Nature Astronomy

dlvr.itRetention of primordial atmospheres through giant impactsNature Astronomy, Published online: 26 October 2026; doi:10.1038/s41550-026-03006-1Giant impacts help rocky planets retain hydrogen-rich atmospheres because accreted mass increases atmospheric gravitational binding more than collisional heating drives atmospheric loss. This may explain the bimodal radius distribution of exoplanets.

Retention of primordial atmospheres through giant impacts ☄️

dlvr.itA double debris disc around a white dwarf sculpted by two planetary bodiesNature Astronomy, Published online: 26 October 2026; doi:10.1038/s41550-026-03004-3Scientists discovered a white dwarf star circled by two nested rings of gas that were probably shaped by two hidden planetary bodies, one asteroid-sized and one Pluto-sized. The star’s unusual four-peaked light signature reveals a striking new kind of planetary debris system.

A double debris disc around a white dwarf sculpted by two planetary bodies ☄️

dlvr.itAn intertwined short and long γ-ray burst with a 4-minute separationNature Astronomy, Published online: 23 October 2026; doi:10.1038/s41550-026-03007-0GRB 160425A emitted two sub-bursts in short succession with differing properties, indicative of two distinct progenitor types: collapsar and stellar merger. This event raises questions about γ-ray burst progenitor scenarios.

An intertwined short and long γ-ray burst with a 4-minute separation ☄️

dlvr.itApparent magnetic field decay in a solar flare from Zeeman splitting of the Mg I 12.32-µm lineNature Astronomy, Published online: 23 October 2026; doi:10.1038/s41550-026-03013-2AIMS mid-infrared spectroscopy of the Mg I 12.32 µm line during an X1.5 flare reveals magnetic field weakening beneath impulsive-phase ribbons via Zeeman splitting. These changes may arise from an elevated line-formation height or local magnetic redistribution.

Apparent magnetic field decay in a solar flare from Zeeman splitting of the Mg I 12.32-µm line ☄️

dlvr.itAn enriched methane D/H ratio in the interstellar object 3I/ATLASNature Astronomy, Published online: 23 October 2026; doi:10.1038/s41550-026-03002-5JWST spectra of interstellar object 3I/ATLAS reveal an enhanced D/H ratio in methane compared with measurements of Solar System objects. The high value is comparable with that calculated for pre- and protostellar regions, indicating a primitive origin.

An enriched methane D/H ratio in the interstellar object 3I/ATLAS ☄️

dlvr.itA self-shadowing black hole accretion disk at sub-Eddington luminositiesNature Astronomy, Published online: 22 October 2026; doi:10.1038/s41550-026-03005-2A multiwavelength study reveals a vertically extended inner disk in a black hole X-ray binary at unexpectedly low luminosities, reshaping its emission and shielding the outer disk, with implications for its physical and observational properties.

A self-shadowing black hole accretion disk at sub-Eddington luminosities ☄️

dlvr.itLyman continuum escape during the onset of galactic winds in compact starburstsNature Astronomy, Published online: 15 October 2026; doi:10.1038/s41550-026-02999-zUV spectra of six similar galaxies show that stronger, faster, multiphase outflows accompany lower escape of ionizing radiation. Thus Lyman continuum escape may peak before strong galactic winds develop and then decline as the wind-column density grows.

Lyman continuum escape during the onset of galactic winds in compact starbursts ☄️

dlvr.itA spatial map of the atmospheric limb of a hot JupiterNature Astronomy, Published online: 14 October 2026; doi:10.1038/s41550-026-02986-4A new method of extracting atmospheric variations around the limb of a hot Jupiter using transmission mapping of JWST data finds a transition between the equator and pole of WASP-17 b. The authors measure a 650 K temperature difference between the morning and evening and find H2O and CO2 limb abundances consistent with circulation models.

A spatial map of the atmospheric limb of a hot Jupiter ☄️

Nature Astronomy reposted

International Space Science Institute (ISSI)

@issibern.ch

PRESS RELEASE: 🪐 Planetary systems come in two families, and the host star decides which one is born. An ISSI International Team led by Diederik Kruijssen published their research out now in Nature Astronomy 👇 www.issibern.ch/planetary-sy... #Exoplanets #Astronomy #PlanetaryScience

issibern.chPRESS RELEASEDiscover how planetary systems form in spiral galaxies filled with young stars and vibrant star-forming regions.

dlvr.itA ∧-like metallicity profile in the disk of the Sagittarius dwarf galaxyNature Astronomy, Published online: 13 October 2026; doi:10.1038/s41550-026-02996-2N-body simulations decode the chemo-kinematic signatures of the Sagittarius stream, reproducing their vertical metallicity gradient. The findings reveal that the stream originated from a disk with a ∧-like metallicity profile.

A ∧-like metallicity profile in the disk of the Sagittarius dwarf galaxy ☄️

dlvr.itTwo families of multi-planet systems with distinct architectures and stellar hostsNature Astronomy, Published online: 13 October 2026; doi:10.1038/s41550-026-02990-8Archival data show a pronounced bimodality in the architectures of known multi-planet systems that can be traced back to the interplay of host star properties and planet formation histories, which shaped the post-formation dynamical stability of the systems.

Two families of multi-planet systems with distinct architectures and stellar hosts ☄️

dlvr.itFarewell NASA ADSNature Astronomy, Published online: 12 October 2026; doi:10.1038/s41550-026-03009-yAfter more than 33 years, NASA’s Astrophysics Data System will close its virtual doors in November 2026 and be replaced by its much-expanded successor, Science Explorer. While the core functionality and astrophysics database will remain the same, SciX will extend its relevance to a broader range of scientists.

Farewell NASA ADS ☄️

dlvr.itTransitioning from ADS to SciX to serve twenty-first century astronomyNature Astronomy, Published online: 12 October 2026; doi:10.1038/s41550-026-02997-1For decades, the NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS) has been the foundational digital library for astronomy. As ADS now becomes the Science Explorer (SciX), the team prioritizes preserving this trusted experience while increasing their support for space and Earth sciences more broadly, without diluting its commitment to astrophysics.

Transitioning from ADS to SciX to serve twenty-first century astronomy ☄️

dlvr.itFostering a culture of technology transfer in astrophysicsNature Astronomy, Published online: 08 October 2026; doi:10.1038/s41550-026-02994-4In Chile, the Center for Astrophysics and Associated Technologies has been working towards turning scientific investment into economic success for two decades, through the transfer of technology and techniques from astrophysics to industry. Many successful projects provide tangible examples of the real-world benefits of astronomy.

Fostering a culture of technology transfer in astrophysics ☄️

dlvr.itOn the coronal origin of magnetic switchbacks in the solar windNature Astronomy, Published online: 08 October 2026; doi:10.1038/s41550-026-02928-0Solar Orbiter’s detection of the ion composition of a magnetic switchback reveals its origin in hot coronal loops, implicating interchange reconnection as the release mechanism of the solar wind plasma, where it then propagates as an Alfvén wave.

On the coronal origin of magnetic switchbacks in the solar wind ☄️

dlvr.itReduced incidence of little red dots at z < 3 based on number density and halo mass evolutionNature Astronomy, Published online: 08 October 2026; doi:10.1038/s41550-026-03001-6Little red dots evolve from under-dense regions at z > 4 to typical environments by z ≈ 3.5, while their halo and stellar masses surge by a factor of ten. This accounts for their scarcity at low redshifts and suggests a distinct evolutionary path for little red dots compared with other active galactic nuclei.

Reduced incidence of little red dots at z < 3 based on number density and halo mass evolution ☄️

dlvr.itThe formation of merging black holes via stable mass transfer in massive binary starsNature Astronomy, Published online: 08 October 2026; doi:10.1038/s41550-026-03000-7Detailed models for the complete evolution of mass-transferring binary stars produce merging black holes consistent with the observed masses and spins. Isolated binary evolution probably contributes to the observed gravitational-wave sources.

