Dr. Fred J. Calef III
@mapperwocky.bsky.social
Science Systems Engineer @NASA/JPL-Caltech. PhD in Geology. 30+ years Geospatial experience. PI for the FOSS4G Multi-Mission Geographic Information System (MMGIS https://github.com/NASA-AMMOS/MMGIS).
Not a NASA account.
Never met a rock I wouldn’t lick.
Not a NASA account.
Never met a rock I wouldn’t lick.
Pinned
Reposted by Dr. Fred J. Calef III
Billion year old shallow water stromatolitic carbonates contact metamorphosed. Green layers with diopside and occasional grossular garnet. Sedimentary layers are preserved, including ripples! Franklin Mountains, El Paso, Texas.
November 13, 2025 at 2:28 PM
Billion year old shallow water stromatolitic carbonates contact metamorphosed. Green layers with diopside and occasional grossular garnet. Sedimentary layers are preserved, including ripples! Franklin Mountains, El Paso, Texas.
Reposted by Dr. Fred J. Calef III
Science World looking festive tonight
November 14, 2025 at 4:59 AM
Science World looking festive tonight
Reposted by Dr. Fred J. Calef III
It's the Mars Exploration Rover video (aka Spirit and Opportunity). Dan Maas created this video by himself (in consultation with the PI Steve Squyres) while an undergraduate (at 16yo!), using a bunch of tech that he built himself, including significant advances to 3D animation. He won an Emmy.
November 14, 2025 at 12:49 AM
It's the Mars Exploration Rover video (aka Spirit and Opportunity). Dan Maas created this video by himself (in consultation with the PI Steve Squyres) while an undergraduate (at 16yo!), using a bunch of tech that he built himself, including significant advances to 3D animation. He won an Emmy.
Reposted by Dr. Fred J. Calef III
While they didn’t live in a pineapple under the Phosphoria Sea, it turns out a good chunk of the prehistoric Intermountain West was once blanketed in sea sponges.
More about this time in Idaho’s ancient past at www.isu.edu/news/2025-fa....
#idahostateucose #STEM #fossil #paleontology
More about this time in Idaho’s ancient past at www.isu.edu/news/2025-fa....
#idahostateucose #STEM #fossil #paleontology
November 13, 2025 at 6:30 PM
While they didn’t live in a pineapple under the Phosphoria Sea, it turns out a good chunk of the prehistoric Intermountain West was once blanketed in sea sponges.
More about this time in Idaho’s ancient past at www.isu.edu/news/2025-fa....
#idahostateucose #STEM #fossil #paleontology
More about this time in Idaho’s ancient past at www.isu.edu/news/2025-fa....
#idahostateucose #STEM #fossil #paleontology
Reposted by Dr. Fred J. Calef III
Jupiter's South Pole - Juno Perijove 11 - February 7 2018 - From Kevin M. Gill (kevinmgill.bsky.social) - https://flic.kr/p/GdoXkw
November 14, 2025 at 6:00 AM
Jupiter's South Pole - Juno Perijove 11 - February 7 2018 - From Kevin M. Gill (kevinmgill.bsky.social) - https://flic.kr/p/GdoXkw
Reposted by Dr. Fred J. Calef III
I want to enter this building, but there's this creepy stork-giraffe wandering around the gate 😑
November 14, 2025 at 5:55 AM
I want to enter this building, but there's this creepy stork-giraffe wandering around the gate 😑
Reposted by Dr. Fred J. Calef III
So I started a new #astrophotography project, the Veil Nebula! It's late in the season to start this, but the difference is that I now have a filter drawer on my Askar FMA 135. This was only 3 hours of data in heavy light pollution. The #Optolong L-Quad Enhance filter is putting in work! #astronomy
November 14, 2025 at 5:14 AM
So I started a new #astrophotography project, the Veil Nebula! It's late in the season to start this, but the difference is that I now have a filter drawer on my Askar FMA 135. This was only 3 hours of data in heavy light pollution. The #Optolong L-Quad Enhance filter is putting in work! #astronomy
Reposted by Dr. Fred J. Calef III
"Without action, the signal from scientists will be drowned out in the marketing noise from oil companies"
Climate reporting deluged by high carbon adverts
Newspapers in Britain carried more adverts for polluting travel than reports of the last climate conference.
