#Tag · BT Free Social

Jo - pièce de résistance and 5 others boosted

Just got notified from the American Astronomical Society that their survey on anticipated impacts of Reflect Orbital (whose business model is "we will beam sunlight down to Earth at night because woo space”; never mind the titanic impacts on circadian rhythms of every living thing on the planet) has really gained traction.

DarkSky International has an open letter you can sign, and we expect a public comment period from the FCC on this in the next few weeks. Hit up public.policy@aas.org if you have questions. #space #astronomy

(and shout out @sundogplanets for raising the profile of this issue before I heard about it anywhere else)

https://darksky.org/news/organizational-statement-reflect-orbital/

DarkSky International

DarkSky International opposes Reflect Orbital’s proposed orbital illumination system

DarkSky International recently released an organizational statement in response to Reflect Orbital’s proposal to use in-space mirrors to reflect sunlight to…

Melancholic Mediocrity :v_bi: boosted

glasspshr

@glasspusher@beige.party · 11 hours ago

maybe cool comet coming maybe

"Comets are like cats- they both have tails and do as they piease"

#comet #astronomy

https://skyandtelescope.org/astronomy-news/new-kreutz-comet-c-2026-a1-may-dazzle/

Sky & Telescope

New Kreutz Comet C/2026 A1 May Dazzle

A distant Kreutz comet heading our way may grow a glorious tail in April.

glasspshr

@glasspusher@beige.party · 11 hours ago

maybe cool comet coming maybe

"Comets are like cats- they both have tails and do as they piease"

#comet #astronomy

https://skyandtelescope.org/astronomy-news/new-kreutz-comet-c-2026-a1-may-dazzle/

Sky & Telescope

New Kreutz Comet C/2026 A1 May Dazzle

A distant Kreutz comet heading our way may grow a glorious tail in April.

Peter Schuh boosted

ESO

@esoastronomy@mastodon.social · 19 hours ago

1/ Dorothee Bär, German Federal Minister of Research, Technology and Space, has visited our Paranal Observatory.

The Minister was joined by Markus Blume, Bavarian State Minister for Science and the Arts, Thomas Reiter, Director General ‘Space and Security’, Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space of Germany, and several high-profile German dignitaries.

#astronomy #space #science #germany

A group of people pose in front of several large telescope domes under a clear blue sky.

www.eso.org

German Federal Minister of Research, Technology and Space, German dignitaries visit ESO’s Paranal Observatory

Eowyn boosted

Daniel Pomarède

@pomarede@mastodon.social · 2 days ago

NOIRLab image of the week

Kīlauea Eruption Captured by Gemini North CloudCam

Credit: International Gemini Observatory/NOIRLab/NSF/AURA/J. Pollard

https://noirlab.edu/public/images/iotw2605a/

#NOIRLab #Gemini #Kilauea #volcano #volcanology #astronomy #astrodon #science #Hawaii #BigIsland #Maunakea

The eruption of Kīlauea on 24 January 2026 was captured here by one of the Cloudcams of Gemini North, one half of the International Gemini Observatory, in Hawai‘i. The International Gemini Observatory is funded in part by the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) and operated by NSF NOIRLab.

This was the 41st episodic eruption of Kīlauea since December 2024. The top image captures a gray plume (center) around 11:30 a.m., about 20 minutes after the first eruption, on the morning of 24 January 2026. The middle image captures the residual heat two hours after the eruption ended, and the bottom image captures the subsequent plume two hours later, with the emergence of the clear night sky. Fine ash, tephra, and Pele’s hair from this particular episode landed as far away as Hilo on the eastern side of the island.

Kīlauea is one of five shield volcanoes that constitute the island of Hawai‘i. Gemini North is located on the summit of Maunakea, the tallest point in Hawai‘i, about 27 miles (50 kilometers) northwest of Kīlauea. Staff at the International Gemini Observatory and other Maunakea Observatories have plans in place to respond to these eruptions and minimize their effects on telescopes. This eruption posed no threat to the Maunakea observatories. — The eruption of Kīlauea on 24 January 2026 was captured here by one of the Cloudcams of Gemini North, one half of the International Gemini Observatory, in Hawai‘i. The International Gemini Observatory is funded in part by the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) and operated by NSF NOIRLab. This was the 41st episodic eruption of Kīlauea since December 2024. The top image captures a gray plume (center) around 11:30 a.m., about 20 minutes after the first eruption, on the morning of 24 January 2026. The middle image captures the residual heat two hours after the eruption ended, and the bottom image captures the subsequent plume two hours later, with the emergence of the clear night sky. Fine ash, tephra, and Pele’s hair from this particular episode landed as far away as Hilo on the eastern side of the island. Kīlauea is one of five shield volcanoes that constitute the island of Hawai‘i. Gemini North is located on the summit of Maunakea, the tallest point in Hawai‘i, about 27 miles (50 kilometers) northwest of Kīlauea. Staff at the International Gemini Observatory and other Maunakea Observatories have plans in place to respond to these eruptions and minimize their effects on telescopes. This eruption posed no threat to the Maunakea observatories.

www.noirlab.edu

Kīlauea Eruption Captured by Gemini North CloudCam

ESO

@esoastronomy@mastodon.social · 19 hours ago

1/ Dorothee Bär, German Federal Minister of Research, Technology and Space, has visited our Paranal Observatory.

#astronomy #space #science #germany

www.eso.org

German Federal Minister of Research, Technology and Space, German dignitaries visit ESO’s Paranal Observatory

Social Media Channel boosted

Danish Akhtar

@danish_akhtar7@mastodon.social · 6 months ago

An Impossible Thought Experiment:

"Design a spaceship that carries Humans to a Neutron Star. Land on its surface safely. Drill through it to reach its core and come back safely to Earth. This is a reply to those people who literally say "Nothing is Impossible". Even a Type-VII Alien Civilization can never do it".

#Mastodon #science #knowledge #physics #cosmos #space #astronomy #scicomm #writing #NeutronStar #star #thoughtExperiment #imagination #opinion #quote #insights #fediverse #astronomy