Focus 26 January 2021

Astronomy and planetary science

The aim of this page is to provide a snapshot of some of the most exciting work published in Nature Communications in the broad topic of astronomy and planetary science. We cover topics ranging from various fields in astronomy, astrophysics and planetary science to space/satellite technologies and other developments providing viable solutions to tackle real-world problems and applications.

Featured articles

Probable evidence for a transient mega-electron volt emission line in the GRB 221023A

The detection of X-ray or gamma-ray spectral lines in gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) is rare. Here, the authors report a probable evidence of a narrow emission feature at about 2.1 mega-electron volts (MeV) in the spectrum of GRB 221023A, which represents the second event following GRB 221009A with a narrow emission feature in the MeV energy range.
- Lu-Yao Jiang
- Yun Wang
- Zhi-Ping Jin
ArticleOpen Access18 Mar 2025 Nature Communications
Observational constraints on the strength and depth of the zonal jets on Saturn

Saturn’s atmosphere features powerful winds. Here, authors reveal equatorial winds extend 11,000 km deep, and are twice as intense below cloud tops, while higher-latitude winds fade by 3000 km, reshaping our understanding of gas giant dynamics.
- Eli Galanti
- Daniele Durante
- Yohai Kaspi
ArticleOpen Access17 Mar 2025 Nature Communications
Grand canyons on the Moon

The Schrödinger impact event carved two canyons on the moon comparable in size to the Grand Canyon of North America. The directions of those canyons imply little debris covers the > 4-billion-year-old units that will be explored by Artemis astronauts.
- David A. Kring
- Danielle P. Kallenborn
- Gareth S. Collins
ArticleOpen Access4 Feb 2025 Nature Communications
Elliptical ejecta of asteroid Dimorphos is due to its surface curvature

Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) mission impact on asteroid Dimophos resulted in an elliptical ejecta plume. Here, the authors show that this elliptical ejecta is due to the curvature of the asteroid and makes kinetic momentum transfer less efficient.
- Masatoshi Hirabayashi
- Sabina D. Raducan
- Timothy J. Stubbs
ArticleOpen Access14 Feb 2025 Nature Communications
Morphology of ejecta features from the impact on asteroid Dimorphos

Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) mission’s impact on asteroid Dimorphos has led to various impact related features. Here, the authors show that those features result naturally from the dynamical interaction of the ejecta with the binary system and solar radiation pressure.
- Fabio Ferrari
- Paolo Panicucci
- Filippo Tusberti
ArticleOpen Access14 Feb 2025 Nature Communications
Potential impact of the Sagittarius dwarf galaxy on the formation of young O-rich stars

Enhanced star formation rates in our galaxy during the past 2–4 Gyr is known from survey data, and this is likely linked to Sagittarius dwarf galaxy’s passage. Here, authors show an increase in oxygen (O) abundance during this period, suggesting satellite accretion contribution to the observed O abundances.
- Tiancheng Sun
- Shaolan Bi
- Lifei Ye
ArticleOpen Access12 Feb 2025 Nature Communications
A binary system in the S cluster close to the supermassive black hole Sagittarius A*

S-cluster is a group of high-velocity stars near the supermassive black hole in the center of our Galaxy, and binary stars have been predicted in the S-cluster, but not detected. Here, the authors show detection of a spectroscopic binary in the S-cluster.
- Florian Peißker
- Michal Zajaček
- Vladimír Karas
ArticleOpen Access17 Dec 2024 Nature Communications
Space debris and satellite laser ranging combined using a megahertz system

Space debris laser ranging, and satellite laser ranging are currently performed with slightly different setups. Here, the authors show a single setup with a Megahertz laser for both high-precision satellite laser ranging and space debris laser ranging.
- Michael A. Steindorfer
- Peiyuan Wang
- Georg Kirchner
ArticleOpen Access10 Jan 2025 Nature Communications
Compound electron acceleration at planetary foreshocks

Mechanisms responsible for the electron acceleration to near relativistic energies in Earth’s foreshock remains elusive. Here, the authors show that the combination of resonant scattering by distinct wave modes with known acceleration mechanisms explains the formation of observed electron fluxes up to and above 200 keV.
- Xiaofei Shi
- Anton Artemyev
- Lynn B. Wilson III
ArticleOpen Access2 Jan 2025 Nature Communications
Revealing an unexpectedly low electron injection threshold via reinforced shock acceleration

The mechanisms resulting in particle acceleration to relativistic energies in space plasmas are an open question. Here, the authors show a reinforced shock acceleration model which enables electrons to efficiently achieve relativistic energies and reveal a low electron injection threshold.
- Savvas Raptis
- Ahmad Lalti
- James L. Burch
ArticleOpen Access13 Jan 2025 Nature Communications
Energetic neutral atom imaging reveals nearly 11-year cycle of the ring current of Saturn

Studying long-term dynamics of the global ring currents of Saturn is challenging due to limited measurements. Here, the authors show suprathermal ring currents in Saturn’s magnetosphere varies with a nearly 11-year cycle, which indicates solar cycle related modulation.
- Yimeng Li
- Chao Yue
- Xuzhi Zhou
ArticleOpen Access5 Dec 2024 Nature Communications
Two distinct current systems in the ionosphere of Mars

The connection between Mars’s global magnetospheric current systems and its ionosphere is still not well-defined. Here, the authors show a map of the magnetic fields and ionospheric currents of Mars, revealing two ionospheric currents that are driven by the solar wind and atmospheric neutral winds.
- Jiawei Gao
- Shibang Li
- Yongxin Pan
ArticleOpen Access9 Nov 2024 Nature Communications
Theoretical evidence of H-He demixing under Jupiter and Saturn conditions

The immiscibility of H-He mixtures in gas giants remains poorly understood. Here the authors use large scale machine learning accelerated molecular dynamics simulations to suggest that H-He demixing may occur within large interior radii of Jupiter and Saturn.
- Xiaoju Chang
- Bo Chen
- Jiayu Dai
ArticleOpen Access2 Oct 2024 Nature Communications
A primordial noble gas component discovered in the Ryugu asteroid and its implications

Ryugu is more primitive than carbonaceous chondrites, according to elevated noble gas concentrations. Elevated Xe and its isotopic composition further provide constraints on fractionation of the solar composition to form the early planetary components.
- Alexander B. Verchovsky
- Feargus A. J. Abernethy
- Consortium Phase2 curation team Kochi
ArticleOpen Access14 Sep 2024 Nature Communications
Enhanced production of ⁶⁰Fe in massive stars

60Fe and 26Al provide insights about active nucleosynthesis in our galaxy and there is a discrepancy between observed and theoretically predicted ratios. Here, the authors show that this discrepancy is higher than previously found.
- A. Spyrou
- D. Richman
- A. Sweet
ArticleOpen Access7 Nov 2024 Nature Communications
Detection of carbon dioxide and hydrogen peroxide on the stratified surface of Charon with JWST

Due to the limited wavelength coverage of measurements to date, some aspects of the composition of Pluto’s largest moon, Charon, remain unresolved. Here, the authors detect carbon dioxide and hydrogen peroxide on the surface of Charon’s northern hemisphere using JWST data.
- Silvia Protopapa
- Ujjwal Raut
- Heidi B. Hammel
ArticleOpen Access1 Oct 2024 Nature Communications
Lightning-induced relativistic electron precipitation from the inner radiation belt

Microburst are observed in Earth’s outer and inner radiation belts, and in the slot region at typically keV energies. Here, the authors show direct observations of lightning-induced electron precipitation at MeV energies.
- Max Feinland
- Lauren W. Blum
- Mark Looper
ArticleOpen Access8 Oct 2024 Nature Communications
A bright burst from FRB 20200120E in a globular cluster of the nearby galaxy M81

Repeating fast radio burst, FRB 20200120E, has been localized to a globular cluster M81. Here, the authors show detection of a burst from FRB 20200120E that is 42 times stronger than the previously detected bursts.
- S. B. Zhang
- J. S. Wang
- B. Zhang
ArticleOpen Access28 Aug 2024 Nature Communications
Surface properties of the seas of Titan as revealed by Cassini mission bistatic radar experiments

