Colin Stuart 🔭
@colinstuartspace.bsky.social
Stories, sights & secrets of space
Astronomy writer, author & speaker
Asteroid (15347) Colinstuart
More space stories like these (free):
astroclub.colinstuart.net
Astronomy writer, author & speaker
Asteroid (15347) Colinstuart
More space stories like these (free):
astroclub.colinstuart.net
Pinned
In 1973, NASA launched spiders into space.
One of them was called Anita.
This is her story.
🧵 (1/8)
Image: Smithsonian Air & Space Museum
#astronomy #history
One of them was called Anita.
This is her story.
🧵 (1/8)
Image: Smithsonian Air & Space Museum
#astronomy #history
The longest traditional star name is the fabulous Shurnarkabtishashutu.
It’s in the constellation Taurus and means “under the southern horn of the bull" in Babylonian.
Although my favourite star name is Zubenelgenubi in Libra - it’s just so much fun to say!
#astronomy
It’s in the constellation Taurus and means “under the southern horn of the bull" in Babylonian.
Although my favourite star name is Zubenelgenubi in Libra - it’s just so much fun to say!
#astronomy
February 15, 2026 at 7:54 PM
The longest traditional star name is the fabulous Shurnarkabtishashutu.
It’s in the constellation Taurus and means “under the southern horn of the bull" in Babylonian.
Although my favourite star name is Zubenelgenubi in Libra - it’s just so much fun to say!
#astronomy
It’s in the constellation Taurus and means “under the southern horn of the bull" in Babylonian.
Although my favourite star name is Zubenelgenubi in Libra - it’s just so much fun to say!
#astronomy
A partial solar eclipse quickly followed by a solar flare.
A typical solar flare releases the equivalent of 100 megatons of TNT in energy.
That’s 10 million times more than a large volcanic eruption on Earth.
#astronomy
Image: Patrick McCauley/From Quarks to Quasars/SDO
A typical solar flare releases the equivalent of 100 megatons of TNT in energy.
That’s 10 million times more than a large volcanic eruption on Earth.
#astronomy
Image: Patrick McCauley/From Quarks to Quasars/SDO
February 15, 2026 at 10:16 AM
A partial solar eclipse quickly followed by a solar flare.
A typical solar flare releases the equivalent of 100 megatons of TNT in energy.
That’s 10 million times more than a large volcanic eruption on Earth.
#astronomy
Image: Patrick McCauley/From Quarks to Quasars/SDO
A typical solar flare releases the equivalent of 100 megatons of TNT in energy.
That’s 10 million times more than a large volcanic eruption on Earth.
#astronomy
Image: Patrick McCauley/From Quarks to Quasars/SDO
This is the first ever photograph of a star*.
It shows Vega and it was taken in 1850 by James Adams Whipple and William Bond using the 15-inch refractor at Harvard College Observatory
🧵 (1/4)
*other than the Sun
#astronomy #history
It shows Vega and it was taken in 1850 by James Adams Whipple and William Bond using the 15-inch refractor at Harvard College Observatory
🧵 (1/4)
*other than the Sun
#astronomy #history
February 14, 2026 at 6:59 PM
This is the first ever photograph of a star*.
It shows Vega and it was taken in 1850 by James Adams Whipple and William Bond using the 15-inch refractor at Harvard College Observatory
🧵 (1/4)
*other than the Sun
#astronomy #history
It shows Vega and it was taken in 1850 by James Adams Whipple and William Bond using the 15-inch refractor at Harvard College Observatory
🧵 (1/4)
*other than the Sun
#astronomy #history
The Olympus Mons volcano on Mars is almost as big as France.
So, despite its height, it’s not massively steep. The average incline is just 5 degrees.
In fact, it’s so sprawling - and Mars relatively small - that the peak is over your horizon when standing at the bottom.
#astronomy
Image: Sémhur
So, despite its height, it’s not massively steep. The average incline is just 5 degrees.
In fact, it’s so sprawling - and Mars relatively small - that the peak is over your horizon when standing at the bottom.
#astronomy
Image: Sémhur
February 14, 2026 at 9:06 AM
The Olympus Mons volcano on Mars is almost as big as France.
So, despite its height, it’s not massively steep. The average incline is just 5 degrees.
In fact, it’s so sprawling - and Mars relatively small - that the peak is over your horizon when standing at the bottom.
#astronomy
Image: Sémhur
So, despite its height, it’s not massively steep. The average incline is just 5 degrees.
