Edward L. Wright et al 2016 AJ 152 79
The WISE mission observed the albedos of 428 near Earth asteroids, finding a bimodal distribution: ~25% are a very dark population (peak at p_V=0.030) and ~75% a moderately dark population (p_V=0.168).
Edwin S. Kite et al 2016 ApJ 828 80
Modeling of atmospheric pressure and surface composition on short-period, rocky exoplanets with dayside magma pools suggests that many magma planets have time-variable surface compositions.
Sarah J. Schmidt et al 2016 ApJ 828 L22
The detection of a powerful white-light flare on SDSS0533, a likely old L-dwarf from the thick-disk population, suggests that stellar-type magnetic activity may persist down to the end of the main sequence.
Thomas M. Esposito et al 2016 AJ 152 85
New Keck images of the spatially-resolved, unusual debris disk HD 61005 (“The Moth”) are used to test whether the disk may have been shaped dynamically by an eccentric, inclined, interior planet.
Noel Klingler et al 2016 ApJ 828 70
PSR J1509–5850 is a middle-aged pulsar with an associated pulsar wind nebula. New Chandra observations reveal additional outflows supporting the assumption that the pulsar is moving northeast supersonically.
Ian J. M. Crossfield et al 2016 ApJS 226 7
K2’s first 5 fields have resulted in the discovery of 197 planet condidates, with 104 validated (57 in multi-planet systems). Extrapolation suggests K2 will discover 500-1000 candidates in its 4-yr mission.