9 papers
Unmasking (44) Nysa: Evidence for a trilobate structure
Kate Minker, Anthony Berdeu, Gianluca Li Causi +16
Context. (44) Nysa is one of the largest known E-type asteroids. Light curve inversion models have indicated that it may have an elongated shape commonly found in large binary syst…
The spin state of asteroid Apophis and a prediction of its change during the 2029 close encounter with Earth
J. Durech, D. Vokrouhlicky, P. Pravec +23
On April 13, 2029, the asteroid Apophis will pass near Earth at a geocentric distance of about 38,000 km. Numerical models have suggested that the post-encounter spin state will cr…
Discovery and Preliminary Characterization of a Third Interstellar Object: 3I/ATLAS
Darryl Z. Seligman, Marco Micheli, Davide Farnocchia +44
We report initial observations aimed at the characterization of a third interstellar object. This object, 3I/ATLAS or C/2025 N1 (ATLAS), was discovered on 2025 July 1 UT and has an…
A dynamical dichotomy in large binary asteroids
K. Minker, B. Carry, F. Vachier +20
No less than 15% of large (diameter greater than 140 km) asteroids have satellites. The commonly accepted mechanism for their formation is post-impact reaccumulation. However, the…
Snapshot of a new interstellar comet: 3I/ATLAS has a red and featureless spectrum
Cyrielle Opitom, Colin Snodgrass, Emmanuel Jehin +19
The interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS is only the third interstellar object to be discovered. Pre-perihelion measurements provide a unique opportunity to study its activity and compositi…
Asteroid sizes determined with thermophysical model and stellar occultations
A. Choukroun, A. Marciniak, J. Äurech +165
Context. The sizes of many asteroids, especially slowly rotating, low-amplitude targets, remain poorly constrained due to selection effects. These biases limit the availability of…