In fact, it’s so sprawling - and Mars relatively small - that the peak is over your horizon when standing at the bottom.
#astronomy
Image: Sémhur
Sunlight glinting off a lake of liquid methane on Saturn’s largest moon, Titan.
It may not be the sharpest image, but it’s still one of my favourite ever solar system shots.
🧵 (1/2)
Image: NASA/JPL/University of Arizona/DLR
#astronomy
It may not be the sharpest image, but it’s still one of my favourite ever solar system shots.
🧵 (1/2)
Image: NASA/JPL/University of Arizona/DLR
#astronomy
February 13, 2026 at 7:57 PM
Sunlight glinting off a lake of liquid methane on Saturn’s largest moon, Titan.
It may not be the sharpest image, but it’s still one of my favourite ever solar system shots.
🧵 (1/2)
Image: NASA/JPL/University of Arizona/DLR
#astronomy
It may not be the sharpest image, but it’s still one of my favourite ever solar system shots.
🧵 (1/2)
Image: NASA/JPL/University of Arizona/DLR
#astronomy
Just setting up for a morning of school talks on time travel.
Backwards, forwards and paradoxes galore.
#scicomm #astronomy
Backwards, forwards and paradoxes galore.
#scicomm #astronomy
February 13, 2026 at 8:36 AM
Just setting up for a morning of school talks on time travel.
Backwards, forwards and paradoxes galore.
#scicomm #astronomy
Backwards, forwards and paradoxes galore.
#scicomm #astronomy
Reposted by Colin Stuart 🔭
Jupiter is smaller and more squashed than we thought, says NASA. The Juno spacecraft reveals the gas giant isn't as big as we thought. #Space #Astronomy #Jupiter www.skyatnightmagazine.com/news/jupiter...
Jupiter is smaller and more squashed than we thought, says NASA | BBC Sky at Night Magazine
Data captured during 13 of the Juno spacecraft's flybys of Jupiter reveal the gas giant is narrower at the equator and flatter at the poles.
www.skyatnightmagazine.com
February 12, 2026 at 10:15 PM
Jupiter is smaller and more squashed than we thought, says NASA. The Juno spacecraft reveals the gas giant isn't as big as we thought. #Space #Astronomy #Jupiter www.skyatnightmagazine.com/news/jupiter...
This is Dickinson crater on Venus, named after the poet Emily Dickinson.
There are only three features on Venus not named after women.
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#astronomy
Image: Magellan Team / NASA
There are only three features on Venus not named after women.
🧵(1/4)
#astronomy
Image: Magellan Team / NASA
February 12, 2026 at 11:21 AM
This is Dickinson crater on Venus, named after the poet Emily Dickinson.
There are only three features on Venus not named after women.
🧵(1/4)
#astronomy
Image: Magellan Team / NASA
There are only three features on Venus not named after women.
🧵(1/4)
#astronomy
Image: Magellan Team / NASA
A magnetar halfway to the Moon would wipe every credit card on Earth.
That’s how strong its magnetic field is.
Get within 1000km and it would rip your very atoms apart.
#astronomy
Image: NASA's GSFC Conceptual Image Lab
That’s how strong its magnetic field is.
Get within 1000km and it would rip your very atoms apart.
#astronomy
Image: NASA's GSFC Conceptual Image Lab
February 11, 2026 at 1:41 PM
A magnetar halfway to the Moon would wipe every credit card on Earth.
That’s how strong its magnetic field is.
Get within 1000km and it would rip your very atoms apart.
#astronomy
Image: NASA's GSFC Conceptual Image Lab
That’s how strong its magnetic field is.
Get within 1000km and it would rip your very atoms apart.
#astronomy
Image: NASA's GSFC Conceptual Image Lab
This star has spiral arms like a galaxy.
SAO 206462 is super-young at just 9 million years old.
Astronomers think that the two distinct spiral arms in the surrounding disc are caused by one of more proto planets, each more than 10 times the mass of Jupiter.
#astronomy
Image: NAOJ/Subaru
SAO 206462 is super-young at just 9 million years old.
Astronomers think that the two distinct spiral arms in the surrounding disc are caused by one of more proto planets, each more than 10 times the mass of Jupiter.
#astronomy
Image: NAOJ/Subaru
February 10, 2026 at 8:25 PM
This star has spiral arms like a galaxy.
SAO 206462 is super-young at just 9 million years old.
