AAS Nova

Featured Image: A Treasure Trove of Strong Lenses Using a neural network, researchers have discovered 3,500 candidate strong gravitational lenses in data from the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument.

Using a neural network, researchers have discovered 3,500 candidate strong gravitational lenses in data from the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument. 🔭🧪https://aasnova.org/2026/03/09/featured-image-a-treasure-trove-of-strong-lenses/

After the DART spacecraft smashed into Dimorphos, a cloud of ejecta expanded outward. A recent study builds a 3D reconstruction of the ejecta and determines that it's more complex than previous models considered. 🧪🔭 aasnova.org/2026/03/06/p...

Black Hole Baby Photos: JWST and Chandra Observe M31-2014-DS1 Did the disappearance of a star in the Andromeda Galaxy signal the creation of a black hole? New infrared and X-ray data help to discern what remained after the star disappeared.

Did the disappearance of a star in the Andromeda Galaxy signal the creation of a black hole? New infrared and X-ray data help to discern what remained after the star disappeared. aasnova.org/2026/03/04/b... 🔭🧪 @columbiauniversity.bsky.social @flatironinstitute.org

Astronomers Hate Them! This Star Formation Ingredient Makes Clusters Look 300 Million Years Older Astrobites reports on how astronomers are using JWST to figure out if star clusters are really as old as they seem.

Veronika Dornan reports for @astrobites.bsky.social on how astronomers are using JWST to figure out if star clusters are really as old as they seem. aasnova.org/2026/03/03/a... 🔭

Ursa Major III/UNIONS 1: Dwarf Galaxy or Star Cluster? Researchers investigate whether the Milky Way's smallest known satellite is a tiny dwarf galaxy or a star cluster.

Researchers investigate whether the Milky Way’s smallest known satellite is a tiny dwarf galaxy or a star cluster. aasnova.org/2026/03/02/u... 🔭🧪 @yale.edu

Monthly Roundup: Updates on Three Notable Transients What's new with AT 2024wpp, GRB 250702B, and GW231123? Get updates on these three exceptional astrophysical transients in today's Monthly Roundup.

What’s new with AT 2024wpp, GRB 250702B, and GW231123? Get updates on these three exceptional astrophysical transients in today’s Monthly Roundup. aasnova.org/2026/02/27/m... 🔭🧪

Do Black Hole Flares Generate Neutrinos? Researchers search for a connection between short-lived black hole accretion events and neutrinos — elusive, neutral, nearly massless particles.

Researchers search for a connection between short-lived black hole accretion events and neutrinos — elusive, neutral, nearly massless particles. aasnova.org/2026/02/25/d... 🔭🧪

Ia’m Just Getting Started: A Type Ia Supernova’s First Day Astrobites reports on simulations that might help astronomers identify double-detonation supernovae early in their evolution.

Mckenzie Ferrari reports for @astrobites.bsky.social on simulations that might help astronomers identify double-detonation supernovae early in their evolution. aasnova.org/2026/02/24/i... 🧪

Featured Image: Rare Giant Galaxies How do giant low-surface-brightness galaxies form? New research investigates two galactic specimens to search for clues.

How do giant low-surface-brightness galaxies form? New research investigates two galactic specimens to search for clues. aasnova.org/2026/02/23/f... 🔭🧪

Satellite Surplus Around Dwarf Galaxy DDO 161 A satellite-rich dwarf galaxy poses a potential problem for current cosmological models.

A satellite-rich dwarf galaxy poses a potential problem for current cosmological models. 🔭🧪 aasnova.org/2026/02/20/s...

Investigating a Polluted White Dwarf JWST spectra illuminate the composition of the debris disk around GD 362, one of the most polluted white dwarfs known.

JWST spectra illuminate the composition of the debris disk around GD 362, one of the most polluted white dwarfs known. aasnova.org/2026/02/18/i... 🔭🧪 @ssi-org.bsky.social

A Triple Black Hole System Caught in the Act of Self-Quenching Astrobites reports on a cosmic drama in action: three active black holes, tangled jets, and fading light.

Sowkhya Shanbhog reports for @astrobites.bsky.social on a cosmic drama in action: three active black holes, tangled jets, and fading light. aasnova.org/2026/02/17/a... 🔭

Mapping a Molecular Building Block in a Pre-Stellar Core Astronomers search for a simple organic molecule in Lynds 1544, a cold, dense clump of gas that will one day become a star.

Astronomers search for a simple organic molecule in Lynds 1544, a cold, dense clump of gas that will one day become a star. aasnova.org/2026/02/13/m... 🔭🧪

JWST Spies a Potential Microlensed Massive Binary Star System A chance alignment between galaxies allows astronomers to study a single star system as it was when the universe was just 6 billion years old.

A chance alignment between galaxies allows astronomers to study a single star system as it was when the universe was just 6 billion years old. aasnova.org/2026/02/11/j... 🔭🧪

Teegarden’s Star b: (Almost) Too Hot to Handle? Astrobites reports on the potential habitability of Teegarden’s Star b, a promising Earth-like planet.

Mckenzie Ferrari reports for @astrobites.bsky.social on the potential habitability of Teegarden’s Star b, a promising Earth-like planet. aasnova.org/2026/02/10/t... 🔭

Featured Image: Hubble Revisits the Crab Nebula How has the Crab Nebula supernova remnant changed since the Hubble Space Telescope observed it in 1999–2000?