It’s known that Saturn’s largest moon Titan has liquids on its surface. Here, the authors show bistatic investigation of Titan’s three polar lakes, which allows direct estimates of effective relative dielectric constant and small-scale roughness.
- Valerio Poggiali
- Giancorrado Brighi
- Marco Zannoni
ArticleOpen Access16 Jul 2024 Nature Communications
In situ evidence of the magnetospheric cusp of Jupiter from Juno spacecraft measurements

Jovian cusps are not well-known due to limited observations. Here, the authors show that the characteristics of charged particles in the Jovian cusps are similar to those of the Earth and Saturn cusps, and Jupiter’s polar cusp is located in the dusk-side sector, contradicting Earth-based predictions of a near-noon location.
- Y. Xu
- C. S. Arridge
- Y. Wei
ArticleOpen Access18 Jul 2024 Nature Communications
Closed magnetic topology in the Venusian magnetotail and ion escape at Venus

Magnetic reconnection dynamics in Venus’ magnetosphere are not well-known due to limited observations. Here, the authors show direct evidence for closed magnetic topology in Venus’ magnetotail and a link between the cold ion flow in the magnetotail and its direct magnetic connectivity to the ionosphere.
- Shaosui Xu
- David L. Mitchell
- Moa Persson
ArticleOpen Access18 Jul 2024 Nature Communications
Radiative plasma simulations of black hole accretion flow coronae in the hard and soft states

Physical origin of accretion states in black hole X-ray binary systems is an open question. Here, the authors perform self-consistent radiative plasma simulations of the corona around the inner accretion flow and demonstrate natural generation of the observed hard and soft state X-ray emission when the plasma is turbulent.
- Joonas Nättilä
ArticleOpen Access15 Aug 2024 Nature Communications
Rapid heating rates define the volatile emission and regolith composition of (3200) Phaethon

Fe-sulphides decompose reversibly, providing a source of volatile gases that sustain comet-like activity over many heating cycles, according to experimental heating of meteorites that simulates the thermal regime of the near-Sun asteroid Phaethon
- Martin D. Suttle
- Lorenz. F. Olbrich
- Liza Riches
ArticleOpen Access21 Aug 2024 Nature Communications
The geology and evolution of the Near-Earth binary asteroid system (65803) Didymos

Images collected during NASA’s DART mission of the asteroid Didymos and its moon, Dimorphos, are used to explore the origin and evolution of the binary system. Authors analysis indicate that both asteroids are weak rubble piles and that Didymos’ surface should be about 40 to 130 times older than Dimorphos.
- Olivier Barnouin
- Ronald-Louis Ballouz
- Andrew S. Rivkin
ArticleOpen Access30 Jul 2024 Nature Communications
Fast boulder fracturing by thermal fatigue detected on stony asteroids

Here, authors study boulders’ fractures on S-type asteroid, Dimorphos, and show that their size-frequency distribution and orientation are consistent with formation through thermal fatigue. Such fractures seem to propagate horizontally much faster (~kyr) than normal to the boulder’s surface (~Myr).
- A. Lucchetti
- S. Cambioni
- G. Zanotti
ArticleOpen Access30 Jul 2024 Nature Communications
The bearing capacity of asteroid (65803) Didymos estimated from boulder tracks

Bearing capacity, the ability of a surface to support applied loads, is a critical property in planetary exploration to understand a surface’s response to landing or roving. Here, the bearing capacity of the asteroid Didymos is estimated using DART images of suspected boulder tracks on its surface.
- J. Bigot
- P. Lombardo
- N. L. Chabot
ArticleOpen Access30 Jul 2024 Nature Communications
Mechanical properties of rubble pile asteroids (Dimorphos, Itokawa, Ryugu, and Bennu) through surface boulder morphological analysis

Planetary Defense efforts rely on estimates of asteroids’ mechanical properties, which are difficult to obtain accurately from Earth. Here, authors compare images from space missions to the rubble-pile asteroids Dimorphos, Itokawa, Ryugu, and Bennu and study such properties through boulders on their surface.
- Colas Q. Robin
- Alexia Duchene
- Nancy L. Chabot
ArticleOpen Access30 Jul 2024 Nature Communications
Evidence for multi-fragmentation and mass shedding of boulders on rubble-pile binary asteroid system (65803) Didymos

