Peter Edmonds
@peterdedmonds.bsky.social
Australian-American husband, father, professional nerd, astronomy communicator, dog spoiler, cricket fan. Opinions mine. He/him.
Reposted by Peter Edmonds
Any planetary scientists want to help me out with Avi's latest?
avi-loeb.medium.com/3i-atlas-is-...
3I/ATLAS has apparently passed his new totally-made-up test for being a spacecraft. I don't think anyone is surprised it's still in one piece but we're way outside my (and his) expertise here.
🔭🧪
avi-loeb.medium.com/3i-atlas-is-...
3I/ATLAS has apparently passed his new totally-made-up test for being a spacecraft. I don't think anyone is surprised it's still in one piece but we're way outside my (and his) expertise here.
🔭🧪
3I/ATLAS is Still a Single Body with a Sunward Anti-Tail After Perihelion!
Breaking News: The interstellar object 3I/ATLAS did not break up near the Sun.
avi-loeb.medium.com
November 13, 2025 at 2:59 AM
Any planetary scientists want to help me out with Avi's latest?
avi-loeb.medium.com/3i-atlas-is-...
3I/ATLAS has apparently passed his new totally-made-up test for being a spacecraft. I don't think anyone is surprised it's still in one piece but we're way outside my (and his) expertise here.
🔭🧪
avi-loeb.medium.com/3i-atlas-is-...
3I/ATLAS has apparently passed his new totally-made-up test for being a spacecraft. I don't think anyone is surprised it's still in one piece but we're way outside my (and his) expertise here.
🔭🧪
Reposted by Peter Edmonds
Interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS was born with different and more ancient chemistry, has been more irradiated, and is speeding toward the Sun faster compared to Solar System comets. It's got a unique personality. But since literally Day 1 it was recognized as a comet and has only ever done comety things.
I've summarized the truth about Loeb's 10 "anomalies" about 3I/ATLAS in one post.
Thanks to @deschscoveries.bsky.social @michael-w-busch.bsky.social @cometary.org and @marshall-eubanks.bsky.social for contributing their expertise!
Thanks to @deschscoveries.bsky.social @michael-w-busch.bsky.social @cometary.org and @marshall-eubanks.bsky.social for contributing their expertise!
Loeb’s 3I/ATLAS “Anomalies” Explained
Avi Loeb continues to claim that 3I/ATLAS has many anomalous behaviors that lead to the conclusion that it “might” be an alien spacecraft. He carefully hedges the probability that it is a spacecraft ...
sites.psu.edu
November 10, 2025 at 6:29 PM
Interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS was born with different and more ancient chemistry, has been more irradiated, and is speeding toward the Sun faster compared to Solar System comets. It's got a unique personality. But since literally Day 1 it was recognized as a comet and has only ever done comety things.
Reposted by Peter Edmonds
Hi Bluesky friends! I've been MIA for a while, but I'm coming back because I have some fun news...
I'm helping the Astronomical Society of the Pacific sell/rehome their library because they are downsizing their office space. There are sooooooo many cool finds. I'm going to share as many as I can! 🔭
I'm helping the Astronomical Society of the Pacific sell/rehome their library because they are downsizing their office space. There are sooooooo many cool finds. I'm going to share as many as I can! 🔭
November 11, 2025 at 8:45 PM
Hi Bluesky friends! I've been MIA for a while, but I'm coming back because I have some fun news...
I'm helping the Astronomical Society of the Pacific sell/rehome their library because they are downsizing their office space. There are sooooooo many cool finds. I'm going to share as many as I can! 🔭
I'm helping the Astronomical Society of the Pacific sell/rehome their library because they are downsizing their office space. There are sooooooo many cool finds. I'm going to share as many as I can! 🔭
A fascinating read: “The Harvard Scientist, Kim Kardashian and the Comet That Probably Isn’t an Alien Spaceship” www.nytimes.com/2025/11/08/s...
The Harvard Scientist, Kim Kardashian and the Comet That Probably Isn’t an Alien Spaceship
www.nytimes.com
November 8, 2025 at 2:49 PM
A fascinating read: “The Harvard Scientist, Kim Kardashian and the Comet That Probably Isn’t an Alien Spaceship” www.nytimes.com/2025/11/08/s...
Reposted by Peter Edmonds
Preach!
ADS has given astronomy THE BEST literature tools available anywhere. I almost never have to use the garbage that other academics have to suffer through (GoogleScholar, JSTOR, LexisNexis, WoS, PubMed...)
