Clay weekly context brief for the Astro category (ISO week 2026-W34). Clay tracks publications from the Astro feed list. Below are recent items from this category, each with its source and a short description of what the publication covers when one is available in the source feed. Recent publications: 1. Theoretical Constraints on Neutron Star Superfluidity from Her X-1 Precession Source: astro-ph.HE (High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena) Link: https://arxiv.org/abs/2605.04686 Recent IXPE observations of Her X-1 reveal correlations between flux, polarization degree, and polarization angle with its 35-day superorbital cycle. 2. Gravitational potential drives the concentration dependence of the stellar mass-halo mass relation Source: astro-ph.GA (Astrophysics of Galaxies) Link: https://arxiv.org/abs/2511.20165 We investigate the origin of the scatter in the stellar mass-halo mass (SMHM) relation using the \colibre cosmological hydrodynamical simulations. 3. Planet-moon ejections in close stellar encounters Source: astro-ph.EP (Earth and Planetary Astrophysics) Link: https://arxiv.org/abs/2607.16402 Free-floating planet-moon pairs (FFPMs) may form when planetary systems experience close stellar encounters. 4. Nonminimally coupled quintessence with sign-switching interaction Source: astro-ph.CO (Cosmology and Nongalactic Astrophysics) Link: https://arxiv.org/abs/2604.02204 We propose a new nonminimally coupled quintessence model to account for the late-time dark energy dynamics indicated by recent Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI) measurements. 5. Laser-micromachined silicon-platelet feedhorns for large-scale submillimeter and millimeter-wave focal planes Source: astro-ph.IM (Instrumentation and Methods for Astrophysics) Link: https://arxiv.org/abs/2608.12577 We present the fabrication and characterization of the first silicon-platelet feedhorn arrays produced using laser micromachining. 6. The Wave-Regulated Precursor of a Near-Parallel Interplanetary Shock Observed by Parker Solar Probe Source: astro-ph.SR (Solar and Stellar Astrophysics) Link: https://arxiv.org/abs/2608.12606 Diffusive shock acceleration, at shocks from coronal mass ejections to supernova-remnant blast waves, presupposes a scattering wave field that the accelerated particles themselves maintain. 7. McFACTS. IV. Electromagnetic Counterparts to AGN-disk-embedded Binary Black Hole Mergers Source: astro-ph.HE (High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena) Link: https://arxiv.org/abs/2602.04135 The accretion disks of active galactic nuclei (AGNs) are promising environments for producing binary black hole (BBH) mergers, which have been detected via gravitational waves (GWs) with the LIGO-Virgo-KAGRA (LVK) GW detector network. 8. Dark Matter profiles of "in silico" galaxies: deep learning inference Source: astro-ph.GA (Astrophysics of Galaxies) Link: https://arxiv.org/abs/2510.18964 Machine learning has the potential to improve the reconstruction of the dark matter profile of galaxies with respect to traditional methods, like rotation curves. 9. MOA-2020-BLG-108Lb: A Giant Planet Beyond the Snow Line of a Low-Mass Lens Near the Lower Boundary of the Mass-Ratio Desert Source: astro-ph.EP (Earth and Planetary Astrophysics) Link: https://arxiv.org/abs/2607.12081 We present an analysis of the microlensing event MOA-2020-BLG-108, which was discovered in June 2020 by the MOA collaboration toward the Galactic bulge. 10. Sound Speed Resonance in the Gravitational Wave Background as a probe for non-standard early universe cosmologies Source: astro-ph.CO (Cosmology and Nongalactic Astrophysics) Link: https://arxiv.org/abs/2603.12580 Gravitational waves constitute a powerful probe of the underlying theory of gravity. 