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The distribution of boulders on the surface of top-shaped asteroids such as Bennu or Ryugu tells us about the processes driving their evolution. A model shows that the spin-up induced by the Yarkovsky–O’Keefe–Radzievskii–Paddack (YORP) effect can explain simultaneously both the latitudinal behaviour of the boulders and the regolith migration.
Soft X-ray observations of the southern Galactic sky with the HaloSat CubeSat indicate that the circumgalactic medium (CGM) of the Milky Way has a disk-like profile, with an extended spherical halo. Clumps in the CGM correlate with star-formation activity.
Astronomy research in Malaysia has progressed rapidly in the last few decades, with an increasing number of enthusiastic Malaysian astronomers working together to build new research groups and observing facilities, while establishing research networks both locally and globally.
On a magnetar’s surface, magnetic fields can create permanent sunspot-like structures. Accounting for heat diffusion and magnetic evolution in a magnetar’s crust in the latest simulations improves agreement with observations.
Realistic three-dimensional magneto-thermal simulations of magnetars with strong, large-scale toroidal magnetic fields accurately describe the observed light curves of 10 out of 19 magnetars in quiescence and allow their rotational orientation to be further constrained.
Comparing microphysical models of aerosol production to Hubble Space Telescope transit spectra reveals a surprisingly simple transition between atmospheres with hydrocarbon hazes, silicate clouds and clear skies.
Philanthropic donations are a significant contribution to the betterment of humankind, with a large percentage dedicated to science and education. Affordable small satellites may offer philanthropists the opportunity to give students and underprivileged communities access to small space telescopes.
The Space Academic Network made a case for a small-satellite programme for the United Kingdom to provide access to space, and a route for advancing science and technology; however, funding has not been forthcoming. The search for a killer argument for this widely supported programme continues.
The detection of phosphine in the cloud decks of Venus generated 4,700 news stories around the world. This kind of coordination was only possible because of our embargo policy.
In the Spitzer Space Telescope’s 16 years of operation, it observed many Solar System objects and environments. In this first Review Article of a pair, Spitzer’s insights into comets, centaurs and Kuiper belt objects—all remnants of the Solar System’s formation—are summarized.
In the Spitzer Space Telescope’s 16 years of operation, it observed many Solar System objects and environments. In this second Review Article of a pair, Spitzer’s insight into asteroids, dust clouds and rings and the ice giant planets are summarized.
A shape evolution model shows that bilobed Arrokoth obtained its peculiar flattened shape by sublimation-driven mass loss. This process happened very early in the body’s history and may be a widespread shaping mechanism of Kuiper belt objects.
An asteroseismic and spectroscopic analysis of lithium-rich stars improves their classification based on the distributions of lithium, nitrogen and mass, and reveals that most of these evolved stars are red clump rather than red giant branch stars.
A starburst galaxy from the peak epoch of cosmic star-formation history is found to have a significant ionizing ultraviolet emission. This finding will help better constrain the process of reionization in the early Universe.
