Rumors of comet C/2021 O3 (PanSTARRS)’s death may have been exaggerated: according to research, the comet likely emerged from perihelion with its nucleus no larger than 3.4 km across.
Laboratory experiments show that illumination causes erosion on the sides of dusty slopes, reducing the angle of the slope; when the light is turned off, the slope can be reduced further due to amplified emission.
Analysis of JWST imaging of Wolf–Rayet stars shows that dust produced by these stars is long lived, surviving at least 130 years and up to more than 300 years, suggesting that this source could contribute significant dust to our galaxy.
A survey planned to begin in summer 2026 will characterize the size distribution of Kuiper Belt objects as well as identify potential imaging targets for the New Horizons spacecraft.
Seven years from now, 2024 YR4 will have a few percent chance of impacting the Moon and carving out a 1-km-diameter crater; such an impact has a 1% chance of directing at least 10% of the ejecta to be accreted by Earth.
A sounding rocket will carry for the first time an instrument capable of detecting polarized X-rays below 1 kiloelectronvolt; this work explores the possible outcomes of a dedicated mission with such an instrument.