All posts by Cathy Palmer-Lister

Astronomy News

Is Comet 3I/ATLAS really a spaceship?

Is Comet 3I/ATLAS really a spaceship?

Space Weather News for Oct 28, 2025
https://spaceweather.com
https://www.spaceweatheralerts.com

INTERSTELLAR COMET 3I/ATLAS IS NOT HIDING FROM EARTH: The internet is buzzing with claims that interstellar Comet 3I/ATLAS is “hiding behind the sun.” It’s not. Coronagraphs on GOES-19, SOHO, and NASA’s new PUNCH mission are watching it every day–and it’s behaving like a comet, not a spaceship.

 3I/ATLAS AT PERIHELION: Is Comet 3I/ATLAS really a spaceship? We’re about to find out. On Oct. 29th, the interstellar object will make its closest approach to the sun. Perihelion is the perfect time to perform a Solar Oberth maneuver or to deploy stealthy probes. If we see any unexpected non-gravitational acceleration, artificial lights, or excess heat (engine activity), it could point to alien tech. Otherwise, 3I/ATLAS is what it appears to be–a comet. Contrary to widespread reports, we can see 3I/ATLAS from Earth, so this will be a legitimate “acid test” of the spaceship hypothesis.

 

Fanzines

Fanzine Roundup

A lot of zines appeared while we were preparing for the book sale. 

Added today at https://efanzines.com are:  

  • Journey Planet #91, edited by James Bacon, Chris Garcia, et al
  • Opuntia #611, edited by Dale Speirs<
  • Kelly Oates’ Oates #3
  • Henry Grynnsten’s Wild Ideas #64
  • WARP #116, the official fanzine of MonSFFA, the Montreal Science Fiction and Fantasy Association, is now on line  www.monsffa.ca 
  • Kat Templeton’s Rhyme & Paradox #7
  • Ray Palm’s The Ray X X-rayer #186
  • Octothorpe #145, a regular fannish podcast by John Coxon, Alison Scott and Liz Batty, is now on line

From the N3F:

The newsletter of the Los Angeles Science Fantasy Society, issue #614, for November 2025.  Please feel free to share with your members.  De Profundis #614 – November 2025 

From Israel: 
Astronomy News

Comet and aurora

Space Weather News for Oct 16, 2025
https://spaceweather.com
https://www.spaceweatheralerts.com

EVENING COMET ALERT: Comet Lemmon (C/2025 A6) is approaching Earth for a close encounter on Oct. 21st. Already an easy target for binoculars and ordinary cameras, the comet could become a naked-eye object in the nights ahead. Details and finder charts @ Spaceweather.com.

Auroras are possible tonight: Multiple CMEs are expected to strike Earth on Oct. 16-17, bringing a chance of photographic auroras to northern-tier US states. Sign up for Space Weather Alerts to receive instant text messages when the CMEs arrive.

Fanzines

Zine roundup

We have zines to share! 

First of all, our own WARP is available here: https://www.monsffa.ca/?page_id=20361 

The N3F has sent us the following zines:

Bill Burns sent us several updates.  https://efanzines.com

From Israel: CCSeptember2025-v01

From South Africa: PROBE 205X Gorgeous Cover Art!

From LA: De Profundis #613 – October 2025

From Vancouver: OBDURATE EYE 56

 

 

 

 

 

 

Astronomy News

Annual Moon Night Event at Morgan Arboretum

International Observe the Moon Night

Event by RASC Montreal Centre
Morgan Arboretum, public event, free admission
Join RASC Montreal for our annual Moon Night event in-person Sat Oct 4 at 7pm. This year features a bilingual Public Event with a talk on lunar observing followed by music, poetry & a constellations activity by the Dark Sky Preserve book and album project.
This free public event is a GO regardless of clear skies or rain, dress accordingly! Coffee, tea & cookies will be provided – donations are welcome to help fund our Outreach events.

