The 6th COSPAR (Committee on Space Research) Symposium is taking place in Nicosia, Cyprus (no, I didn’t fly there) this Nov 3-7: https://www.cospar-assembly.org/symposia/ COSPAR: a bit of a big deal. Therefore, their meeting is big. Maybe too big; I’ll try… Read More »2025 COSPAR Symposium, Nicosia
Now out from JGR:Plan (Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets) vol. 52, #21: Elder, C.M. Boulders on Bennu: Low Apparent Thermal Inertia Caused by Thermal FatigueFractures art. e2025GL116256 2025GL116256 We have samples returned from Bennu, but… grain sizes are mostly pebbles… Read More »Note, Paper: Geophysical NEO Fissure Vals
As of this week (Oct. 28), the Vera Rubin Observatory staff has declared the project “construction complete”, and begun operations (“Early Operations”, to be explicit). In physical terms, this doesn’t mean much. In legal terms, this means that telescope checkouts… Read More »Vera Rubin Ready!
The 1 November Planetary and Space Science (vol. 267) is up: Garcia, R. S. Fernández-Lajús, E. Di Sisto, R. P. et al. Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks: Dust properties Article 106181 .2025.106181 Comet activity is a puzzle we still haven’t solved. Yes, a… Read More »Note, Paper: 2D Receding Treatment
With 3I/ATLAS difficult to see in most telescopes, it’s a good time for theoretical astronomy: Astrophysics > Earth and Planetary Astrophysics arxiv.org/abs/2510.26308[Submitted on 30 Oct 2025]Maggiolo, R. Dhooghe, F. Gronoff, G. Interstellar Comet 3I/ATLAS: Evidence for Galactic Cosmic Ray Processing arxiv.org/abs/2510.25945[Submitted on… Read More »3I Bi-Hypothesized
Yesterday was Oct. 29, perihelion for 3I/ATLAS. That was the point in its trajectory (not orbit) when it was closest to the Sun. As the comet neared the Sun, it rose in temperature, and thus activity. That activity: Astrophysics >… Read More »3I Behind Prime Sky Light
In November 1’s issue (vol. 993 #1) of Astrophysical Journal Letters: Farnocchia, D. Vokrouhlicky, D. Santana-Ros, T. et al. Radiation Forces and Trajectory of Hayabusa2# Target 1998 KY26 L9 ae10b8Salazar Manzano, L. E. Lin, H-W. Taylor, A. G. et al.… Read More »Note, Paper: Non-Pusher
Wow, what an Icarus issue for 15 Nov (vol. 441): Wesołowski, M. Bober, Z. Ożóg, Ł. et al. Is it possible to create a realistic structure of a cometary nucleus analog in the laboratory? Art. 116646Michikami, T. Hagermann, A. Statistical… Read More »Note, Paper: Stats And Smatterings Chatterings
Our interstellar friend is behind the Sun (to observers on or near Earth). Good time to recap activity (emission of coma and tail(s)) so far: Astrophysics > Earth and Planetary Astrophysics arxiv.org/abs/2510.18769[Submitted on 21 Oct 2025]Jewitt, D. Luu, J. Pre-perihelion… Read More »First-Half ATLAS Activity Track
Just in from JGR:Planets (Journal of Geophysical Research), vol. 130, #10: Onodera, K. Ino, Y. Tanaka, Satoshi et al. Elastic Properties of Returned Samples From Asteroid (162173) Ryugu Art. e2025JE008944 2025JE008944 Short version: the authors measured the stiffness of Ryugu grains, and… Read More »Note, Paper: Small-Bod Modulus Products