Dr. Raphael Marschall
@spacemarschall.net
Associate Professor of Experimental Physics at the @unibe.ch
Co-I of ESA's Comet Interceptor, collaborator on NASA's Lucy and ESA's Rosetta missions.
www.spaceMarschall.net
(he/him)🇨🇭🇺🇸🇫🇷
#asteroids #comets #protoplanetarydisks #planetaryScience 🧪🔭🚀🛰️☄️
Co-I of ESA's Comet Interceptor, collaborator on NASA's Lucy and ESA's Rosetta missions.
www.spaceMarschall.net
(he/him)🇨🇭🇺🇸🇫🇷
#asteroids #comets #protoplanetarydisks #planetaryScience 🧪🔭🚀🛰️☄️
Pinned
Dr. Raphael Marschall
@spacemarschall.net
· Nov 14
Hello to all new followers! I'm a 🇨🇭 physicist and planetary scientist at the Observatory in Nice 🇫🇷. I study asteroids, comets, and similar bodies and how they formed/evolved. This helps us understand how our Solar System formed. I'm also involved in several space missions.
#planetaryScience 🔭🧪🚀🛰️☄️🪨
#planetaryScience 🔭🧪🚀🛰️☄️🪨
Reposted by Dr. Raphael Marschall
NASA released a bunch of 16 and 35mm film engineering footage of the Artemis II launch today.
Naturally I knew what I had to do with it.
Naturally I knew what I had to do with it.
September 16, 2026 at 3:06 AM
NASA released a bunch of 16 and 35mm film engineering footage of the Artemis II launch today.
Naturally I knew what I had to do with it.
Naturally I knew what I had to do with it.
Big milestone for us at the @unibe.ch! The laser altimeter BELA, built under our leadership, was operated successfully for the first time after leaving our facilities exactly 10 years ago. BepiColombo, BELA, and all of us are now ready for science at Mercury starting in March 2027! #planetSci
🚀 An important milestone for #BepiColombo, a joint mission of #ESA and #JAXA:
🥳 The BELA laser altimeter, developed under the leadership of #unibe, was fully activated in #space for the first time. This is a crucial step toward the start of the scientific #mission in 2027 👇
sohub.io/6lls
🥳 The BELA laser altimeter, developed under the leadership of #unibe, was fully activated in #space for the first time. This is a crucial step toward the start of the scientific #mission in 2027 👇
sohub.io/6lls
September 15, 2026 at 2:12 PM
Big milestone for us at the @unibe.ch! The laser altimeter BELA, built under our leadership, was operated successfully for the first time after leaving our facilities exactly 10 years ago. BepiColombo, BELA, and all of us are now ready for science at Mercury starting in March 2027! #planetSci
Reposted by Dr. Raphael Marschall
In case you have missed it, we are hosting a super cool workshop on #exoplanets studies in Garching, Vitacura and Nice (YES, 3 places at the same time!!!) in November.
Bridging Horizons: Harnessing ESO's current facilities for the dawn of exoplanet population studies
Dates: **2-6 November 2026**
Bridging Horizons: Harnessing ESO's current facilities for the dawn of exoplanet population studies
Dates: **2-6 November 2026**
September 15, 2026 at 2:03 PM
In case you have missed it, we are hosting a super cool workshop on #exoplanets studies in Garching, Vitacura and Nice (YES, 3 places at the same time!!!) in November.
Bridging Horizons: Harnessing ESO's current facilities for the dawn of exoplanet population studies
Dates: **2-6 November 2026**
Bridging Horizons: Harnessing ESO's current facilities for the dawn of exoplanet population studies
Dates: **2-6 November 2026**
Reposted by Dr. Raphael Marschall
When we do outreach or education, astronomers frequently claim that public and student interest in astronomy is greater than in other sciences, making it an ideal entry way for science. My article analyzing Wikipedia page views which (somewhat) supports this claim is out in the CAP Journal. 🔭⚛️🧪🎢
English-speaking Wikipedia users’ interest in astronomy
Wikipedia users’ interest in astronomy is examined using data available for pageviews over the period 2016–2025. Interest, as measured by the level of engagement, is gauged by examining the top 30 ast...
capjournal.org
September 10, 2026 at 8:20 AM
When we do outreach or education, astronomers frequently claim that public and student interest in astronomy is greater than in other sciences, making it an ideal entry way for science. My article analyzing Wikipedia page views which (somewhat) supports this claim is out in the CAP Journal. 🔭⚛️🧪🎢
Reposted by Dr. Raphael Marschall
I am determined to prove that you can be largely anti-AI but also not be an asshole.
