In astronomy, there is a concept called "degeneracy." It has nothing to do with delinquent people, but instead is used to describe data that could be interpreted multiple ways. In some cases, that interpretation is translated into exciting new possibilities. But many times, when that happens, other, more mundane explanations are ignored for the publicity that the more interesting possibilities provide.

When we gaze up at the night sky, we assume that what we're seeing is a representative population of similar stars at similar distances. But it's not. The stars we see are a mixture of massive and small, distant and near. In fact, we can't even see our closest neighbour, Proxima Centauri. We see these stars because they have large observational signals, and that illustrates one of the problems in astronomy.

* * * December isn’t just the season of gift-giving, cozy nights, and twinkling lights—it’s also **Read a New Book Month** , an ideal time for authors to put their work in front of readers who are actively seeking something fresh to dive into. With holiday shopping at its peak and readers craving new stories to enjoy during winter downtime, December offers a unique promotional window that indie and traditionally published authors alike can leverage. Here’s how you can make the most of it. **1. Announce Your “New Book” Campaign Early** Start December strong by letting your audience know that it’s officially Read a New Book Month—and your book is the perfect choice. Create a kickoff post that highlights: * Your book’s genre * Who it’s perfect for * What makes it a great seasonal read * Why it’s ideal as a gift or personal pick Use festive imagery and a clear call to action. Readers love joining a designated celebration month, especially one as inviting as this. **2. Offer a Limited-Time Holiday Discount** December is a prime month for seasonal promotions. You can: * Offer a short-term price drop * Share a digital coupon code * Bundle your book with a freebie (bookmark, signed bookplate, download) * Run a “buy one, gift one” event A small discount during a high-shopping month can lead to a noticeable bump in sales—and gives new readers a nudge to take a chance on your book. **3. Host a “Read a New Book Month” Giveaway** Giveaways draw engagement and help you reach new readers. Ideas include: * Signed paperback * eBook bundle * A holiday-themed prize related to your book * A “reader’s night in” set (tea, cocoa, candle + your book) Make entry simple: Like, share, follow, tag a friend. The more interactions, the greater your visibility. **4. Share Reading Themes and Tie-Ins** Help readers see how your book fits into their December mood. You might highlight: * Wintery settings * Holiday themes * Cozy reading vibes * Inspirational journeys * Feel-good moments * Thrills perfect for a winter night Even if your book isn’t holiday-themed, there’s always a creative angle that helps readers imagine enjoying it in December. **5. Encourage Book Clubs to Choose Your Book** Many book clubs pick their January read in December. Position your book as a great discussion option for groups: * Share a book club discussion guide * Offer to attend a virtual meeting * Promote your availability for author Q&As Authors who reach out now often get chosen for early-year reading lists. **6. Create Festive, Shareable Social Media Content** December is highly visual. Post: * Cozy reading shots * Holiday décor + your book * Quotes from your story * Short video teasers * “Where to start reading” guides * Reading challenges Encourage readers to share photos of themselves with your book using a unique hashtag. **7. Partner With Local Businesses** Independent shops love highlighting local authors during the holidays. Reach out to: * Gift stores * Coffee shops * Bookstores * Craft fairs * Holiday markets * Community centers Offer signed copies for display, drop off bookmarks or postcards, or run a mini in-store giveaway. **8. Send a Year-End Email to Your Newsletter** Readers expect reflective, warm messages this time of year. Use your December email to: * Thank your readers * Highlight your book’s accomplishments * Remind them it’s Read a New Book Month * Offer a holiday special * Share a sneak peek of what’s coming in the new year Direct, personal communication strengthens reader loyalty. **9. Encourage Gift Purchases** Books make excellent gifts—affordable, meaningful, and easy to ship. Promote: * Signed copies * Personalized inscriptions * Gift bundles * “Perfect for readers who love…” lists Help buyers match your book with the right recipient. **10. Join Seasonal Hashtags and Challenges** Boost visibility by joining December’s reading trends: * #ReadANewBookMonth * #HolidayReads * #DecemberReads * #IndieAuthor * #Bookstagram * #CozyReading Readers actively search these tags for new books to try—make sure yours appears right where they’re looking. **Turn December into a Book Marketing Opportunity** Read a New Book Month gives you an organic, seasonal reason to talk about your book during the busiest shopping month of the year. By combining festive visuals, community engagement, local opportunities, and strategic promotions, you can boost visibility and connect with readers who are ready to discover something new. **Start your publishing journey today and save. Your future readers are waiting!** **Outskirts Press** _Where gratitude meets great publishing._ Connect with a Publishing Consultant today to learn how Outskirts Press can help YOU publish YOUR masterpiece: * Call 1-888-672-6657 * Live Chat at OutskirtsPress.com * Schedule a free consultation**** **Outskirts Press** stands behind our book printing and design services with the best 100% satisfaction guarantee in the self-publishing industry. Start publishing today. * * * Click above to watch the video. New authors, click here for your free publishing kit. ### Share this: * Click to share on X (Opens in new window) X * Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook * Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window) LinkedIn * Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) Pinterest * More * * Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email * Click to print (Opens in new window) Print * ### Like this: Like Loading...

