The torrent of images has not only begun, it’s bringing meta-information: https://www.astronomerstelegram.org/?read=1770317703 Salgundi, A. Andreoni, I. Anumarlapudi, A. et al. AT 2026epw: Discovery of a possible nova from Vera C. Rubin Observatory27 Feb 2026; 21:00 UT In my last update,… Read More »Vera Rubin Update (Mar ‘26)
Just out in Nature Astronomy (vol. 10)… not really news, but: Maltagliati, L. Rubin’s rich first reaping 177 s41550-026-02801-0 Paywalled as usual, but there’s an introductory snippet that’s accessible. In this “research highlight”, a Nature editor sings the praises of… Read More »Vera Rubin Redux
A bit self-promoting, but we’ll take it: www.ox.ac.uk/pulse/nature-climate-universe/rubin-observatory-, Feb 2026 Oxford and the Rubin Observatory A fairly in-depth piece. There’s next to no asteroid content per se, but… the Rubin Observatory will spot asteroids without even trying. So publicity on… Read More »Vera Rubin Upscrolling
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
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 Vera Rubin Observatory goes live tonight (in a sense). Shakedown operations with the Vera Rubin ‘scope have been going on for months now, finding the last issues and optimizing the procedures for the Legacy Survey of Space and Time.… Read More »Vera Rubin Update (Feb 2026)
Normally, I don’t expect much from Astronomy Journal. February (vol. 171 #2) was a surprise: Fan, X. Zhang, X. Xu, X. et al. Photometric Observations and Analysis of Active Asteroid (62412) 2000 SY178 Art 68 ae2678Cordova Quijano, S. A. Ye,… Read More »Note, Paper: Crack and Track 4-Pack
Just in the latest Nature issue (vol 649 #8098): https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-026-00188-6Michael Eisenstein, 21 January 2026 Seven technologies to watch in 2026 “Scientists excel at discovering limits — and then pushing beyond them.” The illustrious journal Nature cites the pusher, Vera Rubin.… Read More »To Watch the Watchers?
Yes, it’s time again for SBAG (NASA Small Bodies Assessment Group), this time the Winter meeting: 34th Meeting of the NASA Small Bodies Assessment Group (SBAG)January 13–14, 2026 https://www.hou.usra.edu/meetings/sbagjan2026/technical_program/?session_no=101 Tuesday, January 13, 2026, 8:30 AM8:30 AM Darryl Seligman Early-Career Icebreaker9:25… Read More »2026 Winter SBAG Meeting, 1
The Winter 2025 meeting of the AAS (American Astronomical Society), Jan 4-8, Phoenix, AZ, concludes soon: https://aas.org/meetings/aas247 Again, my cull of small-body-relevant agenda items. Most of the meeting is general astronomy, not small bodies or Solar System items: https://submissions.mirasmart.com/AAS247/Itinerary/EventsAAG.aspx See… Read More »AAS Winter 2026 Meeting, Three