Riding With Robots
@ridingrobots.bsky.social
Robotic solar system exploration, night sky photography, exasperating earnestness. My day job is impersonating some of your favorite planets and spacecraft on social media for one of your favorite government agencies. Opinions here are my own.
The low moon helps me sing
— Feist
— Feist
November 27, 2025 at 4:53 AM
The low moon helps me sing
— Feist
— Feist
Jupiter, itself home to massive auroras, rising through auroras and clouds on Nov. 11.
November 27, 2025 at 1:26 AM
Jupiter, itself home to massive auroras, rising through auroras and clouds on Nov. 11.
I take this one personally. These are traitors to my nation, my profession, and the truth. I hope the damage and pain this regime has wrought haunts them for the rest of their lives. At least until they find a way someday to help undo it.
November 27, 2025 at 1:00 AM
I take this one personally. These are traitors to my nation, my profession, and the truth. I hope the damage and pain this regime has wrought haunts them for the rest of their lives. At least until they find a way someday to help undo it.
I don't know why this idea is suddenly flaring up online so early, but yeah, this time next year, Voyager 1 will be one light-DAY away – meaning it will take light a whole 24 hours to travel between Earth and the spacecraft. For comparison: Mars is a few light MINUTES from Earth!
November 26, 2025 at 9:01 PM
I don't know why this idea is suddenly flaring up online so early, but yeah, this time next year, Voyager 1 will be one light-DAY away – meaning it will take light a whole 24 hours to travel between Earth and the spacecraft. For comparison: Mars is a few light MINUTES from Earth!
A recent test image from Europa Clipper's star tracker cameras includes a planet.
science.nasa.gov/photojournal...
Remember photographers: aim for the stars. If you miss you may still get a shot of Uranus.
science.nasa.gov/photojournal...
Remember photographers: aim for the stars. If you miss you may still get a shot of Uranus.
November 25, 2025 at 11:22 PM
A recent test image from Europa Clipper's star tracker cameras includes a planet.
science.nasa.gov/photojournal...
Remember photographers: aim for the stars. If you miss you may still get a shot of Uranus.
science.nasa.gov/photojournal...
Remember photographers: aim for the stars. If you miss you may still get a shot of Uranus.
On Sept. 23, NASA’s OSIRIS-APEX (Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, and Security – Apophis Explorer) spacecraft flew within 2,136 miles (3,438 kilometers) of Earth. Video and details: go.nasa.gov/4ofmdIw (Let's hope they don't cancel this mission.)
November 25, 2025 at 4:35 PM
On Sept. 23, NASA’s OSIRIS-APEX (Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, and Security – Apophis Explorer) spacecraft flew within 2,136 miles (3,438 kilometers) of Earth. Video and details: go.nasa.gov/4ofmdIw (Let's hope they don't cancel this mission.)
November 25, 2025 at 12:25 AM
One thing photos don't capture is the awesome immensity of these structures filling the sky, bridging the boundary between Earth and space.
November 24, 2025 at 3:48 AM
One thing photos don't capture is the awesome immensity of these structures filling the sky, bridging the boundary between Earth and space.
The morning lake
was smooth as a mirror.
A few angels were even seen
flying down
just after dawn
to check themselves out.
— Billy Collins
was smooth as a mirror.
A few angels were even seen
flying down
just after dawn
to check themselves out.
— Billy Collins
November 23, 2025 at 3:20 AM
The morning lake
was smooth as a mirror.
A few angels were even seen
flying down
just after dawn
to check themselves out.
— Billy Collins
was smooth as a mirror.
A few angels were even seen
flying down
just after dawn
to check themselves out.
— Billy Collins
Layers in Crommelin Crater as seen by the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter in September 2025. The area shown is about a kilometer across.
I figure in that in one-third gravity I could climb this pretty quick?
science.nasa.gov/mission/mars-reconnaissance-orbiter/
I figure in that in one-third gravity I could climb this pretty quick?
science.nasa.gov/mission/mars-reconnaissance-orbiter/
November 21, 2025 at 9:37 PM
Layers in Crommelin Crater as seen by the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter in September 2025. The area shown is about a kilometer across.
