The Bowtie effect is a kind of geometry distortions of the EOS/MODIS L1B data. Although several methods have been proposed to eliminate the Bowtie effect, there exist many limitations in their efficiency and practical application. This paper makes a thorough research on the factors which result in the Bowtie effect. With a comprehensive comparison and evaluation of the existing algorithms for eliminating the Bowtie effect all over the world, the paper offers a new algorithm which is succinct and effective in eliminating the Bowtie effect without utilizing the ephemeris data. The new algorithm is derived from the regularity shown by the experiments made in China, the USA and Australia (mainly with MODIS data of 500 m resolution). The examination results demonstrate that, without ephemeris data, the new algorithm is capable of removing the Bowtie effect of MODIS L1B data effectively and rapidly.