Joignez-vous à la RASC Montréal pour notre soirée annuelle « Nuit de la Lune » en personne le samedi 4 octobre à 19 h. Cette année, l’événement public bilingue comprend une conférence sur l’observation lunaire, suivie de musique, de poésie et d’une activité sur les constellations par le projet de livre et d’album Dark Sky Preserve.
Cet événement public gratuit est à ne pas manquer, que le ciel soit dégagé ou pluvieux ; habillez-vous en conséquence ! Du café, du thé et des biscuits seront offerts ; les dons sont les bienvenus pour financer nos activités
Reading

Locus list of upcoming book releases

OCTOBER 2025

  • CATHERINE ASARO • Gold Dust • Baen, Oct 2025 (hc, eb)
  • NATHAN BALLINGRUD • Cathedral of the Drowned • Tor/Nightfire, Oct 2025 (na, h, tp, eb)
  • NATHAN BALLINGRUD • Cathedral of the Drowned • Titan Books UK, Oct 2025 (na, h, hc, eb)
  • OLIVIE BLAKE • Girl Dinner • Macmillan UK/Mantle, Oct 2025 (h, hc)
  • OLIVIE BLAKE • Girl Dinner • Tor, Oct 2025 (c, hc)
  • PATRICIA BRIGGS • Blind Date with a Werewolf • Ace, Oct 2025 (c, hc, eb)
  • KRISTEN BRITAIN • Falling in a Sea of Stars • Orion UK/Gollancz, Oct 2025 (1st UK, tp, eb)
  • D.J. BUTLER & AARON MICHAEL RITCHEY • The Familiar Spirit • Baen, Oct 2025 (tp, eb)
  • GRACE BYRON • Herculine • Simon & Schuster/Saga Press, Oct 2025 (hc, eb)
  • ISABEL CAÑAS • The Possession of Alba Díaz • Rebellion/Solaris UK, Oct 2025 (1st UK, h, tp, eb)
  • ELLEN DATLOW, ED. • The Best Horror of the Year • Volume Seventeen, Night Shade Books, Oct 2025 (tp, eb)
  • CORY DOCTOROW • Enshittification: Why Everything Suddenly Got Worse and What to Do About It • Verso, Oct 2025 (nf, a, hc, eb)
  • STEVEN ERIKSON • No Life forsaken • Penguin Random House UK/Bantam UK, Oct 2025 (hc, eb)
  • STEVEN ERIKSON • No Life forsaken • Tor, Oct 2025 (hc, eb)
  • MAX GLADSTONE • Dead Hand Rule • Tor, Oct 2025 (tp, eb)
  • ALIX E. HARROW • The Everlasting • Macmillan/Tor UK, Oct 2025 (hc, eb)
  • ALIX E. HARROW • The Everlasting • Tor, Oct 2025 (hc, eb)
  • JOE HILL • King Sorrow • HarperCollins/Mor­row, Oct 2025 (h, hc, eb)
  • JOE HILL • King Sorrow • Headline UK, Oct 2025 (h, hc, eb)
  • JIM C. HINES • Slayers of Old • Astra House/DAW, Oct 2025 (hc, eb)
  • T.L. HUCHU • Secrets of the First School • Mac­millan/Tor UK, Oct 2025 (hc, eb)
  • ALLAN KASTER, ED. • The Year’s Top Robot and AI Stories: Sixth Annual Collection • AudioText/Infinivox, Oct 2025 (an, tp, eb)
  • JOE R. LANSDALE • The Essential Horror of Joe R. Lansdale • Tachyon Publications, Oct 2025 (c, tp, eb)
  • CIXIN LIU • The Collected Short Stories • Bloomsbury UK/Head of Zeus/Ad Astra, Oct 2025 (c, hc, eb)
  • KEN LIU • All That We See or Seem • Blooms­bury UK/Head of Zeus/Ad Astra, Oct 2025 (hc, eb)
  • KEN LIU • All That We See or Seem • Simon & Schuster/Saga Press, Oct 2025 (hc, eb)
  • JONATHAN MABERRY • Cold War • Blackstone Publishing and Weird Tales Presents, Oct 2025 (h, hc, eb)
  • PATRICIA A. MCKILLIP • The Essential Patricia A. McKil­lip • Tachyon Publications, Oct 2025 (c, tp, eb)
  • SAM J. MILLER & MARY ROBI­NETTE KOWAL • Red Star Hustle/Apprehension • Simon & Schuster/Saga Press, Oct 2025 (oa, tp, eb)
  • L.E. MODESITT, JR. • Legalist • Tor, Oct 2025 (hc, eb)
  • MICHAEL MOORCOCK & MARK HODDER • The Albino’s Secret • Simon & Schuster/Saga Press, Oct 2025 (hc, eb)
  • MICHAEL MOORCOCK & MARK HODDER • The Albino’s Secret • Orion UK/Gollancz, Oct 2025 (hc, eb)
  • SIMON MORDEN • The History of the World • New­Con Press UK, Oct 2025 (na, tp, hc, eb)
  • RICHARD MORGAN • No Man’s Land • Orion UK/Gollancz, Oct 2025 (hc, eb)
  • RICHARD K. MORGAN • No Man’s Land • Penguin Random House/Del Rey, Oct 2025 (hc, eb)
  • KIM NEWMAN • Model Actress Whatever • Titan Books UK, Oct 2025 (tp, eb)
  • THOMAS OLDE HEUVELT • Darker Days • Penguin Random House UK/Bantam UK, Oct 2025 (h, hc, eb)
  • THOMAS OLDE HEUVELT • Darker Days • Harper, Oct 2025 (h, hc, eb)
  • PHILIP PULLMAN • The Book of Dust • Volume Three: The Rose Field, Penguin Random House UK/Penguin and David Fickling UK, Oct 2025 (ya, hc, eb)
  • PHILIP PULLMAN • The Book of Dust • Volume Three: The Rose Field, Penguin Random House/Knopf, Oct 2025 (ya, hc, eb)
  • THOMAS PYNCHON • Shadow Ticket • Penguin Random House/Penguin Press, Oct 2025 (hc, tp, eb)
  • ALASTAIR REYNOLDS • The Dagger in Vichy • Subterra­nean Press, Oct 2025 (na, hc, eb)
  • EDEN ROYCE • Psychopomp and Circumstance • Tordotcom, Oct 2025 (na, hc, eb)
  • A.G. SLATTER • The Cold House • Titan Books UK, Oct 2025 (hc, eb)
  • CAITLIN STARLING • The Graceview Patient • St. Mar­tin’s, Oct 2025 (h, hc, eb)
  • JONATHAN STRAHAN, ED. • Revolution in the Heart • Titan Books UK, Oct 2025 (oa, hc, eb)
  • TASHA SURI • The Isle in the Silver Sea • Orbit US, Oct 2025 (hc, eb)
  • TASHA SURI • The Isle in the Silver Sea • Orbit UK, Oct 2025 (hc, eb)
  • ADRIAN TCHAIKOVSKY • Lives of Bitter Rain • Bloomsbury UK/Head of Zeus/Ad Astra, Oct 2025 (na, hc, eb)
  • CARRIE VAUGHN • The Glass Slide World • Amazon/47North, Oct 2025 (v, tp, eb)
  • NGHI VO • A Mouthful of Dust • Tordotcom, Oct 2025 (na, hc, eb)
  • MARTHA WELLS • Queen Demon • Tor, Oct 2025 (hc, eb)
Awards

