Time to revisit Planetary Science Journal and its latest papers: Kareta, T. Schambeau, C. A. Firgard, M. et al. Activity-induced Near-infrared Spectral Variability at 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1, 2017-2022 119 adce07Diotte, F. Lemelin, M. Doucet, F. R. et al. Laser-induced Breakdown… Read More »Note, Paper: Plan Cat?
In Acta Astronautica for Jun 2025 (vol 231): Lu, J. Shang, H. Zhang, X. Speeding up heterogeneous binary asteroid system propagation through the physics-informed neural network Page 64 .02.022Impresario, G. Zinzi, A. Amoroso, M. et al. The Italian microsatellite mission… Read More »Note, Paper: Asternbild Achtung
…see Day 1 The last post was the first day of a big, multi-day conference: lots of pleasantries and generalities. Here now we get into some real meat of the matter. Session 1: Hypothetical Threat Exercise Technical SessionThe international… Read More »2025 Planetary Defense Conference, Day 2
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
The (formerly threatening) asteroid Apophis will make its (safe) pass by the Earth on April 13, 2029. (No coincidence, the UN has also declared 2029 to be the Year of Planetary Defense.) That means four years to prepare scientific observations,… Read More »Apophis T-4 Years Meeting
Time for another update from Planetary Science Journal (they don’t have issues): Nagaashi, Y. et al. Surface Energy of Insoluble Organic Matter Simulant: Evaluation Based on Adhesive Force Measured by Centrifugal and Impact Separation Methods 34 ada60cBray, V. J. et… Read More »Note, Paper: Interesting surfaces
…and now Thursday, March 13, 2025 (see also Mon, Tue, Wed) https://www.hou.usra.edu/meetings/lpsc2025/technical_program/ Special Session: Interesting Ices of the Solar SystemRole of Natron in Delaying Retreat of Buried Ice Tables on Ceres and Ceres-Like Objects [#2251] Landis M. E. et al.A… Read More »56th LPSC (2025): Thu, Day 4
The BBC: kinda big. Therefore, coverage by the BBC is to be taken seriously, both inherently and in its impact on the discourse: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c5y494xkp3yoRannard, Georgina The asteroid hits and near-misses you never hear about Not scaremongery at all, and rather… Read More »2024 YR4 will still STILL not kill you
Quick link to the current (5 Feb) Science Advances (vol. 11, issue 6). I don’t like to dwell on the one negative, overhyped aspect of asteroid studies, but Bennu publicity is Bennu publicity, oh well: Dai, L. Timmermann, A. Climatic… Read More »Note, Paper: Sci Advances… into the ground
For what it’s worth, the December issue of Nature Astronomy is a special one on Ryugu. Of course, we’re in the digital era, so the notion of an “issue” is handwavey- most of the works in it were already put… Read More »Tout, Papers: Special Nat. Astron. Issue