Ion Escape and Bow Shock Location at Non-Magnetized Planets

We model the interaction of non-magnetized planets with the solar wind by combining observations and a hybrid plasma solver. The model's ionospheric ion production rate is adjusted until the simulated bow shock matches the observed location. We have studied how global characteristics, such as ionospheric ion escape and bow shock location, depend on upstream solar wind conditions. At Mars using Mars Express and MAVEN observations, and at Venus using Venus Express observations. The findings can be generalized to the interactions of non-magnetized planets with stellar winds, and changes in the interactions that depend on the upstream solar wind conditions.