All posts by Cathy Palmer-Lister

Astronomy News

THE SUN IS ABOUT TO LOSE ITS MEMORY

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THE SUN IS ABOUT TO LOSE ITS MEMORY: That’s the surprising conclusion of a new study by researchers at the University of Oulu in Finland. The team examined 180 years of the aa index (a record of geomagnetic activity stretching back to 1844) and found that after odd-numbered solar cycles, the sun forgets what happened in the past.

We’re approaching such a moment now, as Solar Cycle 25 descends from its peak.

Their research begins with the little-known “Gnevyshev-Ohl rule.” Discovered in 1948, this rule says that solar cycles come in pairs, with the odd-numbered half stronger than the even. Take a look at this historical plot of sunspot numbers:

Once you notice the Gnevyshev-Ohl rule, you can’t unsee it. With only one exception in the past 180 years (Solar Cycles 22-23), odd cycles are always stronger than evens. The current pair, Cycles 24-25, definitely follow the rule.

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Books

Locus forthcoming books

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Locus forthcoming books

SEPTEMBER 2026

  • K. ANCRUM • Adam • Mine., HarperCollins, Sep 2026 (ya, h, hc, eb)
  • GUY ASTIC & FRANK LAFOND • The Art and Craft of Stephen King • Hachette/Black Dog & Leventhal, Sep 2026 (nf, hc)
  • LEIGH BARDUGO • Dead Beat • Orion UK/Gollancz, Sep 2026 (h, hc, eb)
  • LEIGH BARDUGO • Dead Beat • Macmillan/Flatiron, Sep 2026 (h, hc, eb)
  • KALYNN BAYRON • Tell the Ghosts I’m Gone • Bloomsbury USA, Sep 2026 (ya, v, hc, eb)
  • KAMILAH COLE • Wicked Endeavors • Little, Brown, Sep 2026 (ya, hc, eb)
  • ELLEN DATLOW, ED. • All Hallows Eve • Titan Books UK, Sep 2026 (oa, hc, eb)
  • TANANARIVE DUE • Mazywood • Simon & Schuster/ Saga Press, Sep 2026 (h, hc, eb)
  • TANANARIVE DUE • Mazywood • Titan Books UK, Sep 2026 (h, hc, eb)
  • ZOÉ DUHAIME • The Lost Spectacular • Kensington/Erewhon, Sep 2026 (hc, eb)
  • ZOÉ DUHAIME • The Lost Spectacular • Rebellion/ Solaris UK, Sep 2026 (hc, eb)
  • JESSICA DAY GEORGE • Holidays at the Castle • Bloomsbury USA, Sep 2026 (ya, tp)
  • CHRISTOPHER GOLDEN • Carry Me to My Grave • Titan Books UK, Sep 2026 (1st US, h, tp, eb)
  • FRANCES HARDINGE • Traitors’ Nest • Abrams/Amulet, Sep 2026 (1st US, ya, art, hc, eb)
  • KATE HEARTFIELD • The Swordmaster • Rebellion/Solaris UK, Sep 2026 (tp, eb)
  • JAMES ISLINGTON • Scion • Simon & Schuster/Saga Press, Sep 2026 (hc, eb)
  • AI JIANG • An Empire in the Clouds • Titan Books UK, Sep 2026 (hc, eb)
  • ALMA KATSU • Incarnate • Penguin Random House/Putnam, Sep 2026 (h, hc, eb)
  • T. KINGFISHER • Baldur’s Gate3: Astarion • Penguin Random House/Random House Worlds, Sep 2026 (x, hc, eb)
  • KEN LIU • The Passing of the Dragon and Other Stories • Simon & Schuster/ Saga Press, Sep 2026 (c, hc, eb)
  • JOSH MALERMAN • Pictures of You • Macmillan/Tor Nightfire UK, Sep 2026 (h, hc, eb)
  • JOSH MALERMAN • Pictures of You • Penguin Random House/Del Rey, Sep 2026 (h, hc, eb)
  • FREYA MARSKE • Bodies of Magic • Macmillan/Tor Bramble UK, Sep 2026 (hc, eb)
  • FREYA MARSKE • Bodies of Magic • Tor/Bramble, Sep 2026 (hc, eb)
  • A. LEE MARTINEZ • Unbearable • Baen, Sep 2026 (hc, eb)
  • SEANAN MCGUIRE • A Divided Duty • Tor, Sep 2026 (hc, eb)
  • CHINA MIÉVILLE • The Rouse • Penguin Random House/Del Rey, Sep 2026 (hc, eb)
  • CHINA MIÉVILLE • The Rouse • Macmillan UK/Picador, Sep 2026 (hc, eb)
  • PREMEE MOHAMED • Wickhills • Tor, Sep 2026 (hc, eb)
  • LOUISA MORGAN • The Faerie Handmaid • Orbit US/ Redhook, Sep 2026 (tp, eb)
  • GARTH NIX • Massif • Harper Voyager US, Sep 2026 (hc, eb)
  • GARTH NIX • Massif • Orion UK/Gollancz, Sep 2026 (hc, eb)
  • AVA REID • Winterveil • HarperCollins, Sep 2026 (ya, hc, eb)
  • JONATHAN STRAHAN, ED. • Revolution in the Heart • Titan Books UK, Sep 2026 (oa, hc, eb)
  • DAVAUN SANDERS, ED. • Forged in FIYAH • Tordotcom, Sep 2026 (an, tp, eb)
  • SHAUN TAN • Hometown • Levine Querido, Sep 2026 (gn, ya, art, hc, eb)
  • ADRIAN TCHAIKOVSKY • Engines of Reason • Macmillan/Tor UK, Sep 2026 (na, eb)
  • ADRIAN TCHAIKOVSKY • Engines of Reason • Tordotcom, Sep 2026 (na, hc, eb)
  • PETER WATTS • Fold Catastrophes • Tachyon Publications, Sep 2026 (c, tp, eb)