The formation of merging black holes via stable mass transfer in massive binary stars ☄️

Nature Astronomy reposted

Springer Nature

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Two dwarf stars may be gradually consuming their orbiting companions, according to two papers published in @natastron.nature.com: spklr.io/63320Epohi & spklr.io/63322EpohY #Astronomy 🔭 🧪

spklr.ioStable mass transfer from a substellar object onto an M dwarf - Nature AstronomyAstronomers have found a brown dwarf transferring mass onto a small star in an 87-min orbit, showing that substellar objects can be gradually consumed over potentially billions of years, rather than swallowed whole.

dlvr.itA white dwarf polluted by its own ashesNature Astronomy, Published online: 05 October 2026; doi:10.1038/s41550-026-02982-8The detection of niobium in a white dwarf reveals a pollutant unlike any Solar System body, pointing to a ‘second-generation’ giant planet candidate built from debris shed during its host star’s death.

A white dwarf polluted by its own ashes ☄️

dlvr.itStable mass transfer from a substellar object onto an M dwarfNature Astronomy, Published online: 05 October 2026; doi:10.1038/s41550-026-02992-6Astronomers have found a brown dwarf transferring mass onto a small star in an 87-min orbit, showing that substellar objects can be gradually consumed over potentially billions of years, rather than swallowed whole.

Stable mass transfer from a substellar object onto an M dwarf ☄️

dlvr.itDiscovery of a second-generation planet candidate accreting onto a white dwarfNature Astronomy, Published online: 05 October 2026; doi:10.1038/s41550-026-02983-7Niobium has been detected in the atmosphere of a young white dwarf, probably originating from a second-generation planet candidate being evaporated by the white dwarf. The planet probably formed from material ejected during the white dwarf progenitor’s death throes.

Discovery of a second-generation planet candidate accreting onto a white dwarf ☄️

dlvr.itThe 15th Asteroids Comets Meteors ConferenceNature Astronomy, Published online: 02 October 2026; doi:10.1038/s41550-026-02995-3The 15th Asteroids Comets Meteors Conference (ACM) took place from 6 to 10 July 2026, in the historic city of Poznań, Poland. This triennial meeting brings together current and future generations in Solar System small body science.

The 15th Asteroids Comets Meteors Conference ☄️

Nature Astronomy reposted

Springer Nature

@springernature.com

A sugar molecule has been detected in interstellar space for the first time, reports @natastron.nature.com. The discovery of erythrulose near the centre of the Milky Way suggests that biologically relevant molecules can form in space: spklr.io/63323EpR1U #astronomy #astro 🔭

dlvr.itGrowth of aromatic hydrocarbon dust particles in the extremely metal-poor galaxy Sextans ANature Astronomy, Published online: 29 September 2026; doi:10.1038/s41550-026-02969-5The formation process of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) at very low metallicity is uncertain. The detection of PAHs in a 7% solar metallicity galaxy, along with emission from compact clumps and small grain sizes, helps elucidate the mechanisms at play.

Growth of aromatic hydrocarbon dust particles in the extremely metal-poor galaxy Sextans A ☄️

dlvr.itFirst-star imprints in a metal-poor galaxy overdensity near the end of reionizationNature Astronomy, Published online: 29 September 2026; doi:10.1038/s41550-026-02993-5The discovery of an unusually metal-poor galaxy overdensity that may preserve the chemical fingerprints of the first stars in the Universe provides a new way to investigate how the earliest stellar generations formed.

First-star imprints in a metal-poor galaxy overdensity near the end of reionization ☄️

dlvr.itPersistent primordial signature in present-day galaxiesNature Astronomy, Published online: 28 September 2026; doi:10.1038/s41550-026-02979-3New observations provide a more robust observational test of tidal torque theory while revealing an unexpected puzzle for galaxy formation.

Persistent primordial signature in present-day galaxies ☄️

dlvr.itBeyond Hubble: revisiting the Hubble sequence across cosmic timeNature Astronomy, Published online: 28 September 2026; doi:10.1038/s41550-026-02989-1Modern observatories such as JWST and ALMA are revealing dynamically mature galaxies early in cosmic history. A century after Hubble, galaxy morphology is becoming a probe of galaxy-formation physics, including gas accretion, star formation and feedback.

