A fast bow shock location predictor-estimator from 2D and 3D analytical models: Application to Mars and the MAVEN mission

Abstract

More than 14, 900 bow shock crossings are identified with MAVEN for Mars Year 32 to 35, with 2D/3D fits revealing North-South asymmetries.• The method, biased towards quasi-perpendicular crossings, is general and applicable to all planetary bodies including Mars, Venus and Earth.• A simple predictor-corrector algorithm based on magnetic field data is presented to locate the bow shock position.