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An effect that happens everywhere in the Universe, similar to bow waves caused by boats cutting through the water
The effect is similar to the curved ridge of water we can see in front of a fast-moving boat as it glides forward on the ocean, for example (these are “bow waves”). Bow shocks happen everywhere in the Universe, not only close to galaxy clusters. When fast-moving solar wind slams into our Earth’s magnetosphere, for example, it creates bow shocks.