Beyond Hubble: revisiting the Hubble sequence across cosmic time ☄️

dlvr.itΛCDM in a courtroomNature Astronomy, Published online: 25 September 2026; doi:10.1038/s41550-026-02977-5The jury is out as to whether dark energy is best described by a cosmological constant or as dynamical. This Perspective presents both sides of the case and considers the questions that need to be addressed going forward.

ΛCDM in a courtroom ☄️

dlvr.itVolatile depletion in rocky planets as a chemical fingerprint of hybrid accretionNature Astronomy, Published online: 25 September 2026; doi:10.1038/s41550-026-02984-6Volatile depletion in rocky planets records their formation history. Earth and Mars grew through different hybrid pathways of pebble and planetesimal accretion, providing a new way to interpret the diversity of rocky planets beyond the Solar System.

Volatile depletion in rocky planets as a chemical fingerprint of hybrid accretion ☄️

dlvr.itLHAASO detection of ultrahigh-energy γ-ray emission towards giant molecular cloudsNature Astronomy, Published online: 24 September 2026; doi:10.1038/s41550-026-02975-7LHAASO observations reveal ultrahigh-energy γ-rays from nearby giant molecular clouds, identifying these clouds as natural laboratories for mapping cosmic rays across the Milky Way.

LHAASO detection of ultrahigh-energy γ-ray emission towards giant molecular clouds ☄️

dlvr.itEarly metal-enriched baryon cycling before the midpoint of cosmic reionizationNature Astronomy, Published online: 24 September 2026; doi:10.1038/s41550-026-02988-2Deep JWST spectra of three galaxies seen within the Universe’s first 700 million years allow the detection of blueshifted, chemically enriched gas, providing evidence that baryon cycling began very early.

Early metal-enriched baryon cycling before the midpoint of cosmic reionization ☄️

dlvr.itThe next generation of astronomy facilities cannot be built with half the sky missingNature Astronomy, Published online: 22 September 2026; doi:10.1038/s41550-026-02991-7The next generation of astronomy facilities cannot be built with half the sky missing

The next generation of astronomy facilities cannot be built with half the sky missing ☄️

dlvr.itPlanetesimal compositions governed by aerodynamic sorting from the onset of Solar System formationNature Astronomy, Published online: 18 September 2026; doi:10.1038/s41550-026-02976-6Iron meteorite chemistry reveals that the earliest outer Solar System planetesimals contained far less primitive dust than later-formed bodies, establishing that aerodynamic sorting shaped planetary building blocks from the onset of planet formation.

18 Sept

Planetesimal compositions governed by aerodynamic sorting from the onset of Solar System formation ☄️

dlvr.itA universal critical accretion rate for black hole jet formationNature Astronomy, Published online: 17 September 2026; doi:10.1038/s41550-026-02951-1By observing disrupted stars, Goodwin and Mummery show that supermassive black holes launch outflows at the same critical accretion rates as stellar-mass black holes, pointing to a universal, mass-independent jet-launching mechanism.

A universal critical accretion rate for black hole jet formation ☄️

dlvr.itSupernova origin of galactic turbulence revealed by superbubblesNature Astronomy, Published online: 17 September 2026; doi:10.1038/s41550-026-02981-9China’s FAST telescope joins forces with the USA’s JVLA to reveal 118 superbubbles in the Andromeda galaxy. Traversing thousands of light years, these giant structures were expanded by supernovae, which are driving galactic turbulence.

Supernova origin of galactic turbulence revealed by superbubbles ☄️

dlvr.itLittle red whats?Nature Astronomy, Published online: 16 September 2026; doi:10.1038/s41550-026-02987-3The discovery of little red dots with JWST has prompted manifold investigations into their observational properties and physical nature. This Focus issue consolidates our knowledge of these distant objects at a time when firm conclusions are beginning to be drawn.

Little red whats? ☄️

dlvr.itMassive black holes in the first billion years with JWSTNature Astronomy, Published online: 16 September 2026; doi:10.1038/s41550-026-02966-8JWST is revealing distant, faint black holes in the early Universe with surprising properties and host-galaxy relationships. These discoveries challenge existing models of supermassive black hole growth and highlight key questions for future research.

Massive black holes in the first billion years with JWST ☄️