Literally anytime I have to interface with those tools I weep
Literally anytime I have to interface with those tools I weep
A natural evolution of ADS, SciX brings its powerful capabilities into new domains. Expanded coverage, intuitive search, smart recommendations, and tools for collaboration. SciX makes research more discoverable, connected, and accessible than ever before. https://scixplorer.org/scixblog/scix-launch
September 29, 2025 at 10:33 PM
Preach!
Reposted by Peter Edmonds
A Decade of Gravitational Waves
This is just a quick post to mark the fact that it is now ten years to the day since the first detection of gravitational waves by Advanced LIGO. The acronym LIGO stands for Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory. It wasn't until February 11th 2016 that…
This is just a quick post to mark the fact that it is now ten years to the day since the first detection of gravitational waves by Advanced LIGO. The acronym LIGO stands for Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory. It wasn't until February 11th 2016 that…
A Decade of Gravitational Waves
This is just a quick post to mark the fact that it is now ten years to the day since the first detection of gravitational waves by Advanced LIGO. The acronym LIGO stands for Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory. It wasn't until February 11th 2016 that the result was announced at a press conference (which I blogged about here), but the signal itself arrived on 14th September 2015, exactly a decade ago; the name given to the event was GW150914.
telescoper.blog
September 14, 2025 at 11:08 AM
A Decade of Gravitational Waves
This is just a quick post to mark the fact that it is now ten years to the day since the first detection of gravitational waves by Advanced LIGO. The acronym LIGO stands for Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory. It wasn't until February 11th 2016 that…
This is just a quick post to mark the fact that it is now ten years to the day since the first detection of gravitational waves by Advanced LIGO. The acronym LIGO stands for Laser Interferometer Gravitational-wave Observatory. It wasn't until February 11th 2016 that…
Congrats to my brilliant colleague @kimberlykowal.bsky.social for this well-deserved award: “2025 Klumpke-Roberts Award is given to Dr. Kimberly Arcand”
chandra.si.edu/press/25_rel...
chandra.si.edu/press/25_rel...
Chandra Press Room :: 2025 Klumpke-Roberts Award is given to Dr. Kimberly Arcand :: 10 September 2025
chandra.si.edu
September 12, 2025 at 1:41 PM
Congrats to my brilliant colleague @kimberlykowal.bsky.social for this well-deserved award: “2025 Klumpke-Roberts Award is given to Dr. Kimberly Arcand”
chandra.si.edu/press/25_rel...
chandra.si.edu/press/25_rel...
Reposted by Peter Edmonds
LIFE ON MARS??!!
I know you’re wary of overhyped claims of ET life. & we need to be cautious. As Sagan used to remind us, life should be the hypothesis of last resort. But this is one to watch. Legitimately a “potential biosignature” which demands follow up.
🧪
www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2...
I know you’re wary of overhyped claims of ET life. & we need to be cautious. As Sagan used to remind us, life should be the hypothesis of last resort. But this is one to watch. Legitimately a “potential biosignature” which demands follow up.
🧪
www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2...
NASA discovers ‘clearest sign of life that we’ve ever found on Mars’
Detailed analysis of images of speckled rocks found by NASA’s Perseverance rover has found a “potential biosignature.”
www.washingtonpost.com
September 10, 2025 at 11:47 PM
LIFE ON MARS??!!
I know you’re wary of overhyped claims of ET life. & we need to be cautious. As Sagan used to remind us, life should be the hypothesis of last resort. But this is one to watch. Legitimately a “potential biosignature” which demands follow up.
🧪
www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2...
I know you’re wary of overhyped claims of ET life. & we need to be cautious. As Sagan used to remind us, life should be the hypothesis of last resort. But this is one to watch. Legitimately a “potential biosignature” which demands follow up.
🧪
www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2...
“Bluesky now platform of choice for science community” by @jenlucpiquant.bsky.social
My question: is that the case for astronomers now? arstechnica.com/science/2025...
My question: is that the case for astronomers now? arstechnica.com/science/2025...
Bluesky now platform of choice for science community
It’s not just you. Survey says: “Twitter sucks now and all the cool kids are moving to Bluesky”…
arstechnica.com
August 30, 2025 at 9:04 PM
“Bluesky now platform of choice for science community” by @jenlucpiquant.bsky.social
My question: is that the case for astronomers now? arstechnica.com/science/2025...
My question: is that the case for astronomers now? arstechnica.com/science/2025...
Reposted by Peter Edmonds
BREAKING: Tsunami alerts issued for Alaska, Hawaii and all of the US West Coast after a major earthquake struck Russia's remote Far East.
Follow live updates.
Follow live updates.