11. Tropospheric Ducting Prediction based on GFS Model Data at Inyarrimanha Ilgari Bundara, the CSIRO Murchison Radio-astronomy Observatory Source: astro-ph.IM (Instrumentation and Methods for Astrophysics) Link: https://arxiv.org/abs/2608.12861 Tropospheric ducting transports terrestrial RFI over hundreds of kilometres into the ARQZWA at Inyarrimanha Ilgari Bundara, the CSIRO Murchison Radio-astronomy Observatory. 12. Titanium Oxide Absorption as a Proxy to Detect Long term Variation and Activity Cycle in Proxima Centauri Source: astro-ph.SR (Solar and Stellar Astrophysics) Link: https://arxiv.org/abs/2608.12686 Stellar activity cycles on magnetically active stars can be estimated by molecular absorption bands. 13. The Production of Electron-Capture Elements in Thermonuclear Supernovae: Theory vs. Observations Source: astro-ph.HE (High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena) Link: https://arxiv.org/abs/2608.13432 Type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia) explosively destroy carbon-oxygen white dwarfs (WDs) in multiple stellar systems. 14. The origin of the galaxy size-stellar metallicity relation: A semi-analytical perspective Source: astro-ph.GA (Astrophysics of Galaxies) Link: https://arxiv.org/abs/2510.02573 Stellar metallicity encodes the integrated effects of gas inflow, star formation, and feedback-driven outflow, yet its connection to galaxy structure remains poorly understood. 15. Gas Flows and Mass Accretion Rates in Eight Dippers: HD 142666, HD 143006, HD 145718, V935 Sco, DoAr 25, EPIC 204638512, EPIC 205151387, and EPIC 203850058 Source: astro-ph.EP (Earth and Planetary Astrophysics) Link: https://arxiv.org/abs/2608.08891 One of the scenarios used to explain the dipper phenomenon in stars is having the innermost disk regions being close to the line of sight to the star - inclined greater than 60 degrees - regardless of the inclination of the outermost disk ("mis-aligned" or "broken" disks). 16. Vector Perturbations in Ghost-Free Quasidilaton Massive Gravity Source: astro-ph.CO (Cosmology and Nongalactic Astrophysics) Link: https://arxiv.org/abs/2608.13529 We study transverse vector perturbations in ghost-free extended quasidilaton massive gravity without a quasidilaton kinetic term, in the presence of minimal matter. 17. SNIFFLES I: Intended Emission, Unwanted Emission, and Unintended Radiation from Low-Earth Orbiting Satellites Impacting Radio Astronomy from 1-26 GHz Source: astro-ph.IM (Instrumentation and Methods for Astrophysics) Link: https://arxiv.org/abs/2608.12999 We present the first results of SNIFFLES, an ongoing observational programme to characterise intended emission, unwanted emission, and unintended radiation from NGSO systems across common radio astronomy receiver bands from 1-26 GHz (L, S, C, X, and K bands). 18. Photospheric Kelvin--Helmholtz Vortices as Possible Drivers of Coronal Heating: Implications of the DKIST Observations Source: astro-ph.SR (Solar and Stellar Astrophysics) Link: https://arxiv.org/abs/2608.12796 The Daniel K. 19. JWST Detects a Dusty AGB-like Source Before the Type Ia-CSM Supernova 2026sqf Source: astro-ph.HE (High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena) Link: https://arxiv.org/abs/2608.13321 Supernova (SN) 2026sqf recently appeared in the nearby face-on spiral galaxy NGC 3310 and has shown signs of strong interaction with a circumstellar medium (CSM). 20. X-ray Flaring and Variability in NGC 1275, the Heart of the Perseus Cluster Source: astro-ph.GA (Astrophysics of Galaxies) Link: https://arxiv.org/abs/2608.13281 NGC 1275 is the central galaxy in the Perseus Cluster. 21. The sensitivity of TESS to transiting planets in TOIs with close-in stellar companions Source: astro-ph.EP (Earth and Planetary Astrophysics) Link: https://arxiv.org/abs/2608.13527 High resolution imaging with optical speckle interferometry has revealed that many transiting exoplanet host stars possess close-in stellar companions. 