MonSFFA nominated for the Prix Boréal!

MonSFFA nominated for the Prix Boréal!

Bonjour à l’équipe de MonSFFA,

Mon nom est Laurianne Bossé, et je suis co-responsable des Prix Aurora-Boréal 2025, remis chaque année par l’organisme à but non lucratif SFSF Boréal.

La période de nominations aux Prix est terminée. Au nom du comité organisateur, j’ai le plaisir de vous apprendre que vous avez reçu suffisamment de nominations pour être finaliste dans la catégorie suivante :

Prix Boréal – Fanédition

Ce prix sert à souligner les contributions non-professionnelles à l’enrichissement du milieu qui ne peuvent être classées dans les catégories précédentes. Sont admissibles, entre autres, les associations, fanzines, webzines et blogues. Un webzine ou blogue doit avoir publié durant l’année qui précède la remise du prix un minimum de 10 billets ou contributions relevant de la science-fiction, du fantastique ou de la fantasy, à condition qu’il ne soit pas uniquement consacré aux annonces autopromotionnelles.

pour

MonSFFA (club) – http://www.monsffa.ca/

 

Comme de rigueur, les Prix Aurora-Boréal vous offrent l’opportunité de décliner cette nomination si, pour quelconque raison, vous estimez qu’elle n’est pas appropriée.