By comparing boulders’ surface distribution and shapes on the binary asteroid system, Didymos, authors show that both bodies are rubble piles produced in their progenitor catastrophic disruption and that the secondary, Dimorphos, likely inherited its material from the primary through spin up and mass shedding.
- M. Pajola
- F. Tusberti
- G. Zanotti
ArticleOpen Access30 Jul 2024 Nature Communications
Atmospheric oxidation drove climate change on Noachian Mars

The study reveals anoxic leaching in ancient Martian terrains occurred during seasonal freeze-thaw cycles. Findings suggest that gradual atmospheric oxidation drove Mars to become cold and bipolar in its early history.
- Jiacheng Liu
- Joseph R. Michalski
- Wen-Sheng Gao
ArticleOpen Access5 Jul 2024 Nature Communications
Recent collisional history of (65803) Didymos

The fast-spinning primary of the Didymos near-earth asteroid binary system was found to have a degraded top shape by the DART (NASA) mission. Here, authors find that these surface features observed in the asteroid are more likely to have been caused by collisional effects than by the YORP effect.
- Adriano Campo Bagatin
- Aldo Dell’Oro
- Jean-Baptiste Vincent
ArticleOpen Access3 May 2024 Nature Communications
About the International Asteroid Warning Network (IAWN) and the Space Mission Planning Advisory Group (SMPAG)

Atmospheric entry of asteroids or comets can cause significant damage to Earth. Two international bodies, the International Asteroid Warning Network (IAWN), and the Space Mission Planning Advisory Group (SMPAG) are working on dealing with potential threats.
- Detlef V. Koschny
- Kelly E. Fast
- Romana Kofler
CommentOpen Access6 Jun 2024 Nature Communications
A delayed 400 GeV photon from GRB 221009A and implication on the intergalactic magnetic field

Gamma ray bursts (GRBs) are transient events and GRB 221009A was a particularly interesting event due to its brightness and duration. Here, the authors show detection of delayed 400 GeV photon from GRB 221009A, which may indicate cascade emission scenario.
- Zi-Qing Xia
- Yun Wang
- Yi-Zhong Fan
ArticleOpen Access20 May 2024 Nature Communications
Lunar rock investigation and tri-aspect characterization of lunar farside regolith by a digital twin

Digital twins can be used to support planetary operations and analysis. Here, the authors show tri-aspect characterization of lunar far side regolith and investigate the origin of a fin-shaped rock via digital twin of Yutu-2 rover.
- Liang Ding
- Ruyi Zhou
- Kuan Zhang
ArticleOpen Access8 Mar 2024 Nature Communications
Continuous ultraviolet to blue-green astrocomb

Astrocombs serve as precision calibrators for astrophysical spectrographs by providing a regular sequence of optical lines on a multi-GHz grid. Here, the authors report the first broadband astrocomb in the UV to blue-green spectral region, where stellar absorption lines are most abundant.
- Yuk Shan Cheng
- Kamalesh Dadi
- Derryck T. Reid
ArticleOpen Access17 Feb 2024 Nature Communications
Synchrotron intensity gradient revealing magnetic fields in galaxy clusters

The current understanding of the origin and properties of cluster magnetic fields is limited by observational challenges. Here, the authors show that magnetic field orientations of galaxy clusters, including radio relic and radio halos, can be derived via combination of synchrotron intensity gradient technique with radio observations.
- Yue Hu
- C. Stuardi
- Ka Wai Ho
ArticleOpen Access6 Feb 2024 Nature Communications
Searching for ultralight dark matter conversion in solar corona using Low Frequency Array data

Hypothetical dark photon (DP) dark matter (DM) and axion DM might resonantly convert into electromagnetic waves in the solar corona. Here, the authors show upper limits on the axion-photon coupling and on the kinetic mixing coupling of DPDM and photon within 30-80 MHz in the solar corona radio observations.
- Haipeng An
- Xingyao Chen
- Yan Luo
ArticleOpen Access31 Jan 2024 Nature Communications
Magnetosheath jets at Jupiter and across the solar system

