Heliosphere

The Heliospheric Bow Wave

The disturbance ahead of the heliosphere as it moves through the surrounding interstellar cloud. Earlier work expected a sharp bow shock, but measurements from IBEX and the Voyagers suggest the Sun moves too slowly through the local medium for a strong shock — a gentler bow wave instead. The exact nature of the boundary is still being studied.

Highlights

›Likely a gentle bow wave, not a strong bow shock

The Sun
Heliosphere
Heliopause

Knowledge connections

Associated withThe Sun
Associated withHeliosphere
Associated withHeliopause

Sources

Facts on this topic will be cited from these primary and reference sources.

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.

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The Heliospheric Bow Wave

Highlights

The Sun, its layers & phenomena

Knowledge connections

Sources

The Heliospheric Bow Wave

Highlights

The Sun, its layers & phenomena

Knowledge connections

Sources