Live updates: Tsunami alerts issued for Japan, Alaska, Hawaii and US West Coast after a major earthquake strikes Russia’s remote Far East | CNN
Tsunami warnings have been issued for parts of Russia and Japan after a massive 8.7 magnitude earthquake struck Wednesday off Russia’s remote and sparsely populated far eastern coast. Follow for live ...
www.cnn.com
July 30, 2025 at 1:26 AM
BREAKING: Tsunami alerts issued for Alaska, Hawaii and all of the US West Coast after a major earthquake struck Russia's remote Far East.
Follow live updates.
Follow live updates.
Reposted by Peter Edmonds
Brilliant
July 19, 2025 at 1:18 AM
Brilliant
Reposted by Peter Edmonds
What a thumping signal!
July 15, 2025 at 12:23 AM
What a thumping signal!
This is exciting. The most massive black hole merger seen to date: #GW231123 #gravitationalwaves ligo.org/ligo-virgo-k...
July 14, 2025 at 4:05 PM
This is exciting. The most massive black hole merger seen to date: #GW231123 #gravitationalwaves ligo.org/ligo-virgo-k...
Reposted by Peter Edmonds
As NASA's budget shrinks, Europe doubles down on Earth science
As NASA's budget shrinks, Europe doubles down on Earth science: 'Climate change is the defining challenge of our generation'
If NASA must pull back, Europe is ready to step up — and do so with open arms.
www.space.com
July 13, 2025 at 6:43 AM
As NASA's budget shrinks, Europe doubles down on Earth science
Reposted by Peter Edmonds
I think the only thing more breathtaking than Rubin’s first images was hearing their lengthy backstory from Tony Tyson. If you’re interested in how it took 30 years to create these snapshots, my story below:
The Biggest-Ever Digital Camera Is This Cosmologist’s Magnum Opus | Quanta Magazine
Tony Tyson’s cameras revealed the universe’s dark contents. Now, with the Rubin Observatory’s 3.2-billion-pixel camera, he’s ready to study dark matter and dark energy in unprecedented detail.
www.quantamagazine.org
July 12, 2025 at 1:01 AM
I think the only thing more breathtaking than Rubin’s first images was hearing their lengthy backstory from Tony Tyson. If you’re interested in how it took 30 years to create these snapshots, my story below:
Reposted by Peter Edmonds
🔭 The Veins of Heaven
Image Credit & Copyright: P-M Hedén (Clear Skies, TWAN)
apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap25071...
Image Credit & Copyright: P-M Hedén (Clear Skies, TWAN)
apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap25071...
July 11, 2025 at 8:00 AM
🔭 The Veins of Heaven
Image Credit & Copyright: P-M Hedén (Clear Skies, TWAN)
apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap25071...
Image Credit & Copyright: P-M Hedén (Clear Skies, TWAN)
apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap25071...
Reposted by Peter Edmonds
The Senate appropriations committee has voiced its intent to ignore the request by President Donald Trump to slash the budgets of the National Science Foundation and NASA science programs. scim.ag/4nW7XWi
Senate spending panel would rescue NSF and NASA science funding
Its support for a flat budget is a sign of congressional resistance to drastic cuts Trump has proposed
scim.ag
July 10, 2025 at 8:41 PM
The Senate appropriations committee has voiced its intent to ignore the request by President Donald Trump to slash the budgets of the National Science Foundation and NASA science programs. scim.ag/4nW7XWi
Reposted by Peter Edmonds
The Senate Committee on Appropriations gave the first signs Congress will push back on Trump's proposed budget cuts to science and instead keep funding flat, though an unrelated issue (the location of the FBI headquarters) stalled any vote today.
@alexwitze.bsky.social and I report:
@alexwitze.bsky.social and I report:
US senators poised to reject Trump’s proposed massive science cuts
Committee gives first hint that policymakers might preserve, rather than slash, funding for US National Science Foundation and other agencies.
www.nature.com
July 10, 2025 at 9:47 PM
The Senate Committee on Appropriations gave the first signs Congress will push back on Trump's proposed budget cuts to science and instead keep funding flat, though an unrelated issue (the location of the FBI headquarters) stalled any vote today.
@alexwitze.bsky.social and I report:
@alexwitze.bsky.social and I report:
Reposted by Peter Edmonds
This. Is. Brilliant.
NASA is more than rockets and moonwalks. NASA is behind much of our everyday technology. From space discovery, to Air Jordans, to CAT scans, NASA has played a role. We get it all on less than a penny of every federal dollar. Now their science may be gutted by 50%.
#NASADidThat
#NASADidThat
July 10, 2025 at 10:44 PM
This. Is. Brilliant.
Check out this newly-discovered comet zooming along.
