Distant Bow Shock Observations by Explorer 33

Abstract

Locations, orientations and magnetic field changes are given for 135 bow shock crossings at distances downstream from earth between 84 and 117 earth radii. The shock locations are dependent on the spacecraft trajectory and agree with locations calculated for the hypersonic analogue for a Mach number of 3.8. The shock normal vectors have been calculated using magnetic coplanarity. The average normal vectors have a greater inclination by approximately 17 + or - 5 deg from the symmetry axis than the Dryer and Heckman shock orientations for a 3.8 Mach number. Over a range of downstream distances from 60 to 115 earth radii, the median magnetic field magnitude jump across the shock changes from 1.90 to 1.70 times.