S.M. Pritchard
@smpritchard.bsky.social
Physics BSc. | Hard SF Writer/Worldbuilder | Space Artist | Amateur (hopefully one day professional) Astronomer | They/Them | Opinions my own
To the people that think space exploration and monitoring is a waste of money: understanding things happening in space is critical to the safety of our modern world.
A big day for space weather, with the BBC reporting that a Mexico-to-USA flight in October experienced a 'sudden drop in altitude', likely caused by *solar energetic particles* from the Sun. Here is an explanation and some thoughts as a solar astrophysicist (a thread): 1/8
November 28, 2025 at 10:05 PM
To the people that think space exploration and monitoring is a waste of money: understanding things happening in space is critical to the safety of our modern world.
Reposted by S.M. Pritchard
Today marks a milestone for European space exploration. The largest contributions in the history of the European Space Agency, €22.1 billion, were just approved at our Ministerial Council meeting in Bremen, Germany. #CM25
More details 👇 www.esa.int/About_Us/Cor...
More details 👇 www.esa.int/About_Us/Cor...
ESA Member States commit to largest contributions at Ministerial
The largest contributions in the history of the European Space Agency, €22.1 bn, have been approved at its Council meeting at Ministerial level in Bremen, ...
www.esa.int
November 27, 2025 at 4:22 PM
Today marks a milestone for European space exploration. The largest contributions in the history of the European Space Agency, €22.1 billion, were just approved at our Ministerial Council meeting in Bremen, Germany. #CM25
More details 👇 www.esa.int/About_Us/Cor...
More details 👇 www.esa.int/About_Us/Cor...
And now for the last of my work from Saturday evening: an exoplanet transit and about 5 hours of data on AE UMa! First up is the exoplanet, Qatar-1 b. This is another large, hot Jupiter orbiting a K-type star with a period of just 1.4 days. Next is AE Ursae Majoris, a pulsating variable star. 🔭🧪
November 26, 2025 at 10:09 PM
And now for the last of my work from Saturday evening: an exoplanet transit and about 5 hours of data on AE UMa! First up is the exoplanet, Qatar-1 b. This is another large, hot Jupiter orbiting a K-type star with a period of just 1.4 days. Next is AE Ursae Majoris, a pulsating variable star. 🔭🧪
In addition to the color photo I posted earlier, I was also able to assemble an animated timelapse of 3I/ATLAS's motion over the course of about 26 minutes. The average rate of motion is about 2 arcseconds per minute. 🔭🧪
November 25, 2025 at 8:23 AM
In addition to the color photo I posted earlier, I was also able to assemble an animated timelapse of 3I/ATLAS's motion over the course of about 26 minutes. The average rate of motion is about 2 arcseconds per minute. 🔭🧪
Now that Orion is back up in the sky, I decided to re-image the Horsehead Nebula but in color this time. About 1 hour, 42 minutes total integration time, 34 minutes per channel (2 minute subs). 🔭
November 25, 2025 at 7:13 AM
Now that Orion is back up in the sky, I decided to re-image the Horsehead Nebula but in color this time. About 1 hour, 42 minutes total integration time, 34 minutes per channel (2 minute subs). 🔭
Had a much better imaging opportunity for 3I/ATLAS the other night and assembled this color composite. Just two minutes per channel, to avoid significant trailing.
🧪🔭
🧪🔭
November 25, 2025 at 1:19 AM
Had a much better imaging opportunity for 3I/ATLAS the other night and assembled this color composite. Just two minutes per channel, to avoid significant trailing.
🧪🔭
🧪🔭
They are vandalizing our scientific institutions and undermining the safety of everyone in this country. People don't appreciate how nearly-miraculous vaccines are because they never knew a time before we had them. Now we will all suffer because of their ignorance.
Trump and RFK Jr's CDC just added a page that is full of disinformation about vaccines and autism.
November 20, 2025 at 7:06 AM
They are vandalizing our scientific institutions and undermining the safety of everyone in this country. People don't appreciate how nearly-miraculous vaccines are because they never knew a time before we had them. Now we will all suffer because of their ignorance.
Reposted by S.M. Pritchard
Nothing is yours. It is to use. It is to share. If you will not share it, you cannot use it.
