Astrobites

Astrobites

@astrobites.bsky.social

Digestible summaries of the latest astronomy research. Written by an international team of grad students for undergrads! Supported by the @AAS_Office. #scicomm

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Astrobites
@astrobites.bsky.social

From @jaidai.bsky.social: T Coronae Borealis has stubbornly refused to explode. Today’s authors explore some of the ways that high-energy particles could be produced in the outburst and whether neutrinos might give us some advance warning. ⚛️ 🔭 ☄️ 🧪 astrobites.org/2026/10/16/tcrb_neutrino_detection/

astrobites.orgA Stellar Sleeper Agent: Neutrino Detection Prospects of T Coronae BorealisOver the last few years, T Coronae Borealis has stubbornly refused to explode, despite multiple predictions to the contrary. In today's article, the authors explore some of the ways that high-energy p...
Astrobites
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From Chloe Klare: Today’s paper involves an ambitious and inspiring mission to modernize the Ukrainian T-shaped Radio telescope after it was tragically destroyed by the Russian military. ⚛️ 🔭 ☄️ 🧪 astrobites.org/2026/10/15/ukrainian-tshaped-radio-telescope-glowup/

astrobites.orgThe Ukrainian T-shaped Radio Telescope is getting a glow-up after getting caught in a war zoneToday's paper involves an ambitious and inspiring mission to modernize the Ukrainian T-shaped Radio telescope after it was tragically destroyed by the Russian military.
Astrobites
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From @anaviuppal.bsky.social: Future observatories may be able to see a black hole’s photon ring for the first time. Will machine learning help us disentangle the different subrings that make it up? ⚛️ 🔭 ☄️ 🧪 astrobites.org/2026/10/17/photon-ring-cnn/

astrobites.orgDisentangling Black Hole Photon Rings with Machine LearningFuture observatories may be able to see a black hole’s photon ring for the first time. Will machine learning help us disentangle the different subrings that make it up?
Astrobites
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From @meverri.bsky.social: Some high-redshift supermassive black holes grew faster than we expected, but how many? Today’s paper searches for hidden supermassive black holes in the early universe to find out! ⚛️ 🔭 ☄️ 🧪 astrobites.org/2026/10/09/early-supermassive-black-hole-monster/

astrobites.orgEarly Supermassive Black Holes Aren’t All MonstersSome high-redshift supermassive black holes grew faster than we expected, but how many? Today’s paper searches for hidden supermassive black holes in the early universe to find out!
Astrobites
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From @jaydewst.bsky.social: Little red dots have a reputation as loners, but JWST has just found what looks like a whole farm of them in a young galaxy cluster. What are they doing there, and why have they gone so quiet? ⚛️ 🔭 ☄️ 🧪 astrobites.org/2026/10/07/lrd-farm-cluster/

astrobites.orgJWST found the LRD FarmLittle red dots have a reputation as loners, but JWST has just found what looks like a whole farm of them in a young galaxy cluster. What are they doing there, and why have they gone so quiet?
Astrobites
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From Jared Bull: Astronomers claim that taking a picture exoplanets is like trying to photograph a firefly next to a lighthouse, but what if we wanted to figure out how fast the firefly is spinning? ⚛️ 🔭 ☄️ 🧪 astrobites.org/2026/10/06/spinning-fireflies-measuring-the-rotation-of-planets-around-stars/

astrobites.orgSpinning Fireflies: Measuring the Rotation of Planets Around StarsAstronomers claim that taking a picture of an exoplanet is like trying to photograph a firefly next to a lighthouse, but what if we also wanted to figure out how fast the firefly is spinning next to t...
Astrobites
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From @laurie-amen.bsky.social: Could “little red dots” and their lesser known cousins, “little blue dots”, be the same astronomical object? Today’s paper puts this recently popular theory to the test by invoking helium reionization. ⚛️ 🔭 ☄️ 🧪 astrobites.org/2026/10/01/little-red-blue-dots-he/

astrobites.orgLittle dots red, little dots blue, well helium has a say too!Could “little red dots” and their lesser known cousins, “little blue dots”, be the same astronomical object? Today’s paper puts this recently popular theory to the test by invoking helium reionization...
Astrobites
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From Chloe Klare: “It’s just so big… it’s like out there (>3Mpc from the galactic nuclei!!). I mean gross (instability!!)…Look! She’s just so…physically inexplicable!” – Sir Mix-a-Lot, if we had today’s radio telescopes back in 1992. ⚛️ 🔭 ☄️ 🧪 astrobites.org/2026/09/28/mpc-radio-jets/

astrobites.orgOh my god, Becky, look at her radio jet…"It's just so big... it's like out there (>3Mpc from the galactic nuclei!!). I mean gross (instability!!)...Look! She's just so...physically inexplicable!" - Sir Mix-a-Lot, if we had today's radio tel...
Astrobites
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From Nicki Bond: Have you ever found astronomy terminology confusing? In today’s bite we explore some of the most outrageous and nonsensical naming conventions in astronomy. ⚛️ 🔭 ☄️ 🧪 astrobites.org/2026/09/18/astronomy-is-confusing/

