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
Let’s keep up with our interstellar visitor, via a faster channel (arXiv.org): Earth and Planetary Astrophysics > arxiv.org/abs/2601.22034Belyakov, M. Wong, I. Bolin, B. T. et al. The Volatile Inventory of 3I/ATLAS as seen with JWST/MIRI [Submitted on 30 Jan 2026]… Read More »Large-Aperture ATLAS Activity
Let’s get caught up again with arXiv preprints: Earth and Planetary Astrophysics > arxiv.org/abs/2601.15443Tan, H. Yan, X. Li, J-Y. Perihelion Asymmetry in the Water Production Rate of the Interstellar Object 3I/ATLAS[Submitted on 21 Jan 2026] arxiv.org/abs/2601.16983Hoogendam, W. B. Jones, D.… Read More »ATLAS Gas and Path Abstracts
Posted on AASNova, an aggregator for publications of AAS (the American Astronomical Society): https://aasnova.org/2026/01/28/monthly-roundup-interstellar-visitor-3i-atlas/Kerry Hensley, 28 January 2026 Monthly Roundup: Interstellar Visitor 3I/ATLAS Spoiler: it’s a comet. The release of chunks that, themselves, release gas (“hyperactivity”) is a bit odd,… Read More »ATLAS Jan Wrapup (…so far)
Going on this moment: the Macao International Forum on Space and Planetary Sciences 2026: ifmacao.must.edu.mo In the program (https://ifmacao.must.edu.mo/program-detail): Xiaodong WANG, Solar Wind, Cometary Ions and Energetic Neutral Atoms (SCIENA) Sensor for the ESA Comet Interceptor Mission Long XIAO, The… Read More »Macau Forum on Space and Planetary Sciences
Aired Wednesday night, and also available online- a PBS asteroid documentary: https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/video/asteroids-spark-of-life/Nova: Asteroids: Spark of Life? Earth started off as a barren rock. Somehow, it became inhabitable and inhabited. Here we see some of the possible stages in that process,… Read More »Asteroids: Spark of Life? Documentary
Catching up with arXiv.org‘s posts: Earth and Planetary Astrophysics > arxiv.org/abs/2601.06759Lisse, C. M. Bach, Y. P. Bryan, S. A. et al. SPHEREx Re-Observation of Interstellar Object 3I/ATLAS in December 2025: Detection of Increased Post-Perihelion Activity, Refractory Coma Dust, and New… Read More »ATLAS Gas and Scatterer Scan
We have a mid-month Geochimica Et Cosmochimica Acta, 15 January 2026 (vol 413): Cody, G. D. Alexander, C. M. O’D. Foustoukos, D. I. et al. Placing asteroid Bennu’s organic solids in molecular and elemental context with those in aqueously altered carbo… Pg 33-47… Read More »Note, Paper: Ample Sample “Time Capsules”
Courtesy of our friends Astronomers’ Telegram: https://www.astronomerstelegram.org/?read=17561Bolin, B. Wong, I. Abron, L-M. et al. Gemini post-perihelion visible photometry and spectroscopy of interstellar comet 3I/ATLASATel #17561 24 Dec 2025; 20:36 UT The Gemini North telescope in Hawaii turned to our interstellar… Read More »Gemini Spies 3I Volatiles
Being in planetary science, let’s check in on Planetary Science Journal (2025, vol. 6): Kloos, J. L. Farnham, T. L. Sunshine, J. M. et al. Investigating Local- and Global-scale Dust Redistribution on Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko 268 ae1739Collyer, C. Fernandez-Valenzuela, E. Ortiz,… Read More »Note, Paper: PSJ Spray Papers