Exoplanet TOI-561 b, which orbits a star similar to the sun, may still have an atmosphere, despite orbiting extremely close to its host.

Astronomers from the University of Hawai'i (UH) at Manoa and elsewhere have observed the Taurus star-forming region, which resulted in the discovery of planetary-mass and stellar companions of two ultracool dwarf stars. The new finding was presented in a paper published December 4 on the pre-print server arXiv.

Fuzozo — a fluffy, purring AI companion that recognizes you, follows you, and feels emotionally alive — is launching at CES 2026.

arXiv:2512.07695v1 Announce Type: new Abstract: One of the forefront goals in the field of exoplanets is the detection of an atmosphere on a temperate terrestrial exoplanet, and among the best suited systems to do so is TRAPPIST-1. However, JWST transit observations of the TRAPPIST-1 planets show significant contamination from stellar surface features that we are unable to confidently model. Here, we present the motivation and first observations of our JWST multi-cycle program of TRAPPIST-1 e...

Humanity's exploration of Mars should be organized around the search for signs of past or present Red Planet life, according to a new report from the U.S. National Academies.

Of the seven Earth-sized worlds orbiting the red dwarf star TRAPPIST-1, one planet in particular has attracted the attention of scientists. This planet orbits the star within the "Goldilocks zone"—a distance where water on its surface is theoretically possible, but only if the planet has an atmosphere. And where there is water, there might be life.

Overcrowded orbits are making astronomers’ jobs harder.

Ever heard of 'space plastic?'

Using images from the James Webb Space Telescope (Webb), an international research team including Western's Stanimir Metchev has discovered new answers to explain how some brown dwarfs form giant dust storms, contradicting previous assumptions. These storms may look similar to Jupiter's iconic Great Red Spot, but the new study, led by Shanghai Jiao Tong University, shows they actually form quite differently.

Have scientists finally confirmed the existence of the first exomoon? This is what a recent study accepted for publication in Astronomy & Astrophysics hopes to address as a large international team of researchers investigated new methods for identifying an exomoon orbiting a gas giant exoplanet. This study has the potential to help scientists develop new methods for finding exomoons, the latter of which has yet to be confirmed.

How can star populations help astronomers re-evaluate the search for intelligent extraterrestrial life, also called technosignatures? This is what a study released on the preprint server arXiv, hopes to address as a team of scientists investigated the parameters of identifying locations of technosignatures, also called extraterrestrial transmitters.

A planet's habitability is determined by a confluence of many factors. So far, our explorations of potentially habitable worlds beyond our solar system have focused exclusively on their position in the "Goldilocks Zone" of their solar system, where their temperature determines whether or not liquid water can exist on their surface, and, more recently, what their atmospheres are composed of. That's in part due to the technical limitations of the instruments available to us—even the powerful James Webb Space Telescope is capable only of seeing the atmospheres of very large planets nearby.

What can star variability—changes in a star’s brightness over time—teach astronomers about exoplanet habitability? This is what a recent study accepted to The Astronomical Journal hopes to address as a team of scientists investigated the interaction between a star’s activity and exoplanetary atmospheres. This study has the potential to help astronomers better understand how star variability plays a role in finding habitable exoplanets, specifically around stars that are different from our Sun.

Seven billion year old meteorites carrying DNA building blocks. Frozen water on Mars. Amino acids floating in interstellar dust clouds. After seventy years of searching, we've found the ingredients for life scattered throughout the universe but have we found life itself? A new review examines every major claim of extraterrestrial life, from ancient space rocks to UFO sightings, revealing what the evidence actually supports and where wishful thinking has filled the gaps.