astrobites.orgAstronomy is confusing!Have you ever found astronomy terminology confusing? If so, you are not alone. In today’s bite we explore some of the most outrageous and nonsensical naming conventions in astronomy, both those we hav...
Astrobites
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From Chris Layden: Interstellar object 3I/ATLAS whizzed by the sun late last year. The polarization of its reflected sunlight was quite different from solar system objects we’re familiar with. ⚛️ 🔭 ☄️ 🧪 astrobites.org/2026/09/15/3i_atlas_polarization/

astrobites.orgFunky reflections from an interstellar objectInterstellar object 3I/ATLAS whizzed by the sun late last year. The polarization of its reflected sunlight was quite different from solar system objects we’re familiar with.
Astrobites
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From @dornanv.bsky.social: 700 years of astronomical progress is currently being laid out on the tables of the library of the Royal Observatory of Edinburgh. Join Astrobites for a glimpse into the process! ⚛️ 🔭 ☄️ 🧪 astrobites.org/2026/09/11/crawford-collection/

astrobites.orgAn Afternoon in The UK’s Most Extensive Astronomical Library700 years of astronomical progress is currently being laid out on the tables of the library of the Royal Observatory of Edinburgh. Join astrobites for a glimpse into the process!
Astrobites
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From @neevshah101.bsky.social: In a few billion years, the Sun will rapidly expand in size. What does that mean for the inner planets, including our very own Earth? Read today’s bite to find out! ⚛️ 🔭 ☄️ 🧪 astrobites.org/2026/09/10/sun-earth-race/

astrobites.orgCatch me if you can: The dying Sun and the fate of the EarthIn a few billion years, the Sun will rapidly expand in size. What does that mean for the inner planets, including our very own Earth? Read today's bite to find out!
Astrobites
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From Ben Sherwin: The Vera C. Rubin Observatory has found a new ultra-faint dwarf galaxy in our galactic backyard just by using preview data, taken before its 10-year survey! ⚛️ 🔭 ☄️ 🧪 astrobites.org/2026/09/08/rubin-first-ultrafaint-dwarf/

astrobites.orgAn Early Discovery by Rubin Observatory!The Vera C. Rubin Observatory has found a new ultra-faint dwarf galaxy in our galactic backyard just by using preview data, taken before its 10-year survey!
Astrobites
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From Joe Williams: Phosphorus, key for life on Earth, has never been seen in the planet-forming environment. The authors of today’s paper have sniffed out why and where the Phosphorus is hiding. ⚛️ 🔭 ☄️ 🧪 astrobites.org/2026/09/07/phosphorus-in-stars/

astrobites.orgThe Stinkiest Stars in SpacePhosphorus, key for life on Earth, has never been seen in the planet-forming environment. The authors of today’s paper have sniffed out why and where the Phosphorus is hiding.
Astrobites
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From Flavia Pascal: The search for life beyond Earth often focuses on finding the right ingredients. But what if the more revealing clue is what a planet does with them? ⚛️ 🔭 ☄️ 🧪 astrobites.org/2026/09/05/steering-wheel-of-life/

astrobites.orgBehind the steering wheel of living systemsThe search for life beyond Earth often focuses on finding the right ingredients. But what if the more revealing clue is what a planet does with them? Today's bite offers a different perspective: perha...
Astrobites
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From Kasper Zoellner: Exoplanets with helium-rich atmospheres might seem alien and hostile, but laboratory evidence tells a different story. ⚛️ 🔭 ☄️ 🧪 astrobites.org/2026/08/31/could-life-survive-on-a-helium-planet/

astrobites.orgCould Life Survive on a Helium Planet?Exoplanets with helium-rich atmospheres might seem alien and hostile, but laboratory evidence tells a different story. Join us today as we explore whether life could survive, and maybe even thrive, on...
Astrobites
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From Jared Bull: We’re used to imagining dark matter as tiny particles, such as WIMPs or axions, but what if dark matter existed in chunks the size of bowling balls, fridges, or even pyramids? ⚛️ 🔭 ☄️ 🧪 astrobites.org/2026/08/29/the-weather-forecast-of-dark-matter-hail-in-the-solar-system/

astrobites.orgThe Weather Forecast of Dark Matter Hail in the Solar SystemWe’re used to imagining dark matter as tiny particles, such as WIMPs or axions, but what if dark matter existed in chunks the size of bowling balls, fridges, or even pyramids? The author of today's pa...
Astrobites
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From Serat Saad: What do you get when you cross a spectroscopic survey with a planet hunter? A cardiology ward, and 50 stars whose orbits are ringing them like a bell. ⚛️ 🔭 ☄️ 🧪 astrobites.org/2026/08/28/total-eclipse-of-the-heart-in-astronomy/

astrobites.org“Total Eclipse of the Heart” in AstronomyWhat do you get when you cross a spectroscopic survey with a planet hunter? A cardiology ward, and 50 stars whose orbits are ringing them like a bell.
Astrobites
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From @neelkolhe.bsky.social: This study uses hydrodynamical simulations to model galaxies which show observational evidence for gas bars and tries to understated the physical processes which lead to their seemingly unlikely evolution. ⚛️ 🔭 ☄️ 🧪 astrobites.org/2026/08/27/irregular-gaseous-bars/

astrobites.orgAn irregular cocktail served at your local galactic bar.There have been reports of gaseous bars in dwarf irregular galaxies. Gaseous bars are often assumed to be unstable and hard to form compared to stellar bars. This study uses hydrodynamical simulation...
Astrobites
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From Julie Kiel Holm: Wake up babe, new merger just dropped! Several distinct populations of stars and clusters in the Milky Way are remnants of the same accreted galaxy, which our galaxy tore apart almost 12 billion years ago. ⚛️ 🔭 ☄️ 🧪 astrobites.org/2026/08/24/lkh-merger/

astrobites.orgOur galaxy ate another oneWake up babe, new merger just dropped! Several distinct populations of stars and clusters in the Milky Way are remnants of the same accreted galaxy, which our galaxy tore apart almost 12 billion years...
Astrobites
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From Flavia Pascal: Sub-Neptunes show flat spectra indicating multiple possibilities for their atmospheric composition. Yet some are losing hydrogen or helium to space. Could this reveal what their featureless spectra are hiding? ⚛️ 🔭 ☄️ 🧪 astrobites.org/2026/08/22/sub-neptunes-say-heh/

astrobites.orgSub-Neptune atmospheres say “HeH!”: what escaping H and He reveal about their compositionSub-Neptunes are very good at hiding their secrets: many show flat spectra that could indicate multiple possibilities for their atmospheric composition. Yet some of these same worlds are caught in the...
Astrobites
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From @anaviuppal.bsky.social: In 2019, CHIME detected a very unusual fast radio burst (FRB) signal that excited the astronomical community. However, it turns out that the signal wasn’t from an FRB after all… ⚛️ 🔭 ☄️ 🧪 astrobites.org/2026/08/21/chime-misclassification/

astrobites.orgEverything Going Wrong, All at Once: Pulsar Misclassified as a Fast Radio BurstIn 2019, CHIME detected a very unusual fast radio burst (FRB) signal that excited the astronomical community. However, it turns out that the signal wasn’t from an FRB after all…
Astrobites
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From Munira Hoosain: Odd Radio Circles are a recently discovered extragalactic phenomenon. This astrobites explores an ORC identified in LOFAR data that exhibits features that make it different from other ORCS ⚛️ 🔭 ☄️ 🧪 astrobites.org/2026/08/20/odd-radio-circle-lofar/

astrobites.orgNot all ORCs are in Middle Earth – Discovery of an Odd Radio Circle in LOFAR dataOdd Radio Circles are a recently discovered extragalactic phenomenon. As their name suggests, the cause of them is still a mystery. This astrobites explores an ORC identified in LOFAR data that exhibi...
Astrobites
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From the team: Fall is coming, which means graduate school applications will soon be upon us. In this post, you will find answers for many of your most pressing questions about applying to graduate school in the US, plus some additional resources! ⚛️ 🔭 ☄️ 🧪 astrobites.org/2026/08/19/grad_school_faqs/

astrobites.orgAstrobites Guide to Graduate School Applications (U.S.)Fall is coming, which means graduate school applications will soon be upon us. In this post, you will find answers for many of your most pressing questions about applying to graduate school in the US,...
Astrobites
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From Nicki Bond: “An eclipse, a trombone and an oscilloscope walk into a bar” sounds like the beginning of a bad joke, but what do they have in common? Read on to find out. ⚛️ 🔭 ☄️ 🧪 astrobites.org/2026/08/14/an-eclipse-a-trombone-and-an-oscilloscope/

astrobites.orgAn eclipse, a trombone and an oscilloscope“An eclipse, a trombone and an oscilloscope walk into a bar” sounds like the beginning of a bad joke, but what do they have in common? Read on to find out.
Astrobites
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From Nathan Whitsett: A close-in brown dwarf is a rare sight; but finding one around a massive, aging star is even rarer. Today’s authors explore HIP 61637 b, an exciting case study that challenges known brown dwarf formation pathways! ⚛️ 🔭 ☄️ 🧪 astrobites.org/2026/08/12/rare-bd/

astrobites.orgAn Unlikely Couple: A close-in brown dwarf orbiting a massive, aging starA close-in brown dwarf is a rare sight; but finding one around a massive, aging star is even rarer. Today's authors explore HIP 61637 b, an exciting case study that challenges known brown dwarf format...