena
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
ATMOSPHERES
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
EARTH PLANET
INTERPLANETARY MAGNETIC FIELDS
INTERPLANETARY SPACE
IONOSPHERE
LEAST SQUARE FIT
MAGNETIC FIELDS
MARS PLANET
MAXIMUM-LIKELIHOOD FIT
MERCURY PLANET
NUMERICAL SOLUTION
PLANETARY ATMOSPHERES
PLANETARY MAGNETOSPHERES
PLANETS
SHOCK WAVES
SOLAR ACTIVITY
SOLAR WIND
SPACE
VENUS PLANET