theecologist.org
November 12, 2025 at 1:25 PM
"Without action, the signal from scientists will be drowned out in the marketing noise from oil companies"
Reposted by Dr. Fred J. Calef III
Love this Rhamphorhynchus specimen held in the Natural History Museum Karlsruhe. It's like seeing a pterosaur in flight, stuck in time.
November 14, 2025 at 6:09 AM
Love this Rhamphorhynchus specimen held in the Natural History Museum Karlsruhe. It's like seeing a pterosaur in flight, stuck in time.
Reposted by Dr. Fred J. Calef III
A new state-by-state evaluation of the projected energy and water use of "AI" data centers in the US. Looks… real bad. Like, "undoing tech sector climate gains" bad.
Strongly recommends immediately ensuring any & all new "AI" data centers to run on existing & expanded renewables grids. Which… yeah.
Strongly recommends immediately ensuring any & all new "AI" data centers to run on existing & expanded renewables grids. Which… yeah.
Environmental impact and net-zero pathways for sustainable artificial intelligence servers in the USA - Nature Sustainability
The rapid expansion of AI server installations in the United States poses sustainability challenges in terms of water usage and carbon emissions. A study now quantifies these potential impacts and out...
www.nature.com
November 14, 2025 at 2:06 AM
A new state-by-state evaluation of the projected energy and water use of "AI" data centers in the US. Looks… real bad. Like, "undoing tech sector climate gains" bad.
Strongly recommends immediately ensuring any & all new "AI" data centers to run on existing & expanded renewables grids. Which… yeah.
Strongly recommends immediately ensuring any & all new "AI" data centers to run on existing & expanded renewables grids. Which… yeah.
Reposted by Dr. Fred J. Calef III
This is fucking batshit evil bananas
“The prohibited activities would include joint research, co-authorship on papers, and advising a foreign graduate student or postdoctoral fellow. The language is retroactive, meaning any interactions during the previous 5 years could make a scientist ineligible for future federal funding.”
U.S. Congress considers sweeping ban on Chinese collaborations
Researchers speak out against proposal that would bar funding for U.S. scientists working with Chinese partners or training Chinese students
www.science.org
November 14, 2025 at 6:09 AM
This is fucking batshit evil bananas
Reposted by Dr. Fred J. Calef III
A little bit of excitement from last night. The northern lights very rarely ever make it down into central California. Had to go out and see what I could capture.
#aurora #photography #landscape #art #bluesky #california #canon
#aurora #photography #landscape #art #bluesky #california #canon
November 13, 2025 at 3:43 AM
A little bit of excitement from last night. The northern lights very rarely ever make it down into central California. Had to go out and see what I could capture.
#aurora #photography #landscape #art #bluesky #california #canon
#aurora #photography #landscape #art #bluesky #california #canon
Reposted by Dr. Fred J. Calef III
The America First guy has brought in 566 foreign workers during his 5 years in office to work at his companies instead of hiring Americans. And counting.
November 13, 2025 at 1:43 PM
The America First guy has brought in 566 foreign workers during his 5 years in office to work at his companies instead of hiring Americans. And counting.
Reposted by Dr. Fred J. Calef III
Republicans have been trying to deflect and diminish Trump’s close relationship with Jeffrey Epstein by delaying the release of the Epstein files.
But now they can’t hide.
It’s time for the truth to come to light and for the DOJ to release the files.
But now they can’t hide.
It’s time for the truth to come to light and for the DOJ to release the files.
November 13, 2025 at 7:46 PM
Republicans have been trying to deflect and diminish Trump’s close relationship with Jeffrey Epstein by delaying the release of the Epstein files.