Astronomers think that the two distinct spiral arms in the surrounding disc are caused by one of more proto planets, each more than 10 times the mass of Jupiter.
#astronomy
Image: NAOJ/Subaru
SAO 206462 is super-young at just 9 million years old.
Astronomers think that the two distinct spiral arms in the surrounding disc are caused by one of more proto planets, each more than 10 times the mass of Jupiter.
#astronomy
Image: NAOJ/Subaru
Mars is home to polished spheres that look like blueberries.
Just millimetres across, they are iron-rich nodules worn smooth by ancient water that flowed over Mars billions of years ago.
They were found by the Opportunity rover near Fram Crater.
#astronomy
Image: NASA/JPL-Caltech/Cornell/USGS
Just millimetres across, they are iron-rich nodules worn smooth by ancient water that flowed over Mars billions of years ago.
They were found by the Opportunity rover near Fram Crater.
#astronomy
Image: NASA/JPL-Caltech/Cornell/USGS
February 10, 2026 at 9:15 AM
Mars is home to polished spheres that look like blueberries.
Just millimetres across, they are iron-rich nodules worn smooth by ancient water that flowed over Mars billions of years ago.
They were found by the Opportunity rover near Fram Crater.
#astronomy
Image: NASA/JPL-Caltech/Cornell/USGS
Just millimetres across, they are iron-rich nodules worn smooth by ancient water that flowed over Mars billions of years ago.
They were found by the Opportunity rover near Fram Crater.
#astronomy
Image: NASA/JPL-Caltech/Cornell/USGS
An X9.3 class solar flare.
There are five categories of flare: A, B, C, M and X.
X is the most powerful, capable of causing planet-wide radio blackouts.
Image: NASA/GSFC/SDO
#astronomy
There are five categories of flare: A, B, C, M and X.
X is the most powerful, capable of causing planet-wide radio blackouts.
Image: NASA/GSFC/SDO
#astronomy
February 9, 2026 at 9:26 PM
An X9.3 class solar flare.
There are five categories of flare: A, B, C, M and X.
X is the most powerful, capable of causing planet-wide radio blackouts.
Image: NASA/GSFC/SDO
#astronomy
There are five categories of flare: A, B, C, M and X.
X is the most powerful, capable of causing planet-wide radio blackouts.
Image: NASA/GSFC/SDO
#astronomy
Some asteroids have their own mini moons.
The first to be discovered was Dactyl orbiting the main belt asteroid Ida (seen here)
#astronomy
Image: NASA/JPL
The first to be discovered was Dactyl orbiting the main belt asteroid Ida (seen here)
#astronomy
Image: NASA/JPL
February 9, 2026 at 9:33 AM
Some asteroids have their own mini moons.
The first to be discovered was Dactyl orbiting the main belt asteroid Ida (seen here)
#astronomy
Image: NASA/JPL
The first to be discovered was Dactyl orbiting the main belt asteroid Ida (seen here)
#astronomy
Image: NASA/JPL
This telescope has lobster eyes.
Astronomers copied a crustacean’s vision to survey almost the entire sky in X-rays.
All to catch black holes feeding and neutron stars colliding.
🧵 (1/4)
#astronomy
Image: China News Service/Cédric Peneau
Astronomers copied a crustacean’s vision to survey almost the entire sky in X-rays.
All to catch black holes feeding and neutron stars colliding.
🧵 (1/4)
#astronomy
Image: China News Service/Cédric Peneau
February 8, 2026 at 6:59 PM
This telescope has lobster eyes.
Astronomers copied a crustacean’s vision to survey almost the entire sky in X-rays.
All to catch black holes feeding and neutron stars colliding.
🧵 (1/4)
#astronomy
Image: China News Service/Cédric Peneau
Astronomers copied a crustacean’s vision to survey almost the entire sky in X-rays.
All to catch black holes feeding and neutron stars colliding.
🧵 (1/4)
#astronomy
Image: China News Service/Cédric Peneau
That eerie blue glow is Pluto’s atmosphere.
New Horizons was looking at the dwarf planet backlit by the Sun.
Pluto is the only object beyond Neptune with a known atmosphere.
It’s mostly nitrogen, but the pressure is just 1/100,000th of Earth’s.
#astronomy
Image: NASA/JHUAPL/SwRI
New Horizons was looking at the dwarf planet backlit by the Sun.
Pluto is the only object beyond Neptune with a known atmosphere.
It’s mostly nitrogen, but the pressure is just 1/100,000th of Earth’s.
