Wrapping up the “2025” (vol. 6) papers of Planetary Science Journal:
Wright, E. L. Masiero, J. Mainzer, A. NEOWISE Data and Thermophysical Modeling of 98943 Torifune (2001 CC21) A 305 ae21df
Combi, M. R. Mäkinen, T. Bertaux, J-L. et al. Activity of Halley-type Comets 12P/Pons-Brooks and 13P/Olbers form SOHO/SWAN Observations A 306 ae2475
Ďurech, J. Pravec, P. Hirabayashi, M. et al. A Change of the Rotation Period of Asteroid (65803) Didymos Caused by the DART Impact A 308 ae29ec
Asteroid (98943) Torifune is the target of the Hayabusa2 extended mission, or “Hayabusa2#” (pronounced ‘two sharp’). That’s ‘SHARP’ as in “Small Hazardous Asteroid Reconnaissance Probe”. The Haya2 craft will quickly fly by another small body this year, to get data on it, and as (almost) practice for a kinetic deflection (“ramming”) mission. The more we arm ourselves with data on the target, the fewer surprises we might get in real life, and the better we can plan our (limited) observations to extract the most science. Wright et al. took data on this target.
Speaking of extended missions, the SOHO craft (Solar and Heliospheric Observatory) still works after decades. Viewing the Sun and its environs, the craft coincidentally sees comets at perihelion, and the occasional near-Sun asteroid. In particular, SOHO views near the Sun when few Earth telescopes can- too bright. This makes solar observatories a key part of our toolbox on comet (and “comet”) activity. Combi et al. demonstrate this with two recent comets.
…and speaking of data on target, the DART experiment at Dimorphos continues despite losing the spacecraft. Ground and space telescopes are evaluating the results, and of course we’ll get Hera this Autumn. Ďurech et al. give one tantalizing result: the impact on Dimorphos has effects few would have even considered.