Dan Burns
LightNews LightNews
banner
the-physics-well.net
Dan Burns
@the-physics-well.net
1.2K followers 260 following 1.7K posts
Physics Educator, Space Enthusiast, Astrophotographer
https://the-physics-well.net/
Posts Replies Media Videos
Reposted by Dan Burns
zeddary.bsky.social
First Secretary of Defense you could defeat by painting a tunnel on the side of a boulder.
brendannyhan.bsky.social Brendan Nyhan @brendannyