Position and shape of the Venus bow shock: Pioneer Venus Orbiter observations

Journal Article · Thu Nov 01 04:00:00 EST 1979 · Geophys. Res. Lett.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1029/GL006i011p00901· OSTI ID:5636378

Slavin, J A; Elphic, R C; Russell, C T; Wolfe, J H; Intriligator, D S

In this study magnetometer data from the Poineer Venus Orbiter is used to examine the position and shape of this planet's bow shock. Utilizing crossings identified on 86 occasions during the first 65 orbits a mean shock surface is defined for sun-Venus-satellite angles of 60--110 /sup 0/. Both the shock shape and variance in location are found to be very similar to the terrestrial case for the range in SVS angle considered. However, while the spread in shock positions at the earth is due predominantly to the magnetopause location varying in response to solar wind dynamic pressure, ionopause altitude variations can have little effect on total obstacle radius. Thus, the Cytherean shock is sometimes observed much closer to or farther from the planet than previously predicted by gasdynamic theory applied to the deflection of flow about a blunt body which acts neither as source nor sink for any portion of the flow.

• Research Organization: IGPP, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90024
• OSTI ID: 5636378
• Journal Information: Geophys. Res. Lett.; (United States), Journal Name: Geophys. Res. Lett.; (United States) Vol. 6:11; ISSN GPRLA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

640107* -- Astrophysics & Cosmology-- Planetary Phenomena
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
ATMOSPHERES
INTERPLANETARY MAGNETIC FIELDS
MAGNETIC FIELDS
MAGNETOPAUSE
PIONEER SPACE PROBES
PLANETARY ATMOSPHERES
PLANETARY MAGNETOSPHERES
PLANETS
SOLAR ACTIVITY
SOLAR WIND
SPACE VEHICLES
VENUS PLANET