Dr James O'Donoghue 🪐
@interplanetary.bsky.social
Planetary scientist, astronomer and science communicator 🪐. Formerly at JAXA, NASA, Boston Uni, and the Uni of Leicester. Now Associate Professor at @UniofReading. Forbes 8 Billion Under 8 Billion. Website: odonoghuespace.github.io
We have a PhD opportunity at the University of Reading focused on analysing Jupiter and Saturn auroral observations!
Title: Investigating Earth-like responses to the Solar Wind in Gas Giant Upper Atmospheres
Supervisor: me!
Full description/application portal:
www.findaphd.com/phds/project...
Title: Investigating Earth-like responses to the Solar Wind in Gas Giant Upper Atmospheres
Supervisor: me!
Full description/application portal:
www.findaphd.com/phds/project...
Crocus DLA
crocus-dla.ac.uk
November 20, 2025 at 2:11 PM
We have a PhD opportunity at the University of Reading focused on analysing Jupiter and Saturn auroral observations!
Title: Investigating Earth-like responses to the Solar Wind in Gas Giant Upper Atmospheres
Supervisor: me!
Full description/application portal:
www.findaphd.com/phds/project...
Title: Investigating Earth-like responses to the Solar Wind in Gas Giant Upper Atmospheres
Supervisor: me!
Full description/application portal:
www.findaphd.com/phds/project...
Reposted by Dr James O'Donoghue 🪐
Thanks to everyone who has joined us in person and online for our Early Careers Event. 👏
It's been a hugely successful day!
This afternoon saw several speakers, including @interplanetary.bsky.social and Dr Affelia Wibisono, talking about their experiences in science communication. 🪐🔭🗣️
It's been a hugely successful day!
This afternoon saw several speakers, including @interplanetary.bsky.social and Dr Affelia Wibisono, talking about their experiences in science communication. 🪐🔭🗣️
November 14, 2025 at 3:42 PM
Thanks to everyone who has joined us in person and online for our Early Careers Event. 👏
It's been a hugely successful day!
This afternoon saw several speakers, including @interplanetary.bsky.social and Dr Affelia Wibisono, talking about their experiences in science communication. 🪐🔭🗣️
It's been a hugely successful day!
This afternoon saw several speakers, including @interplanetary.bsky.social and Dr Affelia Wibisono, talking about their experiences in science communication. 🪐🔭🗣️
Reposted by Dr James O'Donoghue 🪐
Most forecast centres (including us!) got that first CME arrival bang on. The big differences are for the subsequent CMEs.
SPWC predict >1400 km/s at Earth. HUXt around 850-950 km/s. It must be different assessments of the CME initial speeds; the models themselves aren't that different.
SPWC predict >1400 km/s at Earth. HUXt around 850-950 km/s. It must be different assessments of the CME initial speeds; the models themselves aren't that different.
November 12, 2025 at 8:42 AM
Most forecast centres (including us!) got that first CME arrival bang on. The big differences are for the subsequent CMEs.
SPWC predict >1400 km/s at Earth. HUXt around 850-950 km/s. It must be different assessments of the CME initial speeds; the models themselves aren't that different.
SPWC predict >1400 km/s at Earth. HUXt around 850-950 km/s. It must be different assessments of the CME initial speeds; the models themselves aren't that different.
Reposted by Dr James O'Donoghue 🪐
Wilhelm Röntgen discovered X-rays #OTD in 1895 when he noticed that emanations from a Crookes tube caused a platino-barium screen to fluoresce. The rays exposed photographic plates but were blocked by bone and metal.
This early plate shows his wife's hand. 🧪 ⚛️
Image: Wellcome Trust
This early plate shows his wife's hand. 🧪 ⚛️
Image: Wellcome Trust
November 8, 2025 at 5:07 PM
Wilhelm Röntgen discovered X-rays #OTD in 1895 when he noticed that emanations from a Crookes tube caused a platino-barium screen to fluoresce. The rays exposed photographic plates but were blocked by bone and metal.
This early plate shows his wife's hand. 🧪 ⚛️
Image: Wellcome Trust
This early plate shows his wife's hand. 🧪 ⚛️
Image: Wellcome Trust
Reposted by Dr James O'Donoghue 🪐
Light speed is fast, but space is vast...
November 17, 2024 at 10:54 PM
Light speed is fast, but space is vast...
Reposted by Dr James O'Donoghue 🪐
In somewhat terrifying but hopefully positive personal news, I've decided to purchase an extremely expensive 10x10 booth in the exhibit hall at the American Geophysical Union meeting in December. I'll be selling my gemstone and wire jewelry and art. I hope you'll come find me there.
October 23, 2025 at 5:41 PM
In somewhat terrifying but hopefully positive personal news, I've decided to purchase an extremely expensive 10x10 booth in the exhibit hall at the American Geophysical Union meeting in December. I'll be selling my gemstone and wire jewelry and art. I hope you'll come find me there.
Let's unravel the mystery of Saturn's polar hexagon.
