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No-Paper: Nature Astronomy

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Brief observation of non-observation: no small-body works in the Feb. Nature Astronomy (arguably). The Ryugu paper was actually out in late Nov./early Dec, so its label “Feb 2024” is an accounting fluke. As with Science, there’s so much going on in cell biology/biochemistry/etc. that it’s hard for “macro” science to get noticed. You know an astronomy story is big when it can elbow aside a “micro” photo for the cover of these prestigious journals (and yes, this was true before a virus elbowed aside our daily lives).

…Except, Nature Astronomy split off for this very reason: to prevent an astro “ghetto” in bio/med world. At this particular time in history, cosmology subfields take the headlines, with the combination of gravity-wave astronomy, adaptive optics/high-contrast (therefore exoplanets), and JWST having their moments. JW can certainly do Solar-System science (in fact, better than planned) but the operating model is for a big, near-infrared, above-atmosphere facility to do cosmology; solar system fits in as it fits.

That, and it’s LPSC time next month. Let them eat chem, our planetary “ghetto” is actually a bit nice.

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