OCTOBER 2026

Astronomy News

LUNAR ECLIPSE AND CME IMPACT

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Space Weather News for Aug. 25, 2026
Free Space Weather Newsletter

LUNAR ECLIPSE AND CME IMPACT: There’s a lunar eclipse this week, and, in a rare coincidence, a CME might hit Earth while the Moon is in shadow. This sets the stage for a potential aurora-Moon photo-op. The eclipse will be visible from Coast to Coast in the USA. Full story and timetables @ Spaceweather.com.

CME Impact Alerts: Subscribers to our Space Weather Alert Service receive instant text messages when CMEs hit Earth

Books

Locus forthcoming books

Locus forthcoming books

AUGUST 2026

  • ROBERT JACKSON BENNETT • A Trade of Blood • Hodder & Stoughton UK/Hodderscape, Aug 2026 (hc, eb)
  • ROBERT JACKSON BENNETT • A Trade of Blood • Penguin Random House/Del Rey, Aug 2026 (hc, eb)
  • OLIVIE BLAKE • Dreamland • Macmillan/Tor UK, Aug 2026 (hc, eb)
  • OLIVIE BLAKE • Dreamland • Tor, Aug 2026 (hc, eb)
  • TERRY BROOKS • Brona • Penguin Random House/ Del Rey, Aug 2026 (hc, eb)
  • JILLIAN CANTOR • The Season of Light and Darkness • Simon Pulse, Aug 2026 (hc, eb)
  • CLAY MCLEOD CHAPMAN • Devil Inside • Titan Books UK, Aug 2026 (v, hc, eb)
  • CLAY MCLEOD CHAPMAN • Devil Inside • Harlequin/Mira, Aug 2026 (v, hc, eb)
  • P.A. CORNELL • The Astronaut Among the Flowers and Other Stories • Stars and Sabers, Aug 2026 (c, v, tp, eb)
  • SARAH BETH DURST • Sea of Charms • Macmillan/Tor UK, Aug 2026 (1st US, v, hc, eb)
  • SAARA EL-ARIFI • Earthbound • Harper Voyager UK, Aug 2026 (hc, eb)
  • SAARA EL-ARIFI • Earthbound • Penguin Random House/Del Rey, Aug 2026 (hc, eb)
  • C.A. FLETCHER • The Two of Us at the End of the World • Orbit UK, Aug 2026 (hc, eb)
  • C.A. FLETCHER • The Two of Us at the End of the World • Orbit US, Aug 2026 (tp, eb)
  • ERIC FLINT & GRIFFIN BARBER • 1637: The Pilgrim’s Passage • Baen, Aug 2026 (hc, eb)
  • CAROLYN IVES GILMAN • Testament of Leaves • Fairwood Press, Aug 2026 (na, tp, eb)
  • CHLOE GONG • Eyes of Kings • Simon & Schuster/ Saga Press, Aug 2026 (hc, eb)
  • FRANCES HARDINGE • Traitors’ Nest • Macmillan/First Ink UK, Aug 2026 (ya, art, hc, eb)
  • JAMES PATRICK KELLY • The Book of Bots • Fairwood Press, Aug 2026 (c, tp, eb)
  • KATHARINE KERR • Zyon • Arc Manor/Caezik SF & Fantasy, Aug 2026 (tp, eb)
  • BO-YOUNG KIM & SOPHIE BOWMAN, TR. • A Plagued Sea • Tor/Nightfire, Aug 2026 (h, hc, eb)
  • T. KINGFISHER • Daggerbound • Tor/Bramble, Aug 2026 (v, hc, eb)
