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, its layers & phenomena
Knowledge connections
- Associated withThe Sun
- Associated withHeliosphere
- Associated withHeliopause
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.