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Sera Markoff

@profsera.bsky.social

5.9K followers 1.8K following 420 posts

Professor Astrophysics/Astroparticle Physics @ U Amsterdam. All things black hole, member Event Horizon Telescope, Africa Millimeter Telescope, Cherenkov Telescope Array. Space, sci-fi, cats, music, valve amps, other unabashed geekery. www.seramarkoff.com

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Sera Markoff @profsera.bsky.social · 26d

This is our biggest result so far this year (IMHO)! 🔭🧪 The M87* #blackhole is clearly cocooned in a turbulent, magnetised plasma and we can now resolve it changing in real time (albeit slowly). Excitingly we plan to do the first 2 month "movie" campaign looking ever 3-4 days in spring 2026!

Event Horizon Telescope @ehtelescope.bsky.social · 27d

Groundbreaking new image! The EHT reveals the dynamic environment around black hole M87*.

The 2021 image shows a distinct shift in polarization patterns, tracing changes in magnetic fields near the event horizon.

eventhorizontelescope.org/new-eht-imag...

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Sera Markoff @profsera.bsky.social · 1d

It’s starting!! @spacerocksofficial.bsky.social stage at #ESAOpenDay with mission update by ESA DG, Joseph Aschbachen. 🧪🔭 We’re up next!

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Sera Markoff @profsera.bsky.social · 1d

Gearing up to channel my inner goth for the "Dark Side of the Universe" panel at tomorrows #ESAOpenDay, on the Space Rocks stage, together with JWST scientist Mark McCaughrean and EUCLID project scientist Valeria Pettorino! 🧪🔭

www.spacerocksofficial.com/news/come-se...

COME SEE US AT THE ESTEC OPEN DAY — Space Rocks

The ESTEC Open Day in the Netherlands isn’t far away, and we’re incredibly proud to be returning to host the Space Rocks stage on Sunday with a programme that’s guaranteed to bring space down to Earth...

www.spacerocksofficial.com

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Sera Markoff @profsera.bsky.social · 1d

Bandida has a serious foot fetish. Caught in the act on a lazy #caturday.

Fluffy orange cat lying belly up on a wooden floor, looking at the camera, with a bit of a twist so she can drape he arms over some house slippers.

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Sera Markoff @profsera.bsky.social · 1d

I’m excited to be part of this event for #ESAOpenDay tomorrow, also celebrating their 50th bday! And I def need a photo op with the alien egg!

Space Rocks @spacerocksofficial.bsky.social · 2d

The @nl.esa.int Open Days are go and we’re welcoming visitors from all over the galaxy including this one which is just having a once-over in the clean room before a visit to the LEAF chamber where you can see it face to face!

#buildingbetterworlds #weylandyutani #ESAOpenDay #SpaceRocks

Reposted by Sera Markoff

Space Rocks @spacerocksofficial.bsky.social · 2d

... For a snapshot of the awesome weekend ahead, hit the link below, and may the force be with you.
www.spacerocksofficial.com/news/come-se...

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Reposted by Sera Markoff

Space Rocks @spacerocksofficial.bsky.social · 2d

We’re hard at work prepping for the ESTEC Open Days this weekend. As @esa.int celebrates its 50th, come see the Creative Space near the Space Rocks stage in Escape on Sunday to see a concept for long-term deep space travel...

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Reposted by Sera Markoff

Wajahat Ali @wajali.bsky.social · 2d

I love it.

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Sera Markoff @profsera.bsky.social · 2d

Bit last minute note but if you’re in Ireland check out this free talk tomorrow about the Mayo Dark Skies project!

And come see me talk about black holes at their festival in a few weeks! www.mayodarkskyfestival.ie

National Museum of Ireland @nmireland.bsky.social · 4d

Discover Mayo’s night skies!
Join us for a free talk on @mayodarkskies.bsky.social at the National Museum of Ireland, Turlough Park.
📅 Sat 11 Oct, 15:30–16:30
🔗 www.museum.ie/en-IE/Museum...
Free admission, booking required.
#Mayo #Stargazing #DarkSkies

a star-speckled sky over a bogland walkway

Sera Markoff @profsera.bsky.social · 2d

Breathing a sigh of relief that my alma mater @mit.edu refused to sign onto the so-called “Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education”.

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Sera Markoff @profsera.bsky.social · 5d

I went to a gastropub with my group today while visiting the UK and they had this adorable doggy menu!!

Photo showing a wicker basket dog menu full of little fancy dog meals by “Sir Woofchester’s” available to order in the pub. Flavored include Sleepy Bones, Bark Burgers, Sunday Roast, Bark Bangers and Fish and Chips dog bowl!