 

La cérémonie de remise des prix se tiendra le dimanche 21 septembre, dès 15h30, dans le cadre du Congrès Boréal 2023, tenu au Collège de Bois-de-Boulogne (10555 avenue de Bois-de-Boulogne, Montréal, QC, H4N 1L4). Veuillez également noter qu’un billet valide pour la journée de dimanche est nécessaire afin d’assister à la cérémonie de remise.

 

Félicitations, et au plaisir de vous compter parmi nous lors de la cérémonie!

 

Laurianne Bossé

Co-responsable des Prix Aurora-Boréal et administratrice de SFSF Boréal

Astronomy News

A SIGMOID ERUPTION ON THE SUN

If the sky is clear on the 7th, look for auroras.– CPL

A SIGMOID ERUPTION ON THE SUN: When you see an “S” on the sun, it usually means something is about to explode. On Sept. 4th, NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory recorded a textbook sigmoid eruption:

Researchers have long known that sigmoid structures in the sun’s atmosphere herald strong explosions. Their magnetic field lines are twisted like a slinky. When enough tension builds up, they un-twist explosively.

This sigmoid hurled a dark plume of plasma more than 700,000 km long into space. The plume is dark because the plasma inside is relatively cool and dense–two qualities that can make potent CMEs.

The explosion hurled a CME directly toward Earth. NOAA and NASA models agree that it will reach our planet on Sept. 7th. The impact could spark a G1 to G2-class geomagnetic storm with high-latitude auroras visible during the lunar eclipse. CME impact alerts: SMS Text