A jet stream speeds around the pole at 320 km/h (200 mph). That’s common among planets, but what's not is that it oscillates up and down *very* stably. Each low point of this sine wave becomes a corner of a hexagon, when projected onto a sphere:
A jet stream speeds around the pole at 320 km/h (200 mph). That’s common among planets, but what's not is that it oscillates up and down *very* stably. Each low point of this sine wave becomes a corner of a hexagon, when projected onto a sphere:
October 22, 2025 at 5:57 PM
Let's unravel the mystery of Saturn's polar hexagon.
A jet stream speeds around the pole at 320 km/h (200 mph). That’s common among planets, but what's not is that it oscillates up and down *very* stably. Each low point of this sine wave becomes a corner of a hexagon, when projected onto a sphere:
A jet stream speeds around the pole at 320 km/h (200 mph). That’s common among planets, but what's not is that it oscillates up and down *very* stably. Each low point of this sine wave becomes a corner of a hexagon, when projected onto a sphere:
Reposted by Dr James O'Donoghue 🪐
Everyone writing about Perseverance today should be asking how many of the scientists and engineers who were involved in this discovery no longer work for NASA bc of Trump.
September 10, 2025 at 6:29 PM
Everyone writing about Perseverance today should be asking how many of the scientists and engineers who were involved in this discovery no longer work for NASA bc of Trump.
Reposted by Dr James O'Donoghue 🪐
Lunar Eclipse - An hour after rising! #astronomy #astrophotography @stormhour.com @photohour.bsky.social
September 7, 2025 at 7:33 PM
Lunar Eclipse - An hour after rising! #astronomy #astrophotography @stormhour.com @photohour.bsky.social
Worst video ever, but go check out the lunar eclipse going on right now 🙂
September 7, 2025 at 7:17 PM
Worst video ever, but go check out the lunar eclipse going on right now 🙂
Reposted by Dr James O'Donoghue 🪐
Good luck UK Lunar Eclipse hunters. The Moon rises in the east in one hour!
September 7, 2025 at 5:31 PM
Good luck UK Lunar Eclipse hunters. The Moon rises in the east in one hour!
Join us for International Observe The Moon Night in-person (registration required) or online!🔭
Held and organized by the @uniofreading.bsky.social alongside Reading Astronomical Society, @royalastrosoc.bsky.social, Troodos Observatory (Cyprus) and supported by STFC
www.reading.ac.uk/news/2025/Un...
Held and organized by the @uniofreading.bsky.social alongside Reading Astronomical Society, @royalastrosoc.bsky.social, Troodos Observatory (Cyprus) and supported by STFC
www.reading.ac.uk/news/2025/Un...
Observe the Moon Night University of Reading - University of Reading
www.reading.ac.uk
September 1, 2025 at 10:00 AM
Join us for International Observe The Moon Night in-person (registration required) or online!🔭
Held and organized by the @uniofreading.bsky.social alongside Reading Astronomical Society, @royalastrosoc.bsky.social, Troodos Observatory (Cyprus) and supported by STFC
www.reading.ac.uk/news/2025/Un...
Held and organized by the @uniofreading.bsky.social alongside Reading Astronomical Society, @royalastrosoc.bsky.social, Troodos Observatory (Cyprus) and supported by STFC
www.reading.ac.uk/news/2025/Un...
Reposted by Dr James O'Donoghue 🪐
August 5 was a whole millisecond shorter. Strap in for the full explanation.
Why on Earth is the planet’s day getting shorter?
August 5 was a whole millisecond shorter. Strap in for the full explanation.
tcnv.link
August 5, 2025 at 2:47 PM
August 5 was a whole millisecond shorter. Strap in for the full explanation.
Reposted by Dr James O'Donoghue 🪐
Time nerds! This is def. one for you!
Today was/is one of the shortest days of the year.
@interplanetary.bsky.social has got you covered as to many of the reasons why this is likely happening.
Bonus - how quasars, and #RadioAstronomy lead to precision timing, orientation, etc. that gives us GPS!
Today was/is one of the shortest days of the year.
@interplanetary.bsky.social has got you covered as to many of the reasons why this is likely happening.
Bonus - how quasars, and #RadioAstronomy lead to precision timing, orientation, etc. that gives us GPS!
August 5, 2025 at 1:34 PM
Time nerds! This is def. one for you!
Today was/is one of the shortest days of the year.
@interplanetary.bsky.social has got you covered as to many of the reasons why this is likely happening.
Bonus - how quasars, and #RadioAstronomy lead to precision timing, orientation, etc. that gives us GPS!
Today was/is one of the shortest days of the year.
@interplanetary.bsky.social has got you covered as to many of the reasons why this is likely happening.
Bonus - how quasars, and #RadioAstronomy lead to precision timing, orientation, etc. that gives us GPS!
