Lucy Flyby Update
As of Monday, April 21, the Lucy probe has reported it survived and is functioning. Data from asteroid Donaldjohanson now transmitting.
Note, Paper: Taking Faint Game
Some things in AJ (Astronomical Journal) for May (vol. 169 #5): Vokrouhlický, D. Nesvorný, D. Broz, M. et al. Orbital and Absolute Magnitude Distribution of Hilda Population 242 adbe7bHora, J. L. Allen, A. J. Trilling, D. E. et al. Infrared… Read More »Note, Paper: Taking Faint Game
Hammer of the ‘Don
An ‘inhuman’-interest piece in MIT Technology Review: April 14, 2025 Robin George Andrews Meet the researchers testing the “Armageddon” approach to asteroid defense www.technologyreview.com/2025/04/14/1114306/space-nuclear-explosion-asteroid-protection-research/ Don’t accuse me of fearmongering just because I include planetary defense coverage in the wider small-body… Read More »Hammer of the ‘Don
Note, Paper: Pre-Flyby Write
In light of the Lucy mission’s asteroid flyby tomorrow (1:51 PM EDT), it’s time for another batch of papers from Planetary Science Journal. In volume 6: Runyon, K. D. Durda, D. D. Klein, V. et al. Methods for Experimental Planetary… Read More »Note, Paper: Pre-Flyby Write
Note, Paper: Slew Astronomy
Two papers to report in the May issue of New Astronomy (vol. 116): Agbogidi, B. R. Vincent, A. E. Afere, B. A. E. et al. Equilibrium points in the perturbed rotating mass dipole system with oblateness art. 102344 .2024.102344Wang, N.… Read More »Note, Paper: Slew Astronomy
Note, Paper: Hydration Implications
One (serious) Planetary and Space Science paper for May (vol. 259): Marschall, R. Morbidelli, A. Marrocchi, Y. The refractory-to-ice ratio in comet 67P: Implications on the composition of the comet-forming region of the protoplanetary disk Art. 106061 .2501.17864 To bystanders,… Read More »Note, Paper: Hydration Implications
Note, Paper: Outerphys Journ
Oops, missed Astrophysical Journal Letters for April 10 (vol. 983, #1): Mousis, O. Werlen, A. Benest Couzinou, T. et al. Primordial Origin of Methane on Eris and Makemake Supported by D/H Ratios L12 adc134Lim, B. Ishiguro, M. Takahashi, J. et… Read More »Note, Paper: Outerphys Journ
Note, Paper: Nature of Rotators
Wow, asteroids made a Nature-family journal, and not Nature Astronomy. In Scientific Reports vol. 15 #1: Shimizu, Y. Miyamoto, H. Michel, P. Diverse evolutionary pathways of spheroidal asteroids driven by rotation rate Art. 10284 s41598-025-94574-1 Not only are there fast-rotator… Read More »Note, Paper: Nature of Rotators
Note, Paper: Hot Rock Copy
The April Meteoritics & Planetary Science (vol. 60, #4) is finally here: Larsen, K. Krot, A. N. Wielandt, D. et al. Type B–type C CAI in a CR chondrite: Evidence for multiple melting events, gas–melt interaction, and oxygen-isotope exchange Page… Read More »Note, Paper: Hot Rock Copy
No Paper: AcAs Pass
Nothing in Acta Astronautica for May (vol. 230). Making up for last month, maybe.