22. Optical concept model of the future cosmology project BISOU Source: astro-ph.CO (Cosmology and Nongalactic Astrophysics) Link: https://arxiv.org/abs/2608.13257 We present an optical analysis of BISOU (Balloon Interferometer for Spectral Observations of the primordial Universe), an astronomical balloon-borne pathfinder spectrometer developed as part of a preparatory study for a future space mission aiming at measuring spectral distortions of the cosmic microwave background (CMB). 23. JWST MIRI Medium Resolution Spectrometer Point Fixed Pattern Corrections: Cleaner and Higher Signal-to-Noise Spectra of Point Sources Source: astro-ph.IM (Instrumentation and Methods for Astrophysics) Link: https://arxiv.org/abs/2608.13464 The JWST Mid-Infrared Instrument Medium Resolution Spectrometer provides the capability to obtain spectra from 5-28 micron. 24. Elemental Composition Evolution during the 2024 September 30 Solar Eruption: A Comparison of Hot and Cool Plasma Components with Solar Orbiter/SPICE, Source: astro-ph.SR (Solar and Stellar Astrophysics) Link: https://arxiv.org/abs/2608.12881 Solar plasma composition differs between the photosphere and corona over a range of timescales, with preferential enhancement of elements with low first ionization potential (FIP). 25. Massive cold hybrid stars in a modified Polyakov-Nambu-Jona-Lasinio model Source: astro-ph.HE (High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena) Link: https://arxiv.org/abs/2608.12653 We propose a modified Polyakov-loop Nambu--Jona-Lasinio (mPNJL) model in which the Polyakov potential is given by an explicit dependence on the quark chemical potential, allowing it to remain finite at zero temperature and thus to describe the confinement-deconfinement transition in cold dense matter. 26. The low luminosity end of Galactic HMXBs with eROSITA: Establishing a luminosity floor for accreting BeXRBs Source: astro-ph.GA (Astrophysics of Galaxies) Link: https://arxiv.org/abs/2608.13259 We present a first look at the Galactic population of heretofore known HMXBs as observed by SRG/eROSITA during its first four surveys. 27. No Helium Detected in LHS 1140 b from Four JWST NIRISS/SOSS Transits Source: astro-ph.EP (Earth and Planetary Astrophysics) Link: https://arxiv.org/abs/2608.13473 In the effort to determine which low-mass exoplanets have atmospheres, LHS 1140 b remains one of the most favorable targets. 28. Optical development of the BISOU breadboard Source: astro-ph.CO (Cosmology and Nongalactic Astrophysics) Link: https://arxiv.org/abs/2608.13225 BISOU (Balloon Interferometer for Spectral Observations of the primordial Universe) is an astronomical balloon-borne pathfinder developed as part of a preparatory study for a future space mission aimed at measuring spectral distortions of the cosmic microwave background (CMB). 29. Numerical Model Simulation of the Carruthers GCI Images Source: astro-ph.IM (Instrumentation and Methods for Astrophysics) Link: https://arxiv.org/abs/2608.13516 The Carruthers Geocorona Observatory, launched in September 2025, is NASA's first mission devoted to investigating the fundamental nature of Earth's exosphere from its distant vantage in halo orbit around the Earth-Sun Lagrange (L1) point. 30. TIC 433545934: The first 2+2 type doubly eclipsing binary with extra, mutual eclipses Source: astro-ph.SR (Solar and Stellar Astrophysics) Link: https://arxiv.org/abs/2608.13034 In this work we identify and photodynamically analyze TIC 433545934, the very first doubly eclipsing 2+2-type quadruple stellar system, which shows outer eclipses, too. Sources in this brief: astro-ph.CO (Cosmology and Nongalactic Astrophysics); astro-ph.EP (Earth and Planetary Astrophysics); astro-ph.GA (Astrophysics of Galaxies); astro-ph.HE (High Energy Astrophysical Phenomena); astro-ph.IM (Instrumentation and Methods for Astrophysics); astro-ph.SR (Solar and Stellar Astrophysics). Selected 30 of 333 available items for this weekly brief.