November 18, 2025 at 12:25 AM
Nothing is yours. It is to use. It is to share. If you will not share it, you cannot use it.
Reposted by S.M. Pritchard
No. The chief problem is, AI is literally A TOOL FOR UNLEARNING. The more you use it, the worse you get at whatever it is you’re using it for. It’s the opposite of educating, it’s uneducating. 2/2
November 19, 2025 at 10:50 PM
No. The chief problem is, AI is literally A TOOL FOR UNLEARNING. The more you use it, the worse you get at whatever it is you’re using it for. It’s the opposite of educating, it’s uneducating. 2/2
Question for any comet people that might follow me; is it possible to use/measure isotope ratios in 3I/ATLAS's coma/tail to provide loose constraints on age, or at least a guess at if it formed around a pop II or I star?
🔭🧪
🔭🧪
November 19, 2025 at 1:36 AM
Question for any comet people that might follow me; is it possible to use/measure isotope ratios in 3I/ATLAS's coma/tail to provide loose constraints on age, or at least a guess at if it formed around a pop II or I star?
🔭🧪
🔭🧪
Megaconstellations are bad and should be banned under international law.
In one of my astrophoto groups, a guy posted a photo that shows some non-celestial stuff in it and someone said it’s satellite constellations and another person said that astronomers really hate those and several men have weighed in to say actually astronomers think they’re fine
Me: WE DO NOT
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Me: WE DO NOT
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November 18, 2025 at 2:23 AM
Megaconstellations are bad and should be banned under international law.
"AI" as digital asbestos - A wonderful and disturbingly apt analogy!
Love to see community action against this AI nonsense! neighborhoodview.org/2025/11/13/d...
November 15, 2025 at 10:07 PM
"AI" as digital asbestos - A wonderful and disturbingly apt analogy!
I finally managed to capture our friendly interstellar visitor, 3I/ATLAS. This is just 4 minutes of movement. 3I is absolutely zipping through the Solar System! You can see the coma surrounding the comet's nucleus, still outgassing icy vapor. Amazing to consider this came from another star.
🔭🧪
🔭🧪
November 14, 2025 at 12:21 PM
I finally managed to capture our friendly interstellar visitor, 3I/ATLAS. This is just 4 minutes of movement. 3I is absolutely zipping through the Solar System! You can see the coma surrounding the comet's nucleus, still outgassing icy vapor. Amazing to consider this came from another star.
🔭🧪
🔭🧪
Geomagnetic storm still going strong so there might be a chance for more aurora tonight!
November 12, 2025 at 8:54 PM
Geomagnetic storm still going strong so there might be a chance for more aurora tonight!
Decent aurora showing down here in southern PA!
November 12, 2025 at 1:48 AM
Decent aurora showing down here in southern PA!
And now for some more science, also from last night. This is a plot of brightness for the δ Scuti variable star SZ Lyncis. These regular dips and peaks are a result of the star physically expanding and contracting in cycles of rhythmic pulsation, driven by changes in opacity in its chromosphere!
🔭🧪
🔭🧪
November 7, 2025 at 10:53 PM
And now for some more science, also from last night. This is a plot of brightness for the δ Scuti variable star SZ Lyncis. These regular dips and peaks are a result of the star physically expanding and contracting in cycles of rhythmic pulsation, driven by changes in opacity in its chromosphere!
🔭🧪
🔭🧪
My first image since getting my mount repaired, the core of the Andromeda Galaxy (M31)! This is only about 3 hours of total integration time (about 1 hour in each color channel). I decided to switch targets after it crossed the meridian...
🔭
🔭
November 7, 2025 at 10:40 PM
My first image since getting my mount repaired, the core of the Andromeda Galaxy (M31)! This is only about 3 hours of total integration time (about 1 hour in each color channel). I decided to switch targets after it crossed the meridian...
🔭
🔭
Aw yeah we're back in business. First clear night since getting my mount back from repairs (and of course the Moon is out and obnoxiously bright)
November 7, 2025 at 5:49 AM
Aw yeah we're back in business. First clear night since getting my mount back from repairs (and of course the Moon is out and obnoxiously bright)
For the first time in a very long time, I feel the faintest glimmer of hope.
