B. Quarles and Jack J. Lissauer 2016 AJ 151 111
Stability calculations show that planets within the habitable zone of either α Cen A or α Cen B — the binary components of the nearest star system to us — are able to remain in circumstellar orbit.
V. Jithesh and Zhongxiang Wang 2016 ApJ 821 24
15 new transient X-ray sources are observed in the nearby galaxy NGC 55, tentatively thought to include 1 low-mass and 6 high-mass x-ray binaries, 6 super soft sources, and 1 active galactic nucleus.
Sivan Ginzburg et al 2016 ApJ 822 L11
The effective blackbody temperature of a planet (such as the hypothetical Planet Nine) can be used to estimate the mass of its atmosphere, helping us to identify a gas-rich vs. mainly rocky/icy planet.
Neil Gehrels et al 2016 ApJ 820 136
Considering only the brightest galaxies for gravitational-wave follow-up will reduce the number of galaxies that must be searched to ~10-20 per detection, based on advanced LIGO’s localization abilities.
Jeffrey D. Cummings et al 2016 ApJ 820 L18
Nine white dwarf candidates are observed in the open cluster NGC 2099. Analysis shows that one measures 1.28 M⊙, making it the highest-mass white dwarf discovered thus far in a cluster.
F. Camilo et al 2016 ApJ 820 110
The transient magnetar and 5.54-s radio pulsar XTE J1810−197 abruptly shut off in radio frequencies in 2008, but a high-amplitude thermal X-ray pulse remains, implying continuing magnetar activity.