Reposted by Dr James O'Donoghue 🪐
Reposted by Dr James O'Donoghue 🪐
Tiny black dot on Saturn. Early this morning, I photographed a rather rare astronomical event, a shadow transit of Saturn’s largest moon Titan across its parent planet. This is a composite of two frames. Questar telescope /Olympus camera. Observed from metro Chicago. #astrophotography
August 4, 2025 at 2:36 AM
Tiny black dot on Saturn. Early this morning, I photographed a rather rare astronomical event, a shadow transit of Saturn’s largest moon Titan across its parent planet. This is a composite of two frames. Questar telescope /Olympus camera. Observed from metro Chicago. #astrophotography
Reposted by Dr James O'Donoghue 🪐
Our global petition to save NASA science closes this Thursday, and we’re just shy of 15,000 signatures! Every name counts, this petition will be hand-delivered to members of Congress. Add yours today, Save NASA Science.
planet.ly/petition
planet.ly/petition
June 9, 2025 at 8:38 PM
Our global petition to save NASA science closes this Thursday, and we’re just shy of 15,000 signatures! Every name counts, this petition will be hand-delivered to members of Congress. Add yours today, Save NASA Science.
planet.ly/petition
planet.ly/petition
Reposted by Dr James O'Donoghue 🪐
The auroral oval seen from space during the early morning on June 1 - captured by the NOAA-21 satellite flying over North America
June 1, 2025 at 5:00 PM
The auroral oval seen from space during the early morning on June 1 - captured by the NOAA-21 satellite flying over North America
Reposted by Dr James O'Donoghue 🪐
Update on the ongoing geomagnetic storm: the main magnetic core of the 31 May #solarstorm has arrived at Earth starting around 1 June 12 UTC, BUT it is one of those kinds that are VERY unfavorable for #aurora - the field is entirely northward and very likely to remain so for the next few hours.
June 1, 2025 at 4:41 PM
Update on the ongoing geomagnetic storm: the main magnetic core of the 31 May #solarstorm has arrived at Earth starting around 1 June 12 UTC, BUT it is one of those kinds that are VERY unfavorable for #aurora - the field is entirely northward and very likely to remain so for the next few hours.
Reposted by Dr James O'Donoghue 🪐
Looks like that fast CME is here already, about 2.5 hours before our predicted window.
Funnily enough, we've *just* worked out why fast CMEs are often earlier than predicted and will be rolling this into the forecast soon!
agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1029/...
Funnily enough, we've *just* worked out why fast CMEs are often earlier than predicted and will be rolling this into the forecast soon!
agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1029/...
Implications of Using Spheroidal “Cone Model” CMEs in Solar‐Wind Models
Slow spheroidal CMEs produce much longer transit times to 1 AU than observed Wide spheroidal CMEs produce much faster speeds at 1 AU than observed Fixed-duration CMEs, which mimic observed CME e...
agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com
June 1, 2025 at 9:19 AM
Looks like that fast CME is here already, about 2.5 hours before our predicted window.
Funnily enough, we've *just* worked out why fast CMEs are often earlier than predicted and will be rolling this into the forecast soon!
agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1029/...
Funnily enough, we've *just* worked out why fast CMEs are often earlier than predicted and will be rolling this into the forecast soon!
agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1029/...
Reposted by Dr James O'Donoghue 🪐
The WH proposes $6 billion cut in NASA budget, an overall 24% reduction from previous year – and a shocking 47% cut in funding for NASA’s Science Mission Directorate [reductions to to NASA’s fleet of spacecraft already in space, or proposed], an extinction-level event for the Earth & space sciences.
Proposed NASA cuts to space science: “Staggering”
earthsky.org
June 1, 2025 at 12:42 PM
The WH proposes $6 billion cut in NASA budget, an overall 24% reduction from previous year – and a shocking 47% cut in funding for NASA’s Science Mission Directorate [reductions to to NASA’s fleet of spacecraft already in space, or proposed], an extinction-level event for the Earth & space sciences.
Reposted by Dr James O'Donoghue 🪐
There's a fast CME heading into some fast solar wind and some pre-existing slower CMEs. We're currently putting arrival at noon-to-midnight tomorrow, but this forecast may change as more observations become available.
Updates here: research.reading.ac.uk/met-spate/hu...
Updates here: research.reading.ac.uk/met-spate/hu...
May 31, 2025 at 7:04 AM
There's a fast CME heading into some fast solar wind and some pre-existing slower CMEs. We're currently putting arrival at noon-to-midnight tomorrow, but this forecast may change as more observations become available.
Updates here: research.reading.ac.uk/met-spate/hu...
Updates here: research.reading.ac.uk/met-spate/hu...
Reposted by Dr James O'Donoghue 🪐
Please, please, please contact your representatives. Jobs like mine are on the line. 🔭🧪☄️
www.planetary.org/save-nasa-sc...
www.planetary.org/save-nasa-sc...
May 30, 2025 at 11:06 PM
Please, please, please contact your representatives. Jobs like mine are on the line. 🔭🧪☄️
www.planetary.org/save-nasa-sc...
www.planetary.org/save-nasa-sc...