The attitudes of some people on this site will NOT win over any minds or win you over any favours. If you insult someone, you are doing it to a real person. And it sucks!
The attitudes of some people on this site will NOT win over any minds or win you over any favours. If you insult someone, you are doing it to a real person. And it sucks!
September 6, 2026 at 4:31 PM
I am determined to prove that you can be largely anti-AI but also not be an asshole.
The attitudes of some people on this site will NOT win over any minds or win you over any favours. If you insult someone, you are doing it to a real person. And it sucks!
The attitudes of some people on this site will NOT win over any minds or win you over any favours. If you insult someone, you are doing it to a real person. And it sucks!
Reposted by Dr. Raphael Marschall
I needed something spectacular, and here it is: a view of the August 12 solar eclipse as seen from South Korea's Danuri satellite, in orbit around the Moon. You can see the lunar shadow sweeping across Greenland. 🔭🧪
www.mt.co.kr/amp/tech/202...
www.mt.co.kr/amp/tech/202...
August 17, 2026 at 11:01 PM
I needed something spectacular, and here it is: a view of the August 12 solar eclipse as seen from South Korea's Danuri satellite, in orbit around the Moon. You can see the lunar shadow sweeping across Greenland. 🔭🧪
www.mt.co.kr/amp/tech/202...
www.mt.co.kr/amp/tech/202...
Reposted by Dr. Raphael Marschall
There's a missing rung on the academic career ladder in Austria and Germany.
Historically there wasn't a position like assistant professor or lecturer, so the jump from postdoc to professor was — and mostly still is — huge. Between 70% and 80% of academics in Austria don't have permanent jobs.
Historically there wasn't a position like assistant professor or lecturer, so the jump from postdoc to professor was — and mostly still is — huge. Between 70% and 80% of academics in Austria don't have permanent jobs.
Academics in Germany and Austria are stuck in job limbo
Also: Montana's "right to try" law for experimental cures, UK science gets reshuffled, a university sues Anthropic over patents, and more from last week
www.reviewertoo.com
August 4, 2026 at 12:32 PM
There's a missing rung on the academic career ladder in Austria and Germany.
Historically there wasn't a position like assistant professor or lecturer, so the jump from postdoc to professor was — and mostly still is — huge. Between 70% and 80% of academics in Austria don't have permanent jobs.
Historically there wasn't a position like assistant professor or lecturer, so the jump from postdoc to professor was — and mostly still is — huge. Between 70% and 80% of academics in Austria don't have permanent jobs.
Reposted by Dr. Raphael Marschall
Strings Don't Vibrate The Way You Think
YouTube video by minutephysics
youtu.be
July 30, 2026 at 5:22 PM
We are used to seeing weird shapes of small asteroids, but this is next level! look at the shape of 44 Nysa from Minker et al. This is 75 km volume-equivalent diameter object! Also it has a satellite! #planetSci 🧪
July 29, 2026 at 6:57 AM
We are used to seeing weird shapes of small asteroids, but this is next level! look at the shape of 44 Nysa from Minker et al. This is 75 km volume-equivalent diameter object! Also it has a satellite! #planetSci 🧪
In this new paper we showed that interstellar objects can be captured as a byproduct of stars flying by each other in the Galaxy (no planets involved). It only works for strong-enough encounters, probably just a few for the Sun during its history.
It means that all stars have (sparse) Oort clouds
It means that all stars have (sparse) Oort clouds
Capture of interstellar objects during stellar encounters - Raymond et al (in press) arxiv.org/abs/2607.18551
July 28, 2026 at 3:45 PM
Reposted by Dr. Raphael Marschall
Our latest paper has been accepted for publication! 🎉
We demonstrated that a single late infall event perturbing the outer disk can trigger the formation of multiple giant planets and ringed disk structures resembling those observed around young stars.
Paper: arxiv.org/abs/2607.18370
We demonstrated that a single late infall event perturbing the outer disk can trigger the formation of multiple giant planets and ringed disk structures resembling those observed around young stars.
Paper: arxiv.org/abs/2607.18370
July 22, 2026 at 11:27 AM
Our latest paper has been accepted for publication! 🎉
We demonstrated that a single late infall event perturbing the outer disk can trigger the formation of multiple giant planets and ringed disk structures resembling those observed around young stars.
Paper: arxiv.org/abs/2607.18370
We demonstrated that a single late infall event perturbing the outer disk can trigger the formation of multiple giant planets and ringed disk structures resembling those observed around young stars.
Paper: arxiv.org/abs/2607.18370
📢 Join my group at the @unibe.ch as a PhD student in #planetSci. Work on how impacts and sublimation shape comets and other icy bodies using experiments and numerical modelling.