But now they can’t hide.
It’s time for the truth to come to light and for the DOJ to release the files.
But now they can’t hide.
It’s time for the truth to come to light and for the DOJ to release the files.
Reposted by Dr. Fred J. Calef III
Evening's soon coming,
the clouds gather gently in,
and it's time for tea.
#haiku #TeaTime #poetrycommunity #poetry #photograghy #skyphoto #WritingCommunity
the clouds gather gently in,
and it's time for tea.
#haiku #TeaTime #poetrycommunity #poetry #photograghy #skyphoto #WritingCommunity
November 13, 2025 at 7:36 PM
Evening's soon coming,
the clouds gather gently in,
and it's time for tea.
#haiku #TeaTime #poetrycommunity #poetry #photograghy #skyphoto #WritingCommunity
the clouds gather gently in,
and it's time for tea.
#haiku #TeaTime #poetrycommunity #poetry #photograghy #skyphoto #WritingCommunity
Reposted by Dr. Fred J. Calef III
Golden Jaisalmer Limestone in NW London at the Shri Sanatan Mandir londongeopartnership.org.uk/wp/wp-conten... #urbangeology #london
November 13, 2025 at 10:48 AM
Golden Jaisalmer Limestone in NW London at the Shri Sanatan Mandir londongeopartnership.org.uk/wp/wp-conten... #urbangeology #london
Reposted by Dr. Fred J. Calef III
Many people believe that the way to attract people to the geosciences is via logical, utilitarian returns on an undergraduate degree.
But left unexplored is the power of the field's inherent irrational, cosmic horror to command attention.
It's 2nd only to astronomy in that, & much more immediate.
But left unexplored is the power of the field's inherent irrational, cosmic horror to command attention.
It's 2nd only to astronomy in that, & much more immediate.
November 12, 2025 at 8:37 PM
Many people believe that the way to attract people to the geosciences is via logical, utilitarian returns on an undergraduate degree.
But left unexplored is the power of the field's inherent irrational, cosmic horror to command attention.
It's 2nd only to astronomy in that, & much more immediate.
But left unexplored is the power of the field's inherent irrational, cosmic horror to command attention.
It's 2nd only to astronomy in that, & much more immediate.
Reposted by Dr. Fred J. Calef III
A second night of aurora, albeit less intense. The clouds amplify the effect by forward-scattering the auroral light towards the viewer on the ground. Here's 5-hours squished into 1-minute 🔭🧪😊
November 13, 2025 at 7:16 AM
A second night of aurora, albeit less intense. The clouds amplify the effect by forward-scattering the auroral light towards the viewer on the ground. Here's 5-hours squished into 1-minute 🔭🧪😊
Reposted by Dr. Fred J. Calef III
I'd just like to point out that we spent an entire shipment of air defense interceptors' worth of money on new signs for a name change that isn't even legally the name of the DoD.
Ukraine is currently experiencing rolling blackouts from Russian strikes, btw.
Ukraine is currently experiencing rolling blackouts from Russian strikes, btw.
Letterheads and signage alone would quickly run the bill upward of $1 billion, with a full overhaul likely rising to double that amount.
Trump’s Insane Pentagon Name-Change Likely to Cost Taxpayers $2 Billion
Changing signage and stationary alone for the Department of Defense would cost at least a billion dollars.
trib.al
November 12, 2025 at 9:39 PM
I'd just like to point out that we spent an entire shipment of air defense interceptors' worth of money on new signs for a name change that isn't even legally the name of the DoD.
Ukraine is currently experiencing rolling blackouts from Russian strikes, btw.
Ukraine is currently experiencing rolling blackouts from Russian strikes, btw.
Reposted by Dr. Fred J. Calef III
Our National Parks are our “crown jewels.” Just one expert was plugging abandoned mines that leak methane and oil into these lands — until this administration let him go.
