Dr. Jillian Scudder
@jillianscudder.com
Astrophysicist, author (40 Ways to Know A Star, Milky Way Smells of Rum & Raspberries), artist, sewist, science communicator. English/Français/子供の日本語。Associate Professor. hEDS ♿️. She/her. 🏳️🌈. Opinions all mine.
https://www.jillianscudder.com/books
https://www.jillianscudder.com/books
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Dr. Jillian Scudder
@jillianscudder.com
· Mar 19
Hello folks in spite of The Everything™️, my next book is out in one week!! 7 days!
If you would like to have a small heavily illustrated book tell you about the stars illuminating our understanding of the cosmos, this is your book!
To preorder (US): bookshop.org/p/books/fort...
🧪🔭📚 #booksky
If you would like to have a small heavily illustrated book tell you about the stars illuminating our understanding of the cosmos, this is your book!
To preorder (US): bookshop.org/p/books/fort...
🧪🔭📚 #booksky
Very much enjoying the way this blue/red false color image of our Sun in extreme UV came out 🔭
From NASA
The Sun emitted a strong solar flare on Feb. 4, peaking at 7:13 a.m. ET. NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory captured an image of the event, which was classified as X4.2: go.nasa.gov/4keOT49
The Sun emitted a strong solar flare on Feb. 4, peaking at 7:13 a.m. ET. NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory captured an image of the event, which was classified as X4.2: go.nasa.gov/4keOT49
February 4, 2026 at 8:53 PM
Very much enjoying the way this blue/red false color image of our Sun in extreme UV came out 🔭
Oh man. I read this in French. It is an experience.
February 4, 2026 at 5:09 PM
Oh man. I read this in French. It is an experience.
Oh you know the weather forecast is bad when the pharmacy texts you a reminder to come get your meds “to avoid disruptions in your medication schedule”. 🌨️
January 24, 2026 at 12:06 AM
Oh you know the weather forecast is bad when the pharmacy texts you a reminder to come get your meds “to avoid disruptions in your medication schedule”. 🌨️
The giant 8ft not-plants in the Devonian period of Earth are apparently not fungus either! A fun thread. 🧪
Our paper on the mysterious Devonian organism Prototaxites has now finally been published! See the paper here (www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...) and our explainer thread below!
Prototaxites reconstruction by Matt Humpage
Prototaxites reconstruction by Matt Humpage
January 21, 2026 at 11:47 PM
The giant 8ft not-plants in the Devonian period of Earth are apparently not fungus either! A fun thread. 🧪
Someone once stopped by my table at a book fair and very sadly said they wished they could buy my book but they were out of cash. The way they *lit up* when I told them they could check if their local library had it (and they could request it, if not).
Libraries are great.
Libraries are great.
Someone said to me, "I'm sorry but I got your book from a library." Nobody should ever apologise for that. You read my book! That's brilliant! I grew up hanging out in libraries and the idea of a world without them fills me with dread. Without libraries, authors, like readers, will only suffer.
January 20, 2026 at 2:04 PM
Someone once stopped by my table at a book fair and very sadly said they wished they could buy my book but they were out of cash. The way they *lit up* when I told them they could check if their local library had it (and they could request it, if not).
Libraries are great.
Libraries are great.
Went outside in a severe cold weather advisory to check for the aurora and did not see the aurora but did see Orion looking stunning to the south 📷: iPhone w/quick edits for contrast. 🔭
January 20, 2026 at 4:26 AM
Went outside in a severe cold weather advisory to check for the aurora and did not see the aurora but did see Orion looking stunning to the south 📷: iPhone w/quick edits for contrast. 🔭
To check your own aurora observing odds:
Spaceweather.com has the details on aurora forecasting, and cleardarksky.com will show you cloud cover for every hour! 🔭🧪
Spaceweather.com has the details on aurora forecasting, and cleardarksky.com will show you cloud cover for every hour! 🔭🧪
SpaceWeather.com -- News and information about meteor showers, solar flares, auroras, and near-Earth asteroids
Spaceweather.com
January 19, 2026 at 11:24 PM
To check your own aurora observing odds:
Spaceweather.com has the details on aurora forecasting, and cleardarksky.com will show you cloud cover for every hour! 🔭🧪
Spaceweather.com has the details on aurora forecasting, and cleardarksky.com will show you cloud cover for every hour! 🔭🧪
Squinting at cleardarksky for the cloud cover forecast says mayyyyyybe around midnight we’ll have clear skies here to check for aurora.
However there is also this situation. (Celsius). If I turn off all my lights can I watch from inside?
However there is also this situation. (Celsius). If I turn off all my lights can I watch from inside?
January 19, 2026 at 11:21 PM
Squinting at cleardarksky for the cloud cover forecast says mayyyyyybe around midnight we’ll have clear skies here to check for aurora.
However there is also this situation. (Celsius). If I turn off all my lights can I watch from inside?
However there is also this situation. (Celsius). If I turn off all my lights can I watch from inside?
Reposted by Dr. Jillian Scudder
If you’ve got clear skies tonight keep an eye on the sky north and up once it’s dark. Looks like we might have a very aurora evening.
January 19, 2026 at 10:15 PM
If you’ve got clear skies tonight keep an eye on the sky north and up once it’s dark. Looks like we might have a very aurora evening.
I’m going to go ahead and declare that moving house might be the most hEDS-unfriendly activity.