📆 Start Date: Jan. 2027 or by arrangement
⏳ Apply by 30 Sept 2026: jobs.unibe.ch/job-vacancie...
📆 Start Date: Jan. 2027 or by arrangement
⏳ Apply by 30 Sept 2026: jobs.unibe.ch/job-vacancie...
July 20, 2026 at 7:50 PM
📢 Join my group at the @unibe.ch as a PhD student in #planetSci. Work on how impacts and sublimation shape comets and other icy bodies using experiments and numerical modelling.
📆 Start Date: Jan. 2027 or by arrangement
⏳ Apply by 30 Sept 2026: jobs.unibe.ch/job-vacancie...
📆 Start Date: Jan. 2027 or by arrangement
⏳ Apply by 30 Sept 2026: jobs.unibe.ch/job-vacancie...
July 16, 2026 at 2:55 PM
📢 Join my group at the @unibe.ch as a PhD student in #planetSci. Work on how impacts and sublimation shape comets and other icy bodies using experiments and numerical modelling.
📆 Start Date: Jan. 2027 or by arrangement
⏳ Apply by 30 Sept 2026: jobs.unibe.ch/job-vacancie...
📆 Start Date: Jan. 2027 or by arrangement
⏳ Apply by 30 Sept 2026: jobs.unibe.ch/job-vacancie...
On my way back from #ACM2026 in Poznań, Poland. Was great to see many great colleagues again and the wonderful work they are doing. The next Asteroids Comets Meteors will be in June 2029 in Macau!
So exited already for #ACM2029 where we‘ll hear about the results from…
#planetSci
So exited already for #ACM2029 where we‘ll hear about the results from…
#planetSci
July 10, 2026 at 3:27 PM
On my way back from #ACM2026 in Poznań, Poland. Was great to see many great colleagues again and the wonderful work they are doing. The next Asteroids Comets Meteors will be in June 2029 in Macau!
So exited already for #ACM2029 where we‘ll hear about the results from…
#planetSci
So exited already for #ACM2029 where we‘ll hear about the results from…
#planetSci
I love the tradition at #ACM of naming asteroids to honour members of our community for their contributions to the field. Congratulations to many of my friends and colleagues! The full list is here: www.wgsbn-iau.org/files/Bullet...
July 10, 2026 at 9:58 AM
I love the tradition at #ACM of naming asteroids to honour members of our community for their contributions to the field. Congratulations to many of my friends and colleagues! The full list is here: www.wgsbn-iau.org/files/Bullet...
Reposted by Dr. Raphael Marschall
Michael Küppers - Comet Interceptor is late 2028/early 2029 - on track for a December 2028 launch date. This updated launch date means that Comet Interceptor's tanks can be filled up as ARIEL (which it was supposed to hitch a ride to L2 is further delayed) #ACM2026
July 6, 2026 at 10:38 AM
Michael Küppers - Comet Interceptor is late 2028/early 2029 - on track for a December 2028 launch date. This updated launch date means that Comet Interceptor's tanks can be filled up as ARIEL (which it was supposed to hitch a ride to L2 is further delayed) #ACM2026
Reposted by Dr. Raphael Marschall
I’ve been exploring gravitational reaccumulation after asteroid catastrophic disruptions and am finding contact binaries are super common outcomes! I can’t help but notice how similar Torifune looks compared to this fragment from one of my simulations, which I will present tomorrow at #ACM2026
July 6, 2026 at 8:21 AM
I’ve been exploring gravitational reaccumulation after asteroid catastrophic disruptions and am finding contact binaries are super common outcomes! I can’t help but notice how similar Torifune looks compared to this fragment from one of my simulations, which I will present tomorrow at #ACM2026
Reposted by Dr. Raphael Marschall
Great week-end for small bodies !
Hayabusa 2# flyby of asteroid Torifune (www.jaxa.jp/press/2026/0...) and Tianwen-2 images of asteroid Kamo'oalewa (www.xinhuanet.com/20260706/eb8...) !
#PlanetaryScience
Hayabusa 2# flyby of asteroid Torifune (www.jaxa.jp/press/2026/0...) and Tianwen-2 images of asteroid Kamo'oalewa (www.xinhuanet.com/20260706/eb8...) !
#PlanetaryScience
July 6, 2026 at 7:51 AM
Great week-end for small bodies !
Hayabusa 2# flyby of asteroid Torifune (www.jaxa.jp/press/2026/0...) and Tianwen-2 images of asteroid Kamo'oalewa (www.xinhuanet.com/20260706/eb8...) !