Reading

Locus Magazine: Books for September

SEPTEMBER 2025

  • EUGEN BACON • The Nga’phandileh Whisperer • Stars and Sabers, Sep 2025 (na, tp, eb)
  • JOSIAH BANCROFT • The Hexologists: A Tangle of Time • Orbit US, Sep 2025 (tp, eb)
  • STEPHEN BAXTER • Hearthspace • Orion UK/Gollancz, Sep 2025 (hc, eb)
  • NICHOLAS BINGE • Extremity • Macmillan/Tor UK, Sep 2025 (na, hc, eb)
  • NICHOLAS BINGE • Extremity • Tordotcom, Sep 2025 (na, hc, eb)
  • HOLLY BLACK • Thief of Night • Tor, Sep 2025 (hc, eb)
  • HOLLY BLACK • Thief of Night • Penguin Random House UK/Del Rey UK, Sep 2025 (hc, eb)
  • KRISTEN BRITAIN • Falling in a Sea of Stars • Astra House/DAW, Sep 2025 (hc, eb)
  • MARTIN CAHILL • The Audition for the Fox • Tachyon Publications, Sep 2025 (na, tp, eb)
  • CLAY MCLEOD CHAPMAN • Acquired Taste • Titan Books UK, Sep 2025 (c, h, hc, eb)
  • C.L. CLARK • Fate’s Bane • Tordotcom, Sep 2025 (hc, eb)
  • C.L. CLARK • The Sovereign • Orbit US, Sep 2025 (tp, eb)
  • PAUL CORNELL • The Gnomes of Lychford • Tordot­com, Sep 2025 (na, tp, eb)
  • ELLEN DATLOW, ED. • Night & Day • Simon & Schuster/Saga Press, Sep 2025 (om, tp, eb)
  • DELILAH S. DAWSON • House of Idyll • Titan Books UK, Sep 2025 (h, hc, eb)
  • SARAH GAILEY • Spread Me • Tor/Nightfire, Sep 2025 (h, hc, eb)
  • CHRISTOPHER GOLDEN • The Night Birds • Titan Books UK, Sep 2025 (1st UK, h, tp, eb)
  • CHARLIE N. HOLMBERG • The Shattered King • Amazon/47North, Sep 2025 (tp, eb)
  • CHARLIE N. HOLMBERG • Whimbrel House #5 • Amazon/47North, Sep 2025 (tp, hc, eb)
  • KATHLEEN JENNINGS • Honeyeater • Tordotcom, Sep 2025 (hc, eb)
  • BITTER KARELLA • Moonflow • Orbit UK, Sep 2025 (h, tp, eb)
  • BITTER KARELLA • Moonflow • Orbit US/Run For It, Sep 2025 (h, tp, eb)
  • ALMA KATSU • Fiend • Titan Books UK, Sep 2025 (h, tp, eb)
  • ALMA KATSU • Fiend • Penguin Random House/Putnam, Sep 2025 (h, pb, eb)
  • STEPHEN KING & MAURICE SENDAK • Hansel and Gretel • HarperCollins, Sep 2025 (pi, art, hc)
  • T. KINGFISHER • What Stalks the Deep • Tor/Night­fire, Sep 2025 (na, h, hc, eb)
  • T. KINGFISHER • What Stalks the Deep • Titan Books UK, Sep 2025 (na, h, hc, eb)
  • RICH LARSON • Changelog • Fairwood Press, Sep 2025 (c, tp, eb)
  • SEANAN MCGUIRE • Silver and Lead • Tor, Sep 2025 (hc, eb)
  • PREMEE MOHAMED • The First Thousand Trees • ECW Press, Sep 2025 (na, tp, eb)
  • LOUISA MORGAN • The Faerie Morgana • Orbit US/Redhook, Sep 2025 (tp, eb)
  • LOUISA MORGAN • The Faerie Morgana • Orbit UK, Sep 2025 (hc, eb)
  • NAOMI NOVIK • The Summer War • Penguin Random House/Del Rey, Sep 2025 (hc, eb)
  • NAOMI NOVIK • The Summer War • Penguin Ran­dom House UK/Del Rey UK, Sep 2025 (hc, eb)
  • K.J. PARKER • Making History • Tordotcom, Sep 2025 (na, tp, eb)
  • GARETH L. POWELL • Who Will You Save? • Titan Books UK, Sep 2025 (c, tp, eb)
  • RHIANNA PRATCHETT • Tiffany Aching’s Guide to Being a Witch • HarperCollins/Clarion, Sep 2025 (nf, ya, art, hc, eb)
  • CAT RAMBO • Wings of Tabat • WordFire Press, Sep 2025 (tp, hc, eb)
  • ALASTAIR REYNOLDS • Halcyon Days • Orion UK/Gollancz, Sep 2025 (hc, eb)
  • LEZLI ROBYN • In Her Wake • Arc Manor/Caezik SF & Fantasy, Sep 2025 (tp, eb)
  • VERONICA ROTH • To Clutch a Razor • Tor, Sep 2025 (hc, eb)
  • VERONICA ROTH • To Clutch a Razor • Titan Books UK, Sep 2025 (hc, eb)
  • ANTHONY RYAN • The Infernus Gate • Subterranean Press, Sep 2025 (na, hc, eb)
  • ANDRZEJ SAPKOWSKI • Crossroads of Ravens • Orion UK/Gollancz, Sep 2025 (hc, eb)
  • JOHN SCALZI • The Shattering Peace • Tor, Sep 2025 (hc, eb)
  • JOHN SCALZI • The Shattering Peace • Macmillan/Tor UK, Sep 2025 (hc, eb)
  • SAMANTHA SHANNON • Among the Burning Flowers • Bloomsbury USA, Sep 2025 (hc, eb)
  • SHARON SHINN • Shifter and Shadow • Fairwood Press, Sep 2025 (tp, eb)
  • WEN SPENCER • Black Tie and Tails • Baen, Sep 2025 (hc, eb)
  • CADWELL TURNBULL • A Ruin • Great and Free, Black­stone Publishing, Sep 2025 (hc, eb)
  • FRAN WILDE • A Philosophy of Thieves • Kens­ington/Erewhon, Sep 2025 (hc, eb)
  • RICHARD WOLINSKY, ED. • Space Ships! Ray Guns! Martian Octopods!: Interviews with Sci­ence Fiction Legends • Tachyon Publications, Sep 2025 (nf, tp, eb)