I figure in that in one-third gravity I could climb this pretty quick?
science.nasa.gov/mission/mars-reconnaissance-orbiter/
I figure in that in one-third gravity I could climb this pretty quick?
science.nasa.gov/mission/mars-reconnaissance-orbiter/
Gathering the light in my little black box so you can let it out again from your screen.
November 21, 2025 at 5:40 AM
Gathering the light in my little black box so you can let it out again from your screen.
Always just waiting for the next time.
November 19, 2025 at 11:05 PM
Always just waiting for the next time.
Can't fence it in.
Wahsatch, Utah
Wahsatch, Utah
November 18, 2025 at 4:36 AM
Can't fence it in.
Wahsatch, Utah
Wahsatch, Utah
Moving across the face of the waters
Barker Reservoir, Utah
Barker Reservoir, Utah
November 17, 2025 at 1:39 AM
Moving across the face of the waters
Barker Reservoir, Utah
Barker Reservoir, Utah
Transmissions
Utah/Wyoming Border
Utah/Wyoming Border
November 16, 2025 at 3:39 AM
Transmissions
Utah/Wyoming Border
Utah/Wyoming Border
Some of my favorite people on one of my favorite planets.
November 15, 2025 at 8:38 PM
Some of my favorite people on one of my favorite planets.
Night sky light is usually so distant you can only glimpse it, long for it. Sometimes, though, it it brushes close enough to feel.
November 14, 2025 at 7:12 PM
Night sky light is usually so distant you can only glimpse it, long for it. Sometimes, though, it it brushes close enough to feel.
Yet is there hope. Time and tide flow wide.
Woodruff Narrows Reservoir
Woodruff Narrows Reservoir
November 14, 2025 at 5:23 AM
Yet is there hope. Time and tide flow wide.
Woodruff Narrows Reservoir
Woodruff Narrows Reservoir
Nominal launch so far
November 13, 2025 at 9:02 PM
Nominal launch so far
And, pretty soon, an Earth launch!
The Sentinel-6B mission will continue the decades-long program of tracking sea level changes carried out by NASA and its partners. Stay tuned for launch on Nov. 16.
go.nasa.gov/46GagEO
The Sentinel-6B mission will continue the decades-long program of tracking sea level changes carried out by NASA and its partners. Stay tuned for launch on Nov. 16.
go.nasa.gov/46GagEO
November 13, 2025 at 8:24 PM
And, pretty soon, an Earth launch!
The Sentinel-6B mission will continue the decades-long program of tracking sea level changes carried out by NASA and its partners. Stay tuned for launch on Nov. 16.
go.nasa.gov/46GagEO
The Sentinel-6B mission will continue the decades-long program of tracking sea level changes carried out by NASA and its partners. Stay tuned for launch on Nov. 16.
go.nasa.gov/46GagEO
Mars launch today! 🚀 NASA's twin ESCAPADE spacecraft will study space weather at Mars to better understand the Red Planet's history and how to protect future explorers: science.nasa.gov/mission/esca...
Window opens at 2:57 PM EST. Launch blog: go.nasa.gov/3WWDOK9 Blue Origin will livestream.
Window opens at 2:57 PM EST. Launch blog: go.nasa.gov/3WWDOK9 Blue Origin will livestream.
November 13, 2025 at 7:14 PM
Mars launch today! 🚀 NASA's twin ESCAPADE spacecraft will study space weather at Mars to better understand the Red Planet's history and how to protect future explorers: science.nasa.gov/mission/esca...
Window opens at 2:57 PM EST. Launch blog: go.nasa.gov/3WWDOK9 Blue Origin will livestream.
Window opens at 2:57 PM EST. Launch blog: go.nasa.gov/3WWDOK9 Blue Origin will livestream.
What you can't see are the small white rabbits that were with me along the shore, all of us quietly watching the eastern sky.
Jupiter rising over Woodruff Narrows Reservoir, Wyoming
Jupiter rising over Woodruff Narrows Reservoir, Wyoming
November 12, 2025 at 3:47 PM
What you can't see are the small white rabbits that were with me along the shore, all of us quietly watching the eastern sky.
Jupiter rising over Woodruff Narrows Reservoir, Wyoming
Jupiter rising over Woodruff Narrows Reservoir, Wyoming
