In the recent papers of JGR: Planets (Journal of Geophysical Research): Cambioni, S. Weiss, B. P. Baijal, N. et al. Formation of Asteroid (16) Psyche by a Giant Impact 2025JE009317 One thing’s not up for debate: (16) Psyche is metal-rich.… Read More »Note, Paper: Psyche Strike Writeup
Again, more goodies in Space Science Reviews for the new year (volume 222): Zhang, R. Zhang, H. Liu, J. et al. Tianwen-2 Mission of China’s Planetary Exploration Program 11 s11214-026-01268-9 The Tianwen-2 mission, launched last year, will rendezvous with asteroid… Read More »Space Science Reviews Tianwen-2
Nothing from Space Science Reviews for a while, then Boom (vol. 222): Palomba, E. Dirri, F. Gisellu, C. et al. VISTA: Dust and Volatile Sensor for the ESA Hera Mission 10 s11214-026-01266-x The Hera mission to asteroid Didymos and its… Read More »Space Science Reviews Milani-VISTA
Congratulations to author John Scalzi, newly commemorated with his own asteroid. The small Solar System body (52692) Johnscalzi, formerly under the temporary designation 1998 FO8, was given its permanent name by the IAU earlier this week. Celebrated author John Scalzi… Read More »Written Into The Sky
Holding on to this paper in Nat Commun Earth Environ (vol. 6, 2025) Discenza, M. E. Brunetti, M. T. Molaro, L. et al. Evidence for landslides triggered by impact events on Ceres Art 1042 s43247-025-03119-x Impacts cause craters, no doubt.… Read More »Note, Paper: Bolide Rockslide Writeup
planetarygeomorphology.wordpress.comPlanetary Geomorphology Image of the MonthLobate Forms: Mass Movements Directly Linked to Impact Cratering Processes Craters have rims and floors. Sometimes, the rim collapses back onto the floor. And some of those times, the collapse is flowing and spreading, into… Read More »See Ceres Lee Scree
Now up from Space Science Reviews (vol. 222- 2026): Bell, J. F. Elkins-Tanton, L. Polanskey, C. A. The NASA Psyche Mission: The First up-CloseExploration of a Metal-Rich World 5 s11214-025-01255-6 This is one of Space Sci Rev’s “EditorialNotes”. As with… Read More »Space Science Reviews Psyche-Review
Hot on the heels of the last apparent comet discovery: http://www.cbat.eps.harvard.edu/iau/cbet/005600/CBET005648.txt We have multiple reports of an object with a coma and/or tail- therefore indicating activity, therefore indicating a comet. Except this “comet” orbits, to the precision of our measurements… Read More »*NEW* : Main-Belt Comet P/2025 W4 (Pan-STARRS)
Just discovered November (while we were feasting): a new Main-Belt comet. A typical comet comes out of the outer Solar System, then warms and activates when it reaches the inner Solar System. Not Main-Belters. These “comets” reside in the asteroid… Read More »*NEW* : Main-Belt Comet 2025 W3 (Kresken)
Starting roughly, oh… now, but peaking the night of Dec. 13-14 is the Geminid meteor shower. You know, the Geminids- fragments of, not a comet, but asteroid (3200) Phaethon? This asteroidal shower has an interesting origin story- or would that… Read More »Geminid Meteor Shower This Month