Sera Markoff @profsera.bsky.social · 5d

it was sent around our institute and really resonated as we focus quite a lot on encouraging good work/life balance!

Sera Markoff @profsera.bsky.social · 5d

I really enjoyed this post by @rawsignal.ca against the pressure (in industry, but also very true for academia 🧪🔭) to overwork at the cost of having time to think, breathe and yes, be creative (it is related).

mailchi.mp/rawsignal/yo...

You're probably not that hardcore

mailchi.mp

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Sera Markoff @profsera.bsky.social · 7d

My mom posted this picture of a scale from her primary care clinic, which I absolutely love, being an astrophysicist. But also the messaging is great!

Photo of a scale in a doctor's office and on the wall above it is a sign that reads "PLEASE REMEMBER: This scale can only give you a numerical reflection of your relationshp with gravity. That is it. It cannot measure (each word in a different colour): beauty, talent, purpose, possibility, strength, love or character."

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Sera Markoff @profsera.bsky.social · 8d

It’s a special happy birthday #caturday, this little lady is 8 today!

Photo of a fluffy orange cat in a black cubby box looking a bit startled, on a wooden window bench

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Sera Markoff @profsera.bsky.social · 18d

A lovely article about the region in Namibia where we are building the Africa Millimeter Telescope w/UNAM, a single dish telescope 🔭🧪 that will operate on its own and together with @ehtelescope.bsky.social, next to the H.E.S.S. gamma-ray telescope.

nightfallandelsewhere.substack.com/p/gamma-rays...

Gamma rays in the Gamsberg Highlands

Clyde's Spot, the H.E.S.S. telescope and Indigenous rock art in Namibia

nightfallandelsewhere.substack.com

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Reposted by Sera Markoff

👻 Pablo Hidalghost 👻 @infinata.bsky.social · 21d

Jodie Foster: "Okay to go... okay to go.... okay to go..."

Cliff @cliff.leaninto.it · 21d

What's the matter babe you've barely touched your event horizon ribs

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Sera Markoff @profsera.bsky.social · 22d

This is horrific.

Meg Schwamb @megschwamb.bsky.social · 23d

Quarter of UK university physics departments at risk of closing, survey finds www.theguardian.com/education/20...

Quarter of UK university physics departments at risk of closing, survey finds

Four out of five making staff cuts as physicists say findings are ‘great concern’ for UK’s leadership in important areas

www.theguardian.com

Reposted by Sera Markoff

Léonie de Jonge @leoniedejonge.bsky.social · 22d

Anti-immigration demonstration in the Netherlands escalates. This is exactly what happens when far-right ideas are tolerated and normalised over an extended period of time. The far right gains confidence and grows, both at the ballot box and in the streets.
nos.nl/artikel/2583...

Anti-immigratie-demonstratie Den Haag escaleert, confrontatie met politie

De actievoerders steken vuurwerk af en zwaaien met Nederlandse vlaggen maar ook met prinsenvlaggen.

nos.nl

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Reposted by Sera Markoff

Keith Edwards @keithedwards.bsky.social · 22d

Let’s keep going

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Reposted by Sera Markoff

Carl T. Bergstrom @carlbergstrom.com · 22d

I have to keep this deliberately vague, but this is a total disaster for academic research.

And imposing it so suddenly is just cruel. I’ve got friends scrambling to get back to the US before midnight tonight. Do you know how hard that is to do on 36 hours of notice?

Trump to impose $100,000 fee per year for H-1B visas, in blow to tech

The Trump administration said on Friday it would ask companies to pay $100,000 per year for H-1B worker visas, prompting some big tech companies to warn visa holders to stay in the U.S. or quickly return.

www.reuters.com

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Sera Markoff @profsera.bsky.social · 22d

Hair out of every toe #caturday

A large fluffy orange cat belly up on a couch, head coquettishly averted, hairy feet sticking up with toe floof poking out in all directions. Evening vibe.

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Sera Markoff @profsera.bsky.social · 22d

yep true, it's just the hypocrisy is so vivid right now

Sera Markoff @profsera.bsky.social · 22d

It's so interesting to see cancel culture now overtaking the right, I just saw someone refer to it as the "woke right" and that totally resonates. Guess people aren't that different from each other after all...no one likes to hear what they don't want to hear...🤷‍♀️

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Sera Markoff @profsera.bsky.social · 23d

Exactly!!

Sera Markoff @profsera.bsky.social · 24d

Ah the joys of Dutch weather. It's not actually raining, "het miezert" which means you are biking through a dense cloud of mist, and there's no raingear in the world that can keep your face from getting soaked...

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