More preprints (NOT officially reviewed journal papers) from arXiv.org: Astrophysics > Earth and Planetary Astrophysics arxiv.org/abs/2602.12930Paek, G. S. H. Im, M. Jeong, M. et al. Pre-perihelion Emergence of the CN Gas Coma in 3I/ATLAS Temporally and Spatially Resolved by the… Read More »ATLAS Activity Track Drafts
From Nature Partner Journal Microgravity: Santomartino, R. Blanco, G. R. Gudgeon, A. et al. Microbial biomining from asteroidal material onboard the international space station s41526-026-00567-3 Relating to a brief mention I gave: microbes can be used to refine metals and… Read More »Note, Paper: High Biomining Writeup
Almost missed this one again… maybe I should give Astronomy magazine more credit: www.astronomy.com/issues/2026/february-2026/www.astronomy.com/science/top-10-space-stories-of-2025/8. An interstellar comet comes to visit6. Bennu and Ryugu may be siblings1. Vera Rubin Observatory begins its surveyHonorable mention: 7. Solar Orbiter, PUNCH, and Proba-3 show… Read More »Telescope Top-Honor Spot
Now up: a lecture, available online, about petrologic Type 1 meteorites and other astromaterials: https://meteoritical.org/society/ed-scott-lecture-series The series, as you might have guessed, are in tribute to Dr. Ed Scott, who died in 2021. Scott was a published and celebrated meteoriticist… Read More »Type 1 Meteorite/Flights, Online…
This week’s example Image Of The Week, from the National Optical/Infrared Lab: noirlab.edu/public/images/iotw2606a-, Feb. 11, 2026, noonNSF-DOE Rubin Observatory Spotted Comet 3I/ATLAS Ten Days Before Discovery Rubin’s precovery images of interstellar object ATLAS are now the weekly highlight shot. Good… Read More »Rubin In Image (Pre-ATLAS Seen)
The Meteoritics & Planetary Science for Feb (vol. 61 #2) is finally out, don’t ask me what’s the holdup: Lee, M. R. Glazer, J. Rapid terrestrial weathering of the CI1 carbonaceous chondrite find Oued Chebeika 002 p. 211 .70089Luther, R.… Read More »Note, Paper: Of Finds and Iron Mines
The “February” issue of Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society brings us: Volume 545, Issue 4, February 2026 Morate,D. Mahlke,M. Álvarez-Candal,A. et al. JaMONCITO: the Javalambre – Moving Objects New Catalog from Investigations of Time-domain Observations staf2052Buendia, E. Valdés,… Read More »Note, Paper: Now Browsing; Then Dousing?
In JGR-Planets (Journal of Geophysical Research-Planets): Parra, S. A. Greenberger, R. N. Ehlmann, B. L. Microimaging Spectroscopy of Carbonaceous Chondrites and Comparison to the Spectral Diversity of Asteroids 2025JE009048 We know meteorites are pieces of asteroids… but past that, the trail… Read More »Note, Paper: See CC Parent Appearance
More short briefings from Astronomers’ Telegram: www.astronomerstelegram.org/?read=17664Mugrauer, M. Belger, M. Jamil, Z. et al. Follow-up Imaging Observations of the Interstellar Comet 3I/ATLAS ATel #17664 on 10 Feb 2026; 13:40 UT Yes, it’s a comet. We continue to track the small body, both in… Read More »ATLAS Kamera Gesellschaft
The Feb 1 Astrophysical Journal (ApJ) (vol. 997 #2) contains: Tribbett, P. D. Yarnall, Y. Y. Gerakines, P. A. et al. Radiation-driven Destruction of N-heterocycles in the Presence and Absence of Water Ice Art 291 ae22f0 Asteroids contain organics. That’s… Read More »Note, Paper: If Life Dices in Ice