#PlanetaryScience
Hayabusa 2# flyby of asteroid Torifune (www.jaxa.jp/press/2026/0...) and Tianwen-2 images of asteroid Kamo'oalewa (www.xinhuanet.com/20260706/eb8...) !
#PlanetaryScience
Reposted by Dr. Raphael Marschall
It's a day of fab asteroid news! 🤩 Image drop from yesterday's Japanese Space Agency JAXA high-speed close flyby of asteroid #Torifune (~450m across). This is the extension mission of #Hayabusa2, after its successful 2020 asteroid-sample collection from Ryugu. Next stop: another asteroid in 2031 🤩🔭🧪
July 6, 2026 at 8:35 AM
It's a day of fab asteroid news! 🤩 Image drop from yesterday's Japanese Space Agency JAXA high-speed close flyby of asteroid #Torifune (~450m across). This is the extension mission of #Hayabusa2, after its successful 2020 asteroid-sample collection from Ryugu. Next stop: another asteroid in 2031 🤩🔭🧪
Reposted by Dr. Raphael Marschall
🛰️ On a même un premier film du passage d'Hayabusa-2 au plus près de l'astéroïde 😲 La sonde est passée à un peu moins d'1km, avec une vitesse relative de 5,3km/s !
📸 JAXA
📸 JAXA
July 6, 2026 at 8:35 AM
🛰️ On a même un premier film du passage d'Hayabusa-2 au plus près de l'astéroïde 😲 La sonde est passée à un peu moins d'1km, avec une vitesse relative de 5,3km/s !
📸 JAXA
📸 JAXA
Für alle im Raum Bern, welche morgen Freitag, 8. Mai um 16:30 noch nichts los haben, gebe ich an der @unibe.ch einen öffentlichen Vortrag über "die Lucy-Mission zu den Jupiter-Trojanern und was sie uns über die Entstehung des Sonnensystems sagen wird".
Details: www.physik.unibe.ch/ueber_uns/ak...
Details: www.physik.unibe.ch/ueber_uns/ak...
May 7, 2026 at 12:37 PM
Für alle im Raum Bern, welche morgen Freitag, 8. Mai um 16:30 noch nichts los haben, gebe ich an der @unibe.ch einen öffentlichen Vortrag über "die Lucy-Mission zu den Jupiter-Trojanern und was sie uns über die Entstehung des Sonnensystems sagen wird".
Details: www.physik.unibe.ch/ueber_uns/ak...
Details: www.physik.unibe.ch/ueber_uns/ak...
A me-occultation 🤪
Positive stellar occultation by @spacemarschall.net asteroid (33937) Raphaelmarschall captured just yesterday morning!
March 30, 2026 at 8:05 PM
A me-occultation 🤪
Reposted by Dr. Raphael Marschall
40 years ago, the Giotto mission was writing history:
🛰️ ESA's first deep space mission
☄️ first cometary close flyby
⏰ and later on, first reactivation of a spacecraft
The success of Giotto inspired our Rosetta mission and together laid the foundation for our Comet Interceptor mission. 🔭 🧪 1/3
🛰️ ESA's first deep space mission
☄️ first cometary close flyby
⏰ and later on, first reactivation of a spacecraft
The success of Giotto inspired our Rosetta mission and together laid the foundation for our Comet Interceptor mission. 🔭 🧪 1/3
March 14, 2026 at 1:30 PM
40 years ago, the Giotto mission was writing history:
🛰️ ESA's first deep space mission
☄️ first cometary close flyby
⏰ and later on, first reactivation of a spacecraft
The success of Giotto inspired our Rosetta mission and together laid the foundation for our Comet Interceptor mission. 🔭 🧪 1/3
🛰️ ESA's first deep space mission
☄️ first cometary close flyby
⏰ and later on, first reactivation of a spacecraft
The success of Giotto inspired our Rosetta mission and together laid the foundation for our Comet Interceptor mission. 🔭 🧪 1/3
Reposted by Dr. Raphael Marschall
Any Sydney-based astronomers here? A team at Andalucia is coordinating an occultation campaign for one of Jupiter's small (2-5km) irregular moons, #Kallichore (a candidate for an #ESAJuice flyby) that'll be passing in front of a star at ~12:20UT on March 18th.
opop.obspm.fr/media/data/c...
opop.obspm.fr/media/data/c...
March 12, 2026 at 8:43 PM
Any Sydney-based astronomers here? A team at Andalucia is coordinating an occultation campaign for one of Jupiter's small (2-5km) irregular moons, #Kallichore (a candidate for an #ESAJuice flyby) that'll be passing in front of a star at ~12:20UT on March 18th.
opop.obspm.fr/media/data/c...
opop.obspm.fr/media/data/c...