[astro-ph.EP] JWST has enabled the measurement of carbon, oxygen, and sulfur abundances in the atmospheres of directly imaged planets. Interpretation of these abundances from a planet formation standpoint requires the […]
astrogeology
Posted inEnceladus
The Enceladian Crater Production Function
[astro-ph.EP]. Interpreting Enceladus’s past and present surface history and interior state remains challenging, owing to uncertain prescription of its impact bombardment history and limited interpretation of its crater statistics. Further […]
![CI mass as a function of radial distance from the host star, for a continuum of solid surface densities. Over-plotted is the FI1 mass (𝑀¤ = 10−9 M⊙ yr−1 ) for a continuum of maximum Stokes numbers, as well as the MFI1 (opaque purple) and MFI2 (dashed red) masses and the PI mass (dotted black). The last three show no continuum of mass distributions, since we vary their initial mutual Hill spacing within the simulation. Thus, all initial simulations begin from the same mass distribution model, albeit with a different number of embryos at different spacings.-- [astro-ph.EP]](https://i0.wp.com/astrobiology.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Effects-of-Pebble.png?resize=1200%2C715&ssl=1)
Posted inExoplanets, -moons, -comets
Effects Of Pebble Accretion Isolation Mass On Observable Exoplanet Properties
[astro-ph.EP] The Kepler Mission has discovered a plethora of planetary systems with super-Earth sized planets.
Posted inMars
Zhurong Mars Rover Observations Primary Evaporite In Southern Utopia Planitia
[Nature] The Zhurong rover has identified a layer consisting of platy rocks enriched in hydrous minerals on a ~0.76-Ga surface in southern Utopia Planitia, indicating unexpected recent aqueous activity on […]
Posted inMars
ExoMars Rosalind Franklin Rover Recon: Geological History Of Oxia Planum
[NASA] This crater contains exposures in the rim that can corroborate prevailing hypotheses for Oxia Planum’s geologic history ahead of the ExoMars Rosalind Franklin rover’s landing, currently planned for 2030. […]
Posted inRobotics/Rovers/UAVs
Solid-state Propulsion for Autonomous Reconnaissance of Karst (SPARK)
[NASA/NIAC] While karst terrain and subsurface caves are sites of immense scientific value on bodies like Titan, they are difficult or impossible to safely explore using current methods.
Posted inMars
Mars Curiosity Blog Sols 4968-4974: Rock Climbing Towards the Discontinuity
[NASA] Curiosity has been exploring a large-scale feature in Gale’s sedimentary record suspected to be an “erosional supersurface.” The “supersurface” represents a period in time when a net depositional environment […]
Posted inVenus
The Lost Oceans Of Venus
[Earth and Planetary Science Letters] Whether Venus once had oceans and, if so, when it lost them are critical issues in the understanding of habitability on exoplanets, as well as […]
Posted inMars
Crustal Water Reservoir On Early Mars
[Geophysical Research Letters]. The next great leap in Martian exploration is the return of samples to Earth. Maximizing their scientific value requires non-destructive analytical techniques for early three-dimensional characterization.
Posted inNeptune
Neptune’s Inner Moons and Rings Are Exposed Icy Body Interiors
[astro-ph.EP] Neptune’s single large moon, Triton, is accompanied by a set of dusty rings and small moons whose composition and origin are uncertain.