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Phil Plait

@philplait.bsky.social

79K followers 310 following 15K posts

Bad Astronomer (formerly @BadAstronomer), SciCommer, Dork. Crash Course Astronomy guy. He/him. Newsletter: badastronomy.beehiiv.com I'm self-employed so my opinions do in fact represent my company's.

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Phil Plait @philplait.bsky.social · Oct 10

Pinned post:

Wanna know where all my stuff is? about.me/philplait

My book Under Alien Skies: underalienskies.com

My newsletter (Monday issues are free!): badastronomy.beehiiv.com

My fave post here on BlueSky: bsky.app/profile/phil...

Phil Plait @philplait.bsky.social · 4h

As I wrote in the linked newsletter article, I took paxlovid.

Reposted by Phil Plait

The Australian Institute of Physics @aip.org.au · 6h

JOB: Radio Astronomy Spectrum Manager, CSIRO. Expertise in radio astronomy, radiocomms system design or radio frequency interference management? Develop software and build on research to influence how telescopes and satellites coexist.

$114-123k + 15.4% super
Apply by 31 Oct: www.aip.org.au/Jobs

Phil Plait @philplait.bsky.social · 8h

West Wing deep cut?

Phil Plait @philplait.bsky.social · 9h

Ed's a solid guy and a good speaker. I wish I could go!

Asteroid Institute, a program of B612 @b612-asteroid.bsky.social · 10h

Former NASA astronaut Dr. Ed Lu joins Astronomy on Tap Seattle at 7 PM, Oct 22 at Stoup Brewing - Capitol Hill! Free talk + Q&A + live demo of the ADAM Online Platform. ☄️ #AsteroidInstitute #asteroids RSVP here: bit.ly/493bi0w

Reposted by Phil Plait

Chris Lintott @chrislintott.bsky.social · 22h

Cosmologists! We have a faculty job going here in Oxford - happy to answer questions. Brief version is that this remains a great & collaborative place to do science and the students are superb. 🔭 www.jobs.ac.uk/job/DOP628/a...

Associate Professor of Cosmology at University of Oxford

Recruiting now: Associate Professor of Cosmology on jobs.ac.uk. Click for details and explore more academic job opportunities on the top job board

Phil Plait @philplait.bsky.social · 15h

Yeah, I'm ok. Still feeling a little icky but no biggie now.

Phil Plait @philplait.bsky.social · 16h

I found it unpleasant (metallic) but easily covered by eating chocolate.

Phil Plait @philplait.bsky.social · 16h

Nah. Weird throat pressure and a very low level persistent headache. Irritating but easily manageable.

Phil Plait @philplait.bsky.social · 16h

People feeding me grapes while I'm fanned with palm leaves is pretty easy

Phil Plait @philplait.bsky.social · 16h

Yikes. I think that makes three people impersonally know to have it (incl one extremely severe case). I'm sorry to hear that!

Phil Plait @philplait.bsky.social · 16h

Happy anniversary!

Phil Plait @philplait.bsky.social · 16h

We had a chance to stop this thing cold. But "personal freedoms"!

Phil Plait @philplait.bsky.social · 16h

I was thinking more along the lines of prescient hedonism, but I'm happy either way

Phil Plait @philplait.bsky.social · 16h

Thanks! Just mild symptoms now, hardly noticeable.

Phil Plait @philplait.bsky.social · 16h

Thanks. I'm doing fine, and plan on taking it easy for a few more days. My natural laziness comes in handy.

Phil Plait @philplait.bsky.social · 16h

In fact I spent this morning writitng something about it for Thursday's newsletter! But if you look for legit sources like NASA and ESA you'll find lots of info. Like this:

www.esa.int/Science_Expl...

Phil Plait @philplait.bsky.social · 16h

Yeah, already on that. I took a walk yesterday and was more tired than usual after, so I'm taking it easy for a few more days.

Phil Plait @philplait.bsky.social · 17h

Welp. I did it. I finally got COVID.

I'm fine now, but I do sincerely wish every ivermectin-chugging MAGA ass and every antivax RFK-supporting jerk of whatever political persuasion a very merry up yours.

badastronomy.beehiiv.com/p/i-got-covi...

🧪🔭

A COVID test kit showing a positive result for the virus.

Phil Plait @philplait.bsky.social · 17h

Thanks!

Phil Plait @philplait.bsky.social · 1d

Holy crap. This is terrible.

The article states it's "not related to the current U.S. government shutdown". But of course it is: they are both connected by the GOP destroying everything good about this country from the top down and the bottom up.

Reuters @reuters.com · 1d

NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory to lay off about 550 workers reut.rs/4302N2L

NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory to lay off about 550 workers

NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory said on Monday it will cut nearly 550 jobs as part of a restructuring, not related to the current U.S. government shutdown.

Phil Plait @philplait.bsky.social · 1d

Holy crap. The irony.

Phil Plait @philplait.bsky.social · 1d

I have been thinking about this a LOT lately, and have many things to say about it. Maybe I'll write a complete essay. But for now, this video is well, well worth your time.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=M1Qv...

How I View the US After 13 Years Living in Europe

YouTube video by Evan Edinger

www.youtube.com

Phil Plait @philplait.bsky.social · 1d

🥰

Phil Plait @philplait.bsky.social · 1d

That seriously means a lot to me. Thanks!

Phil Plait @philplait.bsky.social · 1d

Mel Brooks is Italian?