Karen Masters
@karenlmasters.bsky.social
Prof. of Astronomy and Physics, Haverford College. PI of Galaxy Zoo. Radio astronomer. Check out my latest book “The Astronomers Library” about books, libraries and astronomy - three of my favourite things. Brit/US.
Watching the Macy Parade. It’s so bizarre. It’s so early, and cold and so many of the people on screen look like they are being forced to have fun….
November 27, 2025 at 2:18 PM
Watching the Macy Parade. It’s so bizarre. It’s so early, and cold and so many of the people on screen look like they are being forced to have fun….
Reposted by Karen Masters
The House will have been in session for fewer than 30 days between July 1-December 31 and just had a 53-day recess. He makes $223K/year plus benefits including 75% of all health expenses for his entire family. Affordable Care Act subsidies expire Dec 31st for everyone else’s healthcare coverage.
Speaker 'barely holding it together' and 'crushed by his workload': NYT
Speaker 'barely holding it together' and 'crushed by his workload': NYT
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) made several revealing admissions about the stressful and chaotic nature of his job, according to a recent New York Times report.The Times' Annie Karni wrote in a Wednesday article that Johnson turned what was meant to be an easy interview with a friendly podcast h...
bit.ly
November 27, 2025 at 3:34 AM
The House will have been in session for fewer than 30 days between July 1-December 31 and just had a 53-day recess. He makes $223K/year plus benefits including 75% of all health expenses for his entire family. Affordable Care Act subsidies expire Dec 31st for everyone else’s healthcare coverage.
Reposted by Karen Masters
A barred spiral galaxy, observed with the Apache Point 2.5m Telescope in the SDSS survey.
It is at redshift 0.008 (lookback time 114.4 million years) with coordinates (216.09558, 24.61412).
43 volunteers classified this galaxy in Galaxy Zoo 2.
It is at redshift 0.008 (lookback time 114.4 million years) with coordinates (216.09558, 24.61412).
43 volunteers classified this galaxy in Galaxy Zoo 2.
November 27, 2025 at 1:31 PM
A barred spiral galaxy, observed with the Apache Point 2.5m Telescope in the SDSS survey.
It is at redshift 0.008 (lookback time 114.4 million years) with coordinates (216.09558, 24.61412).
43 volunteers classified this galaxy in Galaxy Zoo 2.
It is at redshift 0.008 (lookback time 114.4 million years) with coordinates (216.09558, 24.61412).
43 volunteers classified this galaxy in Galaxy Zoo 2.
Reposted by Karen Masters
A spiral galaxy, observed with the Apache Point 2.5m Telescope in the SDSS survey.
It is at redshift 0.028 (lookback time 397.0 million years) with coordinates (154.69206, 34.83380).
47 volunteers classified this galaxy in Galaxy Zoo 2.
It is at redshift 0.028 (lookback time 397.0 million years) with coordinates (154.69206, 34.83380).
47 volunteers classified this galaxy in Galaxy Zoo 2.
November 27, 2025 at 3:11 AM
A spiral galaxy, observed with the Apache Point 2.5m Telescope in the SDSS survey.
It is at redshift 0.028 (lookback time 397.0 million years) with coordinates (154.69206, 34.83380).
47 volunteers classified this galaxy in Galaxy Zoo 2.
It is at redshift 0.028 (lookback time 397.0 million years) with coordinates (154.69206, 34.83380).
47 volunteers classified this galaxy in Galaxy Zoo 2.
Reposted by Karen Masters
“The couples and their lawyers said they had followed the required steps: They had submitted extensive paperwork and paid fees. The foreign spouses had been fingerprinted and passed medical exams. None had criminal records. None had entered the country illegally.”
November 26, 2025 at 11:21 PM
“The couples and their lawyers said they had followed the required steps: They had submitted extensive paperwork and paid fees. The foreign spouses had been fingerprinted and passed medical exams. None had criminal records. None had entered the country illegally.”
Reposted by Karen Masters
Gut wrenching: “I had to take our baby from my crying wife’s arms,” Mr. Paul, 33, said, recalling the moment that agents said they were arresting his wife, Katie.
Ms. Paul was sent to an immigration detention center with hundreds of other people swept up in the Trump administration’s crackdown.”
Ms. Paul was sent to an immigration detention center with hundreds of other people swept up in the Trump administration’s crackdown.”