How has the Crab Nebula supernova remnant changed since the Hubble Space Telescope observed it in 1999–2000? aasnova.org/2026/02/09/f... 🔭🧪

We Have Visitors: Interstellar Material from Nearby Debris Disks A recent study looks to the nearest rubble-ridden systems for the potential origins of interstellar objects that have visited our solar system.

A recent study looks to the nearest rubble-ridden systems for the potential origins of interstellar objects that have visited our solar system. 🔭🧪 aasnova.org/2026/02/06/w...

How Many Kilonovae Will Rubin Observatory Help Us Spot? The upcoming Vera C. Rubin Observatory Legacy Survey of Space and Time will detect an astonishing number of transients — including kilonovae from colliding neutron stars.

The upcoming Vera C. Rubin Observatory Legacy Survey of Space and Time will detect an astonishing number of transients — including kilonovae from colliding neutron stars. aasnova.org/2026/02/04/h... 🔭🧪

The Winner of the Cosmic Speed-Eating Contest Astrobites reports on RACS J0320−35, a quasar that appears to be breaking a cosmic limit by consuming matter faster than theory should allow.

Ansh Gupta reports for @astrobites.bsky.social on RACS J0320−35, a quasar that appears to be breaking a cosmic limit by consuming matter faster than theory should allow. aasnova.org/2026/02/03/t... 🔭

A Dark Matter Origin for Little Red Dots Researchers examine whether the black holes at the centers of little red dots could have been born in the collapse of dark matter halos.

New research suggests that the mysterious “little red dots” spotted in the early universe could be supermassive black holes birthed in the collapse of dark matter halos. aasnova.org/2026/02/02/a... 🔭🧪

Fueling Up: How Does the Milky Way Get Its Star-Forming Gas? Researchers use an unlikely tool — distant beacons called quasars — to study the constant inflow and outflow of gas to and from our galaxy.

Researchers use an unlikely tool — distant beacons called quasars — to study the constant inflow and outflow of gas to and from our galaxy. aasnova.org/2026/01/30/f... 🔭🧪

Monthly Roundup: Interstellar Visitor 3I/ATLAS The discovery of interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS was one of the top astronomy stories of 2025. Though the comet is now heading back to interstellar space, research into its properties and origins continue...

The discovery of interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS was one of the top astronomy stories of 2025. Though the comet is now heading back to interstellar space, research into its properties and origins continues. aasnova.org/2026/01/28/m... 🔭🧪

The Black Hole Meetup: EMRIs and IMRIs in the Same Active Galactic Nucleus Disk Astrobites reports on how active galactic nucleus disks might connect black holes across the mass spectrum, setting the stage for extreme-mass-ratio and intermediate-mass-ratio inspirals in the same s...

William Smith reports for @astrobites.bsky.social on how active galactic nucleus disks might connect black holes across the mass spectrum, setting the stage for extreme-mass-ratio and intermediate-mass-ratio inspirals in the same system. aasnova.org/2026/01/27/t... 🔭

Featured Image: Hubble Samples a Dusty Cosmic Sandwich Hubble has revealed new features in Dracula's Chivito, the largest known protoplanetary disk.

Hubble has revealed new features in Dracula’s Chivito, the largest known protoplanetary disk. aasnova.org/2026/01/26/f... 🔭🧪

Getting a Peek of Kitt Peak National Observatory A mountain top in the Arizona desert scattered with telescopes, the Kitt Peak National Observatory is home to cutting-edge research and cultural connections.

A mountain top in the Arizona desert scattered with telescopes, the Kitt Peak National Observatory is home to cutting-edge research and cultural connections. 🔭🧪 aasnova.org/2026/01/23/g...

JWST Follows Up on a Rare Gamma-Ray Burst Lasting multiple hours and featuring several bursts, GRB 250702B is a rare, powerful, and unusual gamma-ray burst. What do JWST observations tell us about the host galaxy and origins of this event?

Lasting multiple hours and featuring several bursts, GRB 250702B is a rare, powerful, and unusual gamma-ray burst. What do JWST observations tell us about the host galaxy and origins of this event? aasnova.org/2026/01/21/j... 🔭🧪

Are Water Worlds Just Made of Soot? Astrobites reports on whether the low-density planets that keep popping up in our growing collection of exoplanets are really the water worlds that we imagine them to be.

Kasper Zoellner reports for @astrobites.bsky.social on whether the low-density planets that keep popping up in our growing collection of exoplanets are really the water worlds that we imagine them to be. aasnova.org/2026/01/20/a... 🔭

Supernovae, Shocks, and Spindown: A Possible Origin Story for Ultra-Long-Period Pulsars New research suggests that ultra-long-period pulsars might begin their lives as massive stars in close binary systems.

New research suggests that ultra-long-period pulsars might begin their lives as massive stars in close binary systems. aasnova.org/2026/01/16/p... @ucberkeleyofficial.bsky.social 🔭🧪

When Winds Collide: Predicting the Effects of Stream Interaction Regions Though less destructive than coronal mass ejections, moderate space weather events like stream interaction regions can still cause geomagnetic storms. Researchers have used machine learning to investi...

Though less destructive than coronal mass ejections, moderate space weather events like stream interaction regions can still cause geomagnetic storms. Researchers have used machine learning to investigate the drivers behind these events. aasnova.org/2026/01/14/w... 🔭🧪

A Black Hole Egg That Forgot to Hatch Astrobites reports on how astronomers got a closer view of the distant and mysterious little red dots.

Ansh Gupta reports for @astrobites.bsky.social on how astronomers got a closer view of the distant and mysterious little red dots. aasnova.org/2026/01/13/a... 🔭