Zohran Mamdani wins!
He ran on an unabashedly pro-transgender platform, stood up for the most vulnerable, as so many have pushed for the Democratic Party to abandon trans people in order to win.
Major win for trans New Yorkers - he has vowed for intense resistance to anti-trans Trump policies.
He ran on an unabashedly pro-transgender platform, stood up for the most vulnerable, as so many have pushed for the Democratic Party to abandon trans people in order to win.
Major win for trans New Yorkers - he has vowed for intense resistance to anti-trans Trump policies.
November 5, 2025 at 2:41 AM
For the first time in a very long time, I feel the faintest glimmer of hope.
Voted in my local elections today (no sticker pic since it has my county's name on it, sorry)
November 4, 2025 at 11:24 PM
Voted in my local elections today (no sticker pic since it has my county's name on it, sorry)
Reposted by S.M. Pritchard
Capitalism destroys all culture with advertising. It destroys our outdoor spaces with advertising. It destroys interpersonal interactions with advertising. It destroys our ability to trust others with advertising.
There has got to be a human right to avoid ads.
There has got to be a human right to avoid ads.
November 3, 2025 at 2:57 PM
Capitalism destroys all culture with advertising. It destroys our outdoor spaces with advertising. It destroys interpersonal interactions with advertising. It destroys our ability to trust others with advertising.
There has got to be a human right to avoid ads.
There has got to be a human right to avoid ads.
Reposted by S.M. Pritchard
Last chance to turn it off.
On Monday, November 3rd, Microsoft will start using your LinkedIn data for AI training. And remember, you're opted in by default.
To toggle it off 👉 Account - Settings & Privacy > Data privacy > Data for Generative AI Improvement.
On Monday, November 3rd, Microsoft will start using your LinkedIn data for AI training. And remember, you're opted in by default.
To toggle it off 👉 Account - Settings & Privacy > Data privacy > Data for Generative AI Improvement.
October 31, 2025 at 1:37 PM
Last chance to turn it off.
On Monday, November 3rd, Microsoft will start using your LinkedIn data for AI training. And remember, you're opted in by default.
To toggle it off 👉 Account - Settings & Privacy > Data privacy > Data for Generative AI Improvement.
On Monday, November 3rd, Microsoft will start using your LinkedIn data for AI training. And remember, you're opted in by default.
To toggle it off 👉 Account - Settings & Privacy > Data privacy > Data for Generative AI Improvement.
Reposted by S.M. Pritchard
“some people abuse SNAP” your soul is rotten
October 30, 2025 at 5:35 PM
“some people abuse SNAP” your soul is rotten
We're gonna need a modern version of the Lighthill Report after all this "AI" business is finally revealed for what it is - a speculative vehicle for technoligarchs to consolidate wealth and undermine democracy.
October 29, 2025 at 5:26 PM
We're gonna need a modern version of the Lighthill Report after all this "AI" business is finally revealed for what it is - a speculative vehicle for technoligarchs to consolidate wealth and undermine democracy.
Reposted by S.M. Pritchard
My feed is like:
- Record breaking hurricane hits Jamaica, fueled in part by warm ocean waters linked to climate change
- UN head blasts countries for low climate ambition, saying breaching 1.5C of warming is now inevitable
- US CDC has been directed to study the alleged harms of offshore wind farms
- Record breaking hurricane hits Jamaica, fueled in part by warm ocean waters linked to climate change
- UN head blasts countries for low climate ambition, saying breaching 1.5C of warming is now inevitable
- US CDC has been directed to study the alleged harms of offshore wind farms
October 28, 2025 at 8:32 PM
My feed is like:
- Record breaking hurricane hits Jamaica, fueled in part by warm ocean waters linked to climate change
- UN head blasts countries for low climate ambition, saying breaching 1.5C of warming is now inevitable
- US CDC has been directed to study the alleged harms of offshore wind farms
- Record breaking hurricane hits Jamaica, fueled in part by warm ocean waters linked to climate change
- UN head blasts countries for low climate ambition, saying breaching 1.5C of warming is now inevitable
- US CDC has been directed to study the alleged harms of offshore wind farms