bow shock

American  

[bau] / baʊ /

noun

Astronomy.

1. the shock front along which the solar wind encounters a planet's magnetic field.

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Etymology

Origin of bow shock

First recorded in 1945–50

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

bow shock

Jupiter also has a bow shock, but its enormous size, powerful magnetic field, and gaseous composition make it a particularly interesting place to study how these boundaries behave.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 29, 2026

As it moves through space, it encounters gas between the stars, producing a type of shock wave known as a bow shock.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 25, 2026

Early readings from the spacecraft's magnetometers may have detected Mars' bow shock, the region where the solar wind interacts with the planet's magnetic environment.

From Science Daily ● May 26, 2026

Image: Artist impression of a black hole system generating powerful jets and a massive bow shock structure.

From Space Scoop ● Jun. 2, 2025

Scientists are now actively looking for bow shock structures in our galaxy caused by the central black hole activities from thousands of years ago, so as to trace the history of our galactic black hole.

From Space Scoop ● Jun. 2, 2025

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