Green Card Interviews End in Handcuffs for Spouses of U.S. Citizens
www.nytimes.com
November 26, 2025 at 11:15 PM
Gut wrenching: “I had to take our baby from my crying wife’s arms,” Mr. Paul, 33, said, recalling the moment that agents said they were arresting his wife, Katie.
Ms. Paul was sent to an immigration detention center with hundreds of other people swept up in the Trump administration’s crackdown.”
Ms. Paul was sent to an immigration detention center with hundreds of other people swept up in the Trump administration’s crackdown.”
There is a man hitting things with a golf club outside my office window.... this is how I currently feel about submitting letters of recommendation (Dec 1st deadlines people....). Anyway nearly done for the break.
November 26, 2025 at 8:22 PM
There is a man hitting things with a golf club outside my office window.... this is how I currently feel about submitting letters of recommendation (Dec 1st deadlines people....). Anyway nearly done for the break.
Graduate programs with burning ears today probably are US based with Dec 1st deadlines (don't they know that's the Monday after Thanksgiving), or have a long dedicated form where I have to fill in reflections individually for each student (instead of upload a PDF). 👩🔬🎢🔭
November 25, 2025 at 10:51 PM
Graduate programs with burning ears today probably are US based with Dec 1st deadlines (don't they know that's the Monday after Thanksgiving), or have a long dedicated form where I have to fill in reflections individually for each student (instead of upload a PDF). 👩🔬🎢🔭
Reposted by Karen Masters
White House Reclassifies Nursing As Hobby https://theonion.com/white-house-reclassifies-nursing-as-hobby/
November 24, 2025 at 11:00 PM
White House Reclassifies Nursing As Hobby https://theonion.com/white-house-reclassifies-nursing-as-hobby/
Beautiful sunset this evening. Zoom in to spot the crescent moon. 🔭
November 24, 2025 at 10:57 PM
Beautiful sunset this evening. Zoom in to spot the crescent moon. 🔭
Reposted by Karen Masters
me: ok six weeks left of 2025 let's get stuff done!
my brain cells:
my brain cells:
November 13, 2025 at 8:56 PM
me: ok six weeks left of 2025 let's get stuff done!
my brain cells:
my brain cells:
Fighting for ‘The Right to Night’ Under Starry, Rural Skies www.nytimes.com/2025/11/24/s... 🔭👩🔬
Fighting for ‘The Right to Night’ Under Starry, Rural Skies
www.nytimes.com
November 24, 2025 at 10:41 PM
Fighting for ‘The Right to Night’ Under Starry, Rural Skies www.nytimes.com/2025/11/24/s... 🔭👩🔬
Reposted by Karen Masters
"writing code to solve a problem" used to have "understanding the problem" as a prerequisite. but vibecoding allows solution-shaped objects to be produced without any of the hard-won understanding. beware of solution-shaped objects.
November 24, 2025 at 12:16 PM
"writing code to solve a problem" used to have "understanding the problem" as a prerequisite. but vibecoding allows solution-shaped objects to be produced without any of the hard-won understanding. beware of solution-shaped objects.
Reposted by Karen Masters
I can say with full confidence I’m the happiest person on this planet right now.
Seeing the Roman Space Telescope being assembled — and knowing it’ll be in orbit next year — just makes it unreal.
Seeing the Roman Space Telescope being assembled — and knowing it’ll be in orbit next year — just makes it unreal.
November 24, 2025 at 4:26 PM
I can say with full confidence I’m the happiest person on this planet right now.
Seeing the Roman Space Telescope being assembled — and knowing it’ll be in orbit next year — just makes it unreal.
Seeing the Roman Space Telescope being assembled — and knowing it’ll be in orbit next year — just makes it unreal.
Reposted by Karen Masters
We are hiring a new Assistant Professor in Astrophysics at Trinity College Dublin!! ☘
Job ad here: aas.org/jobregister/...
Deadline: Jan 02 2026
Please share widely! 🪐🔭
Job ad here: aas.org/jobregister/...
Deadline: Jan 02 2026
Please share widely! 🪐🔭
Assistant Professor in Astrophysics | American Astronomical Society
The School of Physics at Trinity College Dublin invites applications for a position at the level of Assistant Professor in the field of observational or theoretical astrophysics. We seek motivated ind...
aas.org
November 24, 2025 at 12:27 PM
We are hiring a new Assistant Professor in Astrophysics at Trinity College Dublin!! ☘
Job ad here: aas.org/jobregister/...
Deadline: Jan 02 2026
Please share widely! 🪐🔭
Job ad here: aas.org/jobregister/...
