[astro-ph.EP] Cryovolcanism is a fundamental geodynamical process that has been observed on several icy moons. Europa stands out as a primary target for investigating potential cryovolcanic activity and its role […]
Imaging & Spectroscopy
Posted inBiosignatures & Paleobiology
On-demand Microfluidic Synthesis Of Silver Nanoparticles For SERS Detection Of Organic Compounds: A Preliminary Feasibility Study For Astrobiology Applications
[Spectrochimica Acta Part A] The detection of organic molecules at trace concentration levels remains a critical challenge for astrobiology research.
Posted inExoplanets, -moons, -comets
The First Complete Picture Of (Gas) Planet Formation In Action
[Max Planck Institute for Astronomy] Over the past decades, astronomers have reconstructed a fairly complete scenario for planet formation, from minute dust motes clumping together to the emergence of rocky […]
![Sky-coverage of the four surveys utilized in this study, with celestial coordinates displayed. It depicts three consecutive observation sectors of TESS, labeled as i−1, i, and i+1. Each of the four TESS cameras is represented by a different color. The beginning of each sector is marked in gray at an ecliptic latitude of 6 deg. The green area indicates the observing region of the fourth camera, which begins at an ecliptic latitude of 78 deg and encompasses the entire ecliptic pole. The magenta, yellow, and grey areas depict the typical 15-day observation coverage of LSST, Pan-STARRS, and ATLAS-W68, respectively. -- [astro-ph.EP]](https://i0.wp.com/astrobiology.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/1IOumuamua.png?resize=1200%2C717&ssl=1)
Posted inInterstellar
1I/’Oumuamua-like Objects’s SFDs With Older, Current And Future Surveys
[astro-ph.EP] Interstellar Objects (ISOs) may provide direct evidence of planetesimals ejected from early-stage solar systems. Studying these objects and predicting their detection through various surveys is vital for enhancing our […]
![Distributions of planetary mass, mass of the host star and semi-major axis of all confirmed exoplanets listed at exoplanet.eu. The planets are color-coded according to method used for their discovery. The dashed gray line marks the deuterium-burning mass limit of 13 MJup. [astro-ph.EP]](https://i0.wp.com/astrobiology.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Characterization-1.png?resize=1200%2C710&ssl=1)
Posted inExoplanets, -moons, -comets
Characterization Of Planetary Systems With Astrometry
[astro-ph.EP] Astrometry is the oldest method used to search for extrasolar planets. This technique provides key information about a planetary system, like the true mass of planets and its three-dimensional […]
![Orbit of 3I/ATLAS showing the 17 UVES/VLT observing epochs. Open and filled circles represent pre- and post-perihelion observations, respectively. Planet positions with filled circles are shown for the date of perihelion. The open diamond marks Earth’s position at the discovery of 3I/ATLAS, while the open circles along Earth’s orbit indicate its position at each observing epoch. [astro-ph.EP]](https://i0.wp.com/astrobiology.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/High-resolution.png?resize=1200%2C720&ssl=1)
Posted inComets and Asteroids
High-resolution Optical Spectroscopy Reveals The Distinctive Volatile Composition Of The Interstellar Comet 3I/ATLAS
[astro-ph.EP] Comets preserve volatile material from the early stages of planetary-system formation. The discovery of the interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS enables a direct comparison between a comet formed around another star […]
![All plot facets identical to Figure 5. Simultaneous characterization of H2O and O2. Detector noise and thermal emission are included. Shorter wavelengths are preferred for dual detection, but result in lower yields. -- [astro-ph.EP]](https://i0.wp.com/astrobiology.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Possible-Observational.png?resize=1200%2C716&ssl=1)
Posted inExoplanets, -moons, -comets
Possible Observational Survey Strategies to Maximize Exoplanet Yields: A Report from the Survey Strategies Task Group in the Exoplanet Science Yields Working Group
[astro-ph.EP] We present a variety of possible observational sequences from planet detection to characterization (i.e., survey strategies) for the initial exoEarth detection and characterization survey phase of the Habitable Worlds […]
Posted inTricorders & Sensors
Tricorder Tech: What A Spacefaring Arctic Microbe Reveals About Life in Alien Oceans
[ISS National Laboratory] It lives in places where life should not exist. In the brine channels that thread through Arctic sea ice, it survives temperatures that would freeze most bacteria […]
![LDPI–ReTOF mass spectrum obtained after the deposition of 40 ML pure NH3 ice at 15 K (red), without VUV irradiation. A reference mass spectrum obtained for a bare, clean substrate is presented for comparison (black). The spectra are offset for clarity -- [astro-ph.IM]](https://i0.wp.com/astrobiology.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Quantifying.png?resize=1200%2C720&ssl=1)
Posted inAstrochemistry
Quantifying The Temperature-dependent Yields Of N2 And N2H4 Formation In Vacuum-ultraviolet-irradiated NH3 Ice
[astro-ph.IM] Gas–grain astrochemical models predict that a substantial fraction of elemental nitrogen in dense cores and protoplanetary disks is locked in molecular nitrogen (N2), in the gas or ice phase, […]
Posted inMars
Study Finds An Ancient History Of Water On Mars That Shifted Over Time
[Purdue University] From orbit, a carbonate-rich band of rock along the inside edge of Mars’ Jezero Crater looked like it might be the remains of an ancient lakeshore. Then NASA’s […]