  • JONATHAN MABERRY • Bewilderness • WordFire Press, Aug 2026 (tp, hc, eb)
  • SUYI DAVIES OKUNGBOWA • Season of the Serpent • Orbit US, Aug 2026 (tp, eb)
  • CHINELO ONWUALU, ET AL., EDS. • Africanfuturism Short Stories • Flame Tree Collections UK, Aug 2026 (an, hc)
  • LESLYE PENELOPE • The Inevitable Undoing of Zahara Douglass • Orbit US/Redhook, Aug 2026 (tp, eb)
  • SARAH PINBOROUGH • They Say a Girl Died Here • Macmillan/Flatiron/Pine & Cedar, Aug 2026 (h, hc, eb)
  • TIM PRATT • The Jewel and the Comet • Angry Robot UK, Aug 2026 (tp, eb)
  • NATASHA PULLEY • The Salt King • Orion UK/Gollancz, Aug 2026 (hc, eb)
  • NATASHA PULLEY • The Salt King • Bloomsbury USA, Aug 2026 (hc, eb)
  • BETH REVIS • Chaotic Orbits • Astra House/DAW, Aug 2026 (om, tp, eb)
  • ANTHONY RYAN • Upon the Forge of Battle • Orbit UK, Aug 2026 (hc, eb)
  • ANTHONY RYAN • Upon the Forge of Battle • Orbit US, Aug 2026 (tp, eb)
  • ADRIAN TCHAIKOVSKY • Preaching to the Choir • Rebellion/ Solaris UK, Aug 2026 (hc, eb)
  • SHEREE RENÉE THOMAS • The Tongue I Dream In • PM Press, Aug 2026 (c, tp, eb)
  • CHUCK WENDIG • The Calamities • Penguin Random House UK/Del Rey UK, Aug 2026 (h, hc, eb, tp)
  • CHUCK WENDIG • The Calamities • Penguin Random House/Del Rey, Aug 2026 (h, hc, eb)
Astronomy News

Eclipse today, Aug 12, peak of Perseid meteor shower.

Today’s (very) partial eclipse begins today at 12:50. It will peak at 1:45, end at 2:38.

There are details here: https://montrealgazette.com/news/partial-solar-eclipse-montreal-wednesday-perseids-shower/

Also, the Perseid meteor shower peaks tonight. Best seen under a dark country sky, the shower will be at its best since it is also new moon. The weather is not promising, but the shower eases off gradually, so you might catch a few later in the week.

Astronomy News

EXPLODING COMET MCNAUGHT

EXPLODING COMET MCNAUGHT: There’s an exploding comet in the morning sky. Comet 220P/McNaught was a nondescript speck of 17th magnitude in late May when it suddenly multiplied in brightness 7000-fold. It was fading back toward obscurity when, on Aug. 5th, it exploded again. The second outburst (650x) propelled the comet to 7th magnitude, an easy target for binoculars and small telescopes.

This is what it looks like now:

“We observed the comet in outburst on August 8th,” say photographers Gerald Rhemann and Michael Jäger, who used a 12-inch robotic telescope in Namibia. “It has a shock wave front.”