#astronomy
Image: NASA/JHUAPL/SwRI
February 8, 2026 at 9:28 AM
That eerie blue glow is Pluto’s atmosphere.
New Horizons was looking at the dwarf planet backlit by the Sun.
Pluto is the only object beyond Neptune with a known atmosphere.
It’s mostly nitrogen, but the pressure is just 1/100,000th of Earth’s.
#astronomy
Image: NASA/JHUAPL/SwRI
New Horizons was looking at the dwarf planet backlit by the Sun.
Pluto is the only object beyond Neptune with a known atmosphere.
It’s mostly nitrogen, but the pressure is just 1/100,000th of Earth’s.
#astronomy
Image: NASA/JHUAPL/SwRI
Astronauts played a game of chess in orbit against opponents on Earth.
This is the story of bishops, rooks and rocket ships.
🧵 (1/7)
#astronomy #history
Image: Chess Museum of the Central Chess Club, Moscow
This is the story of bishops, rooks and rocket ships.
🧵 (1/7)
#astronomy #history
Image: Chess Museum of the Central Chess Club, Moscow
February 7, 2026 at 6:53 PM
Astronauts played a game of chess in orbit against opponents on Earth.
This is the story of bishops, rooks and rocket ships.
🧵 (1/7)
#astronomy #history
Image: Chess Museum of the Central Chess Club, Moscow
This is the story of bishops, rooks and rocket ships.
🧵 (1/7)
#astronomy #history
Image: Chess Museum of the Central Chess Club, Moscow
In 1882, a comet appeared as the Moon blocked out the Sun during a solar eclipse.
As the eclipse took place in Egypt, astronomers named it Tewfik after the local ruler who had offered them such gracious hospitality.
🧵(1/2)
#astronomy
As the eclipse took place in Egypt, astronomers named it Tewfik after the local ruler who had offered them such gracious hospitality.
🧵(1/2)
#astronomy
February 7, 2026 at 10:41 AM
In 1882, a comet appeared as the Moon blocked out the Sun during a solar eclipse.
As the eclipse took place in Egypt, astronomers named it Tewfik after the local ruler who had offered them such gracious hospitality.
🧵(1/2)
#astronomy
As the eclipse took place in Egypt, astronomers named it Tewfik after the local ruler who had offered them such gracious hospitality.
🧵(1/2)
#astronomy
Jupiter experienced a triple solar eclipse in 2004.
The Sun simultaneously cast the shadows of three different moons - Io, Ganymede and Callisto - onto the planet.
Two of those moons can also be seen crossing Jupiter’s face.
Image: NASA/ESA/University of Arizona/E. Karkoschka
#astronomy
The Sun simultaneously cast the shadows of three different moons - Io, Ganymede and Callisto - onto the planet.
Two of those moons can also be seen crossing Jupiter’s face.
Image: NASA/ESA/University of Arizona/E. Karkoschka
#astronomy
February 6, 2026 at 5:49 PM
Jupiter experienced a triple solar eclipse in 2004.
The Sun simultaneously cast the shadows of three different moons - Io, Ganymede and Callisto - onto the planet.
Two of those moons can also be seen crossing Jupiter’s face.
Image: NASA/ESA/University of Arizona/E. Karkoschka
#astronomy
The Sun simultaneously cast the shadows of three different moons - Io, Ganymede and Callisto - onto the planet.
Two of those moons can also be seen crossing Jupiter’s face.
Image: NASA/ESA/University of Arizona/E. Karkoschka
#astronomy
Dust storms can envelop Mars so comprehensively that only its tallest mountains peek through the gloom.
Left = May 2018
Right = July 2018
Image: NASA
#astronomy
Left = May 2018
Right = July 2018
Image: NASA
#astronomy
February 6, 2026 at 11:25 AM
Dust storms can envelop Mars so comprehensively that only its tallest mountains peek through the gloom.
Left = May 2018
Right = July 2018
Image: NASA
#astronomy
Left = May 2018
Right = July 2018
Image: NASA
#astronomy
Victorian astronomers used a dictionary to send each other secret messages about comets.
This the story of how - and why - they did it.
🧵 (1/7)
#astronomy #history
This the story of how - and why - they did it.
🧵 (1/7)
#astronomy #history
February 5, 2026 at 8:03 PM
Victorian astronomers used a dictionary to send each other secret messages about comets.
This the story of how - and why - they did it.
🧵 (1/7)
#astronomy #history
This the story of how - and why - they did it.