Jets have been found in Earth’s magnetosheath for two decades and, more recently, also in Mars. Yet, their universal existence in planetary magnetosheath remains an open question. Here, authors report the presence of anti-sunward and sunward jets at Jupiter and compare them to Earth and Mars.
- Yufei Zhou
- Savvas Raptis
- Lan Ma
ArticleOpen Access9 Jan 2024 Nature Communications
Spectroscopy of a mesospheric ghost reveals iron emissions

Mesospheric ghosts are rare, faint, greenish transient luminous events. Here, the authors show metallic emissions revealed by the spectrum of a mesospheric ghost.
- María Passas-Varo
- Oscar Van der Velde
- Joan Montanyà
ArticleOpen Access12 Dec 2023 Nature Communications
The second Venus flyby of BepiColombo mission reveals stable atmosphere over decades

On its way to Mercury, BepiColombo spacecraft made two flybys of Venus. Here, the authors show spectrally resolved measurements of Venus’ atmosphere during BepiColombo’s second flyby and reveal that Venusian atmosphere has been stable since 1980s.
- Jörn Helbert
- Rainer Haus
- Harald Hiesinger
ArticleOpen Access12 Dec 2023 Nature Communications
An updated nuclear-physics and multi-messenger astrophysics framework for binary neutron star mergers

The Nuclear-physics and Multi-Messenger Astrophysics framework, NMMA, combines multiple information from neutron stars and neutron star mergers. Here, the authors show an update of the NMMA framework to constrain neutron star equation of state by simultaneously analyzing multi-messenger observations.
- Peter T. H. Pang
- Tim Dietrich
- Chris Van Den Broeck
ArticleOpen Access20 Dec 2023 Nature Communications
A new era in solar system astronomy with JWST

The exploration of our solar system is being radically changed since the beginning of operations of the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) in mid 2022. JWST’s extraordinary sensitivity and instrumentation allow for sensitive searches for the building blocks of life and to test for habitability, also enabling new discoveries on small bodies to giant planets across our solar system and beyond.
- G. L. Villanueva
- S. N. Milam
CommentOpen Access17 Nov 2023 Nature Communications
Evidence of an upper ionospheric electric field perturbation correlated with a gamma ray burst

Gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) are known to have impact on Earth’s lower ionosphere, but GRB impacts on the upper ionosphere was not observed before. Here, the authors show strong electric field variation at 500 km in the ionosphere caused by GRB221009A.
- Mirko Piersanti
- Pietro Ubertini
- Paolo Zuccon
ArticleOpen Access14 Nov 2023 Nature Communications
Cosmic-void observations reconciled with primordial magnetogenesis

Gamma-ray observations indicate that cosmic voids may host magnetic fields. Here, the authors show that relics of fields from the early Universe could be consistent with these observations if their decay is mediated by magnetic reconnection and conserves the mean square fluctuation level of magnetic helicity.
- David N. Hosking
- Alexander A. Schekochihin
ArticleOpen Access18 Nov 2023 Nature Communications
Double superionicity in icy compounds at planetary interior conditions

At high pressures, water and ammonia are known to exhibit superionic states. Here it is shown that many planetary ices (H-C-N-O compounds) exhibit a superionic state, and in some cases, a doubly superionic state, in which multiple elements diffuse simultaneously.
- Kyla de Villa
- Felipe González-Cataldo
- Burkhard Militzer
ArticleOpen Access21 Nov 2023 Nature Communications
Direct detection of atomic oxygen on the dayside and nightside of Venus

Atomic oxygen is important for the photochemistry and energy balance of Venus’s atmosphere, but it was not directly observed on the dayside of Venus. Here, the authors show direct detection of atomic oxygen on the both dayside and nightside of Venus by measuring its ground-state transition at 4.74 THz.
- Heinz-Wilhelm Hübers
- Heiko Richter
- Helmut Wiesemeyer
ArticleOpen Access7 Nov 2023 Nature Communications

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