Deadline: Jan 02 2026
Please share widely! 🪐🔭
Reposted by Karen Masters
This post and the threads it spawned are giving me hope for this site
Home Alone makes changes to the Die Hard formula that render it hard for me to enjoy. The McClain character should feel overawed. And in theory having Kevin be a child versus adults achieves that. But the thing is: Kevin is a god. It's not just Tom & Jerry. This is some random punks versus Anansi.
November 23, 2025 at 6:39 PM
This post and the threads it spawned are giving me hope for this site
Reposted by Karen Masters
Trump's misogyny "gives license to systems that prioritize men's freedom over women's safety."
Opinion | The Real Epstein Cover-Up
www.nytimes.com
November 23, 2025 at 1:32 PM
Trump's misogyny "gives license to systems that prioritize men's freedom over women's safety."
Reposted by Karen Masters
M33 Triangulum Galaxy
I finally hit my target 18 hours on M33. The skies have been horrible since last full moon, send me clear skies magic ✨️ 🔭 #astrophotography #M33
I finally hit my target 18 hours on M33. The skies have been horrible since last full moon, send me clear skies magic ✨️ 🔭 #astrophotography #M33
November 23, 2025 at 12:37 AM
M33 Triangulum Galaxy
I finally hit my target 18 hours on M33. The skies have been horrible since last full moon, send me clear skies magic ✨️ 🔭 #astrophotography #M33
I finally hit my target 18 hours on M33. The skies have been horrible since last full moon, send me clear skies magic ✨️ 🔭 #astrophotography #M33
Reposted by Karen Masters
💯
Journalist challenge: Use “Machine Learning” when you mean machine learning and “LLM” when you mean LLM. Ditch “AI” as a catch-all term, it’s not useful for readers and it helps companies trying to confuse the public by obscuring the roles played by different technologies. 🧪
November 22, 2025 at 5:17 PM
💯
Reposted by Karen Masters
Having slept on this I’m still angry about it. We got here because the entire media establishment enabled it and still are.
The article is an astonishing time capsule particularly because everything they chide Harris for saying CAME TRUE.
The article is an astonishing time capsule particularly because everything they chide Harris for saying CAME TRUE.
Can’t think why it turned out how it did with the media reporting honestly.
www.npr.org/2024/08/25/g...
www.npr.org/2024/08/25/g...
12 misleading or lacking-in-context claims from Harris’ DNC speech
They range from characterizations of former President Trump’s stances on abortion rights and Social Security to her plans to address housing and grocery prices.
www.npr.org
November 21, 2025 at 3:26 PM
Having slept on this I’m still angry about it. We got here because the entire media establishment enabled it and still are.
The article is an astonishing time capsule particularly because everything they chide Harris for saying CAME TRUE.
The article is an astonishing time capsule particularly because everything they chide Harris for saying CAME TRUE.
Reposted by Karen Masters
Superior Court intern mistakenly targeted by ICE in PVD today, per RI Supreme Court Chief Justice Paul Suttell
November 20, 2025 at 9:57 PM
Superior Court intern mistakenly targeted by ICE in PVD today, per RI Supreme Court Chief Justice Paul Suttell
Free read link: ‘The System Is Meant to Break You’: What ICE Is Doing to People Here Legally www.nytimes.com/2025/11/21/o...
Opinion | ‘The System Is Meant to Break You’: What ICE Is Doing to People Here Legally
www.nytimes.com
November 21, 2025 at 10:56 AM
Free read link: ‘The System Is Meant to Break You’: What ICE Is Doing to People Here Legally www.nytimes.com/2025/11/21/o...
Reposted by Karen Masters
November 20, 2025 at 12:01 PM
Reposted by Karen Masters
This is so embarrassing and bad
HEADS UP: CDC website now officially asserts that vaccines may cause autism.“Studies supporting a link have been ignored by health authorities.” Also says the “vaccines do not cause autism” header remains b/c of an agreement with Cassidy.
November 20, 2025 at 11:53 AM
This is so embarrassing and bad
Reposted by Karen Masters
Really cannot trust any government website right how, and certainly not the CDC's.
HEADS UP: CDC website now officially asserts that vaccines may cause autism.“Studies supporting a link have been ignored by health authorities.” Also says the “vaccines do not cause autism” header remains b/c of an agreement with Cassidy.
November 20, 2025 at 12:01 PM
Really cannot trust any government website right how, and certainly not the CDC's.