🧵 (1/7)
#astronomy #history
This is a baby solar system being born.
Emerging from a womb of interstellar gas, a bright new star glows at the centre.
It’s surrounded by a dusty black band called a protoplanetary disc.
Gravity can sculpt this material into orbiting worlds.
Image: NASA/ESA/L. Ricci (ESO)
#astronomy
Emerging from a womb of interstellar gas, a bright new star glows at the centre.
It’s surrounded by a dusty black band called a protoplanetary disc.
Gravity can sculpt this material into orbiting worlds.
Image: NASA/ESA/L. Ricci (ESO)
#astronomy
February 5, 2026 at 8:59 AM
This is a baby solar system being born.
Emerging from a womb of interstellar gas, a bright new star glows at the centre.
It’s surrounded by a dusty black band called a protoplanetary disc.
Gravity can sculpt this material into orbiting worlds.
Image: NASA/ESA/L. Ricci (ESO)
#astronomy
Emerging from a womb of interstellar gas, a bright new star glows at the centre.
It’s surrounded by a dusty black band called a protoplanetary disc.
Gravity can sculpt this material into orbiting worlds.
Image: NASA/ESA/L. Ricci (ESO)
#astronomy
Saturn isn’t the only planet with rings.
Here’s James Webb’s view of Uranus (13 rings) …
🧵 (1/2)
#astronomy
Image: NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI
Here’s James Webb’s view of Uranus (13 rings) …
🧵 (1/2)
#astronomy
Image: NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI
February 4, 2026 at 6:21 PM
Saturn isn’t the only planet with rings.
Here’s James Webb’s view of Uranus (13 rings) …
🧵 (1/2)
#astronomy
Image: NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI
Here’s James Webb’s view of Uranus (13 rings) …
🧵 (1/2)
#astronomy
Image: NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI
Ring galaxies are ridiculously rare.
They make up less than 0.1% of all galaxies.
And yet, look closely, there’s another ring galaxy in the background.
Image: NASA and The Hubble Heritage Team (STScI/AURA)
#astronomy
They make up less than 0.1% of all galaxies.
And yet, look closely, there’s another ring galaxy in the background.
Image: NASA and The Hubble Heritage Team (STScI/AURA)
#astronomy
February 4, 2026 at 10:06 AM
Ring galaxies are ridiculously rare.
They make up less than 0.1% of all galaxies.
And yet, look closely, there’s another ring galaxy in the background.
Image: NASA and The Hubble Heritage Team (STScI/AURA)
#astronomy
They make up less than 0.1% of all galaxies.
And yet, look closely, there’s another ring galaxy in the background.
Image: NASA and The Hubble Heritage Team (STScI/AURA)
#astronomy
That black dot crossing the Sun is Venus.
The Transit of Venus helped astronomers measure the size of the solar system.
And transits remain some of the most important observations in astronomy.
🧵 (1/4)
Image: NASA/SDO
#astronomy
The Transit of Venus helped astronomers measure the size of the solar system.
And transits remain some of the most important observations in astronomy.
🧵 (1/4)
Image: NASA/SDO
#astronomy
February 3, 2026 at 9:02 PM
That black dot crossing the Sun is Venus.
The Transit of Venus helped astronomers measure the size of the solar system.
And transits remain some of the most important observations in astronomy.
🧵 (1/4)
Image: NASA/SDO
#astronomy
The Transit of Venus helped astronomers measure the size of the solar system.
And transits remain some of the most important observations in astronomy.
🧵 (1/4)
Image: NASA/SDO
#astronomy
The seething visible surface of the Sun.
Each of these cell-like structures is about the size of Texas.
They’re granules where hot plasma rises and cooler material sinks back down.
Details as small as 30km are visible.
Credit: NSO/NSF/AURA
#astronomy
Each of these cell-like structures is about the size of Texas.
They’re granules where hot plasma rises and cooler material sinks back down.
Details as small as 30km are visible.
Credit: NSO/NSF/AURA
#astronomy
February 3, 2026 at 2:21 PM
The seething visible surface of the Sun.
Each of these cell-like structures is about the size of Texas.
They’re granules where hot plasma rises and cooler material sinks back down.
Details as small as 30km are visible.
Credit: NSO/NSF/AURA
#astronomy
Each of these cell-like structures is about the size of Texas.
They’re granules where hot plasma rises and cooler material sinks back down.
Details as small as 30km are visible.
Credit: NSO/NSF/AURA
#astronomy