Their reckless cuts endanger Americans and create a new public health crisis.
Their reckless cuts endanger Americans and create a new public health crisis.
November 12, 2025 at 10:11 PM
Our National Parks are our “crown jewels.” Just one expert was plugging abandoned mines that leak methane and oil into these lands — until this administration let him go.
Their reckless cuts endanger Americans and create a new public health crisis.
Their reckless cuts endanger Americans and create a new public health crisis.
Reposted by Dr. Fred J. Calef III
🛰️🌍🌬️
some minor #highlatitudust activity in Copper River Valley in Alaska today. Seen in webcam but it is not thick enough vertically to show in satellite image.
some minor #highlatitudust activity in Copper River Valley in Alaska today. Seen in webcam but it is not thick enough vertically to show in satellite image.
November 12, 2025 at 1:00 AM
🛰️🌍🌬️
some minor #highlatitudust activity in Copper River Valley in Alaska today. Seen in webcam but it is not thick enough vertically to show in satellite image.
some minor #highlatitudust activity in Copper River Valley in Alaska today. Seen in webcam but it is not thick enough vertically to show in satellite image.
Reposted by Dr. Fred J. Calef III
learning to program in the late 90s and early 00s, you’d inevitably run across classic works like Goto Considered Harmful and No Silver Bullet, even if you weren’t particularly bookish, and there was tons of discourse about HCI as well, all grounded in decades of research
i’m afraid that’s all gone
i’m afraid that’s all gone
July 22, 2025 at 5:38 PM
learning to program in the late 90s and early 00s, you’d inevitably run across classic works like Goto Considered Harmful and No Silver Bullet, even if you weren’t particularly bookish, and there was tons of discourse about HCI as well, all grounded in decades of research
i’m afraid that’s all gone
i’m afraid that’s all gone
Reposted by Dr. Fred J. Calef III
Tonight Democrats proved that old quip.
If a genie gave Democrats 3 wishes, they'd negotiate it down to 1, and then wish for something they think Republicans will like.
We need a true opposition party now more than ever. Because this aint it.
If a genie gave Democrats 3 wishes, they'd negotiate it down to 1, and then wish for something they think Republicans will like.
We need a true opposition party now more than ever. Because this aint it.
November 10, 2025 at 5:07 AM
Tonight Democrats proved that old quip.
If a genie gave Democrats 3 wishes, they'd negotiate it down to 1, and then wish for something they think Republicans will like.
We need a true opposition party now more than ever. Because this aint it.
If a genie gave Democrats 3 wishes, they'd negotiate it down to 1, and then wish for something they think Republicans will like.
We need a true opposition party now more than ever. Because this aint it.
Reposted by Dr. Fred J. Calef III
Average temperature departures by month in the #Antarctic since the year 1940.
Data from @copernicusecmwf.bsky.social ERA5 reanalysis.
Data from @copernicusecmwf.bsky.social ERA5 reanalysis.
November 11, 2025 at 11:57 PM
Average temperature departures by month in the #Antarctic since the year 1940.
Data from @copernicusecmwf.bsky.social ERA5 reanalysis.
Data from @copernicusecmwf.bsky.social ERA5 reanalysis.
Reposted by Dr. Fred J. Calef III
They say if the mainstream media mentions it, it won't happen. We'll see... 😀🤞 'Northern Lights set to dazzle UK this week due to possible 'severe' geomagnetic storm' #Aurora #Astronomy www.bbc.co.uk/weather/arti...
Northern Lights set to dazzle UK this week due to possible 'Severe' geomagnetic storm
Activity on the surface of the Sun means the chance of the Northern Lights shining over the UK is high this week as Elizabeth Rizzini explains.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 11, 2025 at 8:14 PM
They say if the mainstream media mentions it, it won't happen. We'll see... 😀🤞 'Northern Lights set to dazzle UK this week due to possible 'severe' geomagnetic storm' #Aurora #Astronomy www.bbc.co.uk/weather/arti...