Highlights from AAS Nova: 22 February – 7 March 2026

AAS Nova provides brief highlights of recently published articles from the AAS journals, i.e., The Astronomical Journal (AJ), The Astrophysical Journal (ApJ), ApJ Letters, ApJ Supplements, The Planetary Science Journal, and Research Notes of the AAS. The website's intent is to gain broader exposure for AAS authors and to provide astronomy researchers and enthusiasts with summaries of recent, interesting research across a wide range of astronomical fields.

The following are the AAS Nova highlights from the past two weeks; follow the links to read more, or visit AAS Nova for more posts. You can also sign up to receive emails each time a new post is published.

6 March 2026
Pulling Back the Curtain on DART Ejecta
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.

4 March 2026
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.

3 March 2026
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.

2 March 2026
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.

27 February 2026
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.

25 February 2026
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.

24 February 2026
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.

23 February 2026
Featured Image: Rare Giant Galaxies
How do giant low-surface-brightness galaxies form? New research investigates two galactic specimens to search for clues.

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