The comet is in the constellation Cetus near the star Mu Ceti, best seen around 4 AM local time. Its expanding atmosphere is already wider than 7 arcminutes–a quarter the size of a full Moon–with a short tail pointing away from the sun.

Some observers are comparing 220P to Comet 17P/Holmes, which famously exploded in 2007. Holmes brightened a million times, becoming a naked-eye object that you could watch expand from night to night without a telescope. “Mini-Holmes” might be a better name for 220P, although the resemblance is undeniable.

After the first outburst in May, telescopes monitoring 220P’s debris found it rich in gas. Some astronomers suspect a fragment broke off the nucleus, exposing fresh ice to sunlight. If so, more explosions may be in the offing. The comet is near its minimum distance from the sun (a 1.64 AU perihelion on June 14th) and still being exposed to disruptive solar heat.

If only one more fragment falls off, you won’t even need binoculars.

more images: from Ismael Civera of Villatoya, Spain; from Mike Olason of Tucson, Arizona; from Rafael Etges of Huntsville, ON Canada

Astronomy News

THE SUN’S SURFACE IS WEIRDER THAN YOU THOUGHT

Space Weather News for Aug. 5, 2026
Free Space Weather Newsletter

THE SUN’S SURFACE IS WEIRDER THAN YOU THOUGHT: A giant telescope in Hawaii just saw something unprecedented on the sun. The surface of our star, it turns out, is covered with tiny ripples and whirlpools that previous telescopes could not see. The images were published Aug. 5th in the journal Nature:

Solar physicists have long suspected these swirls exist, but they were simply too small to see. The Inouye Solar Telescope, the world’s largest with a 4-meter mirror atop Haleakalā on Maui, finally has the resolution to catch them.

The Maui-sized whirlpools are caused by Kelvin-Helmholtz instabilities. Van Gogh famously painted them in Starry Night.

Here on Earth, Kelvin-Helmholtz instabilities make ocean waves curl when wind blows across water. On the sun, the “wind” is plasma. Where magnetized plasma and non-magnetized plasma slide past one another at different speeds, the boundary between them rolls up into vortices.

This could help solve the long-standing puzzle of where solar flares get their power. These explosions are driven by magnetic energy. The newfound whirlpools build up that energy, creating little reservoirs of power for flares and CMEs.

Even if you don’t believe it or understand it you will love the movies. Watch them here.

Astronomy News

A SPACEX ROCKET IS ABOUT TO HIT THE MOON

Potential target for binoculars or small telescopes–CPL

Space Weather News for July 28, 2026

A SPACEX ROCKET IS ABOUT TO HIT THE MOON:  On Aug. 5th, a dead SpaceX rocket will slam into the Moon near Einstein crater. The explosion itself will be hidden in lunar daylight, but a new study says the debris plume could rise above the Moon’s edge, visible from Earth for as much as 10 minutes.  https://spaceweather.com/

File:Location Crater Einstein.jpg

 

How to see tricky Crater Einstein on the Moon | BBC Sky at Night Magazine

Events and Conventions, Fandom

Westercon to Bow Out at 80

Westercon to Bow Out at 80

This past weekend at Westercon 78 (combined with BayCon 42) in Santa Clara, its Business Meeting ratified the motion from last year which dissolves the convention. This means this year’s was the last Westercon to host a Business Meeting, but the convention itself will persist for two more years.

Westercon 79 will be combined with BayCon 43. No bids had been filed for Westercon 80 as of two weeks ago, but two were presented at the meeting: one to combine it with BayCon one more time, and one to combine it with Loscon, the Los Angeles science fiction convention run by LASFS, the organization that created Westercon.

The Loscon bid was accepted, meaning that Westercon 80 will be held Thanksgiving weekend in 2028.

As the official announcment says:

The first three Westercons were held in Los Angeles in 1948-50, with Westercon 4 being held in San Francisco in 1951. These final two Westercons symbolically retrace the convention’s steps from the Bay Area to the Los Angeles area, and are a sort of “Retirement Tour” for the convention. Both BayCon and Loscon are expected to include programming about the history of Westercon.

Westercon has been held every year since except for 2020.

Only a few conventions can claim to be as old as Westercon or older. The UK’s national science fiction convention was also first held in 1948. Boskone in Boston, Philcon in the Philadelphia area, and the World Science Fiction Convention are the only other survivors from that era.