We have images of a new interstellar visitor! ☄️ 👀
Comet 3I/ATLAS is only the third object ever spotted coming from beyond our Solar System.
In this timelapse, our VLT observes the comet move across the sky — just two days after its discovery!
https://www.eso.org/public/videos/potw2527a/ 🔭 🧪
Comet 3I/ATLAS is only the third object ever spotted coming from beyond our Solar System.
In this timelapse, our VLT observes the comet move across the sky — just two days after its discovery!
https://www.eso.org/public/videos/potw2527a/ 🔭 🧪
July 8, 2025 at 11:52 AM
Check out this newly-discovered comet zooming along.
Reposted by Peter Edmonds
Are you from one of these states? Then we need your help to save American science!
The Senate Appropriations Committee will be marking up the President's Budget Request for science on Wednesday. People have been saying the proposed cuts "decimated" US science, but that's wrong: they are apocalyptic
The Senate Appropriations Committee will be marking up the President's Budget Request for science on Wednesday. People have been saying the proposed cuts "decimated" US science, but that's wrong: they are apocalyptic
July 7, 2025 at 6:23 PM
Are you from one of these states? Then we need your help to save American science!
The Senate Appropriations Committee will be marking up the President's Budget Request for science on Wednesday. People have been saying the proposed cuts "decimated" US science, but that's wrong: they are apocalyptic
The Senate Appropriations Committee will be marking up the President's Budget Request for science on Wednesday. People have been saying the proposed cuts "decimated" US science, but that's wrong: they are apocalyptic
Reposted by Peter Edmonds
Today, *every* living prior leader of NASA's science directorate have released a joint letter condemning the proposed cuts to NASA science. These individuals every administration from Reagan to Biden, and all believe these cuts are insanely destructive: www.planetary.org/press-releas...
Every living NASA science chief unites in opposition to unprecedented…
The entire past leadership of NASA’s science activities have released a joint statement condemning the proposed 47% cuts proposed to the agency’s science…
www.planetary.org
July 7, 2025 at 9:11 PM
Today, *every* living prior leader of NASA's science directorate have released a joint letter condemning the proposed cuts to NASA science. These individuals every administration from Reagan to Biden, and all believe these cuts are insanely destructive: www.planetary.org/press-releas...
Reposted by Peter Edmonds
Every living prior Associate Administrator of NASA Science: "we unanimously urge Congress to reject the proposed cuts to NASA’s budget" planetary.s3.amazonaws.com/assets/pdfs/...
July 7, 2025 at 11:26 PM
Every living prior Associate Administrator of NASA Science: "we unanimously urge Congress to reject the proposed cuts to NASA’s budget" planetary.s3.amazonaws.com/assets/pdfs/...
Reposted by Peter Edmonds
US Friends!
The Green Bank Observatory (GBO) is a vital instrument in the global #RadioAstronomy network (incl. pulsar science), and it is under threat with the proposed funding cuts.
Please take action to keep it open: www.gogreenbankobservatory.org/take-action/
Pls share! 🔭📡🧪
📸 GBO/AUI/NSF
The Green Bank Observatory (GBO) is a vital instrument in the global #RadioAstronomy network (incl. pulsar science), and it is under threat with the proposed funding cuts.
Please take action to keep it open: www.gogreenbankobservatory.org/take-action/
Pls share! 🔭📡🧪
📸 GBO/AUI/NSF
July 6, 2025 at 9:08 PM
US Friends!
The Green Bank Observatory (GBO) is a vital instrument in the global #RadioAstronomy network (incl. pulsar science), and it is under threat with the proposed funding cuts.
Please take action to keep it open: www.gogreenbankobservatory.org/take-action/
Pls share! 🔭📡🧪
📸 GBO/AUI/NSF
The Green Bank Observatory (GBO) is a vital instrument in the global #RadioAstronomy network (incl. pulsar science), and it is under threat with the proposed funding cuts.
Please take action to keep it open: www.gogreenbankobservatory.org/take-action/
Pls share! 🔭📡🧪
📸 GBO/AUI/NSF
Reposted by Peter Edmonds
If any of my scientist *mutuals* wants to write an op-ed for their newspaper about science but you’re not feeling confident about your writing skills, I will happily ghost co-write the piece with you. I’m fast, and I’m pretty good. And we need people making the case for science. 🧪⚛️🔭
July 6, 2025 at 5:26 PM
If any of my scientist *mutuals* wants to write an op-ed for their newspaper about science but you’re not feeling confident about your writing skills, I will happily ghost co-write the piece with you. I’m fast, and I’m pretty good. And we need people making the case for science. 🧪⚛️🔭