Lift everything you own to put it in boxes? ✅
Lift it all again on the other end? ✅
Too much cleaning? ✅
Sense of urgency? ✅
An alternative exists but is a luxury service and costs 💰💰💰? ✅
Lift everything you own to put it in boxes? ✅
Lift it all again on the other end? ✅
Too much cleaning? ✅
Sense of urgency? ✅
An alternative exists but is a luxury service and costs 💰💰💰? ✅
January 18, 2026 at 11:06 PM
I’m going to go ahead and declare that moving house might be the most hEDS-unfriendly activity.
Lift everything you own to put it in boxes? ✅
Lift it all again on the other end? ✅
Too much cleaning? ✅
Sense of urgency? ✅
An alternative exists but is a luxury service and costs 💰💰💰? ✅
Lift everything you own to put it in boxes? ✅
Lift it all again on the other end? ✅
Too much cleaning? ✅
Sense of urgency? ✅
An alternative exists but is a luxury service and costs 💰💰💰? ✅
I’m so sorry. Take care of yourself as much as you can ♥️
January 15, 2026 at 9:32 PM
I’m so sorry. Take care of yourself as much as you can ♥️
That can be true! Sometimes I come into it with a really good structure and it all snaps together well. But sometimes I am figuring it out as I write (what I expect from my technical papers) and in that case it really is more like the gesso on the canvas.
January 14, 2026 at 9:38 PM
That can be true! Sometimes I come into it with a really good structure and it all snaps together well. But sometimes I am figuring it out as I write (what I expect from my technical papers) and in that case it really is more like the gesso on the canvas.
Wrote a bad introduction to my next science paper today. It’ll get fixed! But some text is better than none text even if only 2% survives into the final draft. 🧪🔭
January 14, 2026 at 8:56 PM
Wrote a bad introduction to my next science paper today. It’ll get fixed! But some text is better than none text even if only 2% survives into the final draft. 🧪🔭
Can’t underestimate the power of a well placed footnote joke!
January 14, 2026 at 8:53 PM
Can’t underestimate the power of a well placed footnote joke!
Congratulations!
January 14, 2026 at 1:54 PM
Congratulations!
Six skeins complete. 55in. 🧶
January 14, 2026 at 12:54 AM
Six skeins complete. 55in. 🧶
Genuinely love to see folks enjoying my books!!
I just finished reading this. It’s great! I especially liked the information on galaxies, because I had been struggling with that. Highly recommended!
January 11, 2026 at 10:06 PM
Genuinely love to see folks enjoying my books!!
Reposted by Dr. Jillian Scudder
FOR THE LOVE OF ALL THAT IS GOOD IN THE UNIVERSE
PLEASE DO NOT USE THIS
THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER
www.theverge.com/ai-artificia...
PLEASE DO NOT USE THIS
THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER
www.theverge.com/ai-artificia...
OpenAI launches ChatGPT Health, encouraging users to connect their medical records
But it’s ‘not intended for diagnosis or treatment.’
www.theverge.com
January 8, 2026 at 8:55 PM
FOR THE LOVE OF ALL THAT IS GOOD IN THE UNIVERSE
PLEASE DO NOT USE THIS
THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER
www.theverge.com/ai-artificia...
PLEASE DO NOT USE THIS
THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER
www.theverge.com/ai-artificia...
My poor Teacup cat is now at rest. In the end, it seemed she had some kind of cancer, and she was in pain. I am devastated, but it was the only path that remained.
Since I adopted her, she went from scared of *everything* to sleeping deeply on my lap. What an honor to have the tiny cat trust.
Since I adopted her, she went from scared of *everything* to sleeping deeply on my lap. What an honor to have the tiny cat trust.
January 7, 2026 at 2:53 PM
My poor Teacup cat is now at rest. In the end, it seemed she had some kind of cancer, and she was in pain. I am devastated, but it was the only path that remained.
Since I adopted her, she went from scared of *everything* to sleeping deeply on my lap. What an honor to have the tiny cat trust.
Since I adopted her, she went from scared of *everything* to sleeping deeply on my lap. What an honor to have the tiny cat trust.
Inbox down below 70. Four letters of recommendation submitted, six computers updated to a newer OS, two public talks scheduled for later this year, and one conference abstract written & submitted.
Going home to see if I can convince Teacup cat to eat lunch.
Going home to see if I can convince Teacup cat to eat lunch.
January 5, 2026 at 7:42 PM
Inbox down below 70. Four letters of recommendation submitted, six computers updated to a newer OS, two public talks scheduled for later this year, and one conference abstract written & submitted.
Going home to see if I can convince Teacup cat to eat lunch.
Going home to see if I can convince Teacup cat to eat lunch.
Starting the year off medically strong with a NINE vial blood draw before breakfast.
(Yes. I did make bloodletting jokes to the phlebotomist)
(Yes. I did make bloodletting jokes to the phlebotomist)
January 5, 2026 at 3:46 PM
Starting the year off medically strong with a NINE vial blood draw before breakfast.
(Yes. I did make bloodletting jokes to the phlebotomist)
(Yes. I did make bloodletting jokes to the phlebotomist)
The good news today is that The Belly made a reappearance.
January 4, 2026 at 12:04 AM
The good news today is that The Belly made a reappearance.
I am packing my home up in preparation for a move, and often I hit this moment of “why do I have so much STUFF”, but this time I am handling all my things with more fondness. I think I’ve managed to surround myself with things that spark joy.
January 2, 2026 at 10:56 PM
I am packing my home up in preparation for a move, and often I hit this moment of “why do I have so much STUFF”, but this time I am handling all my things with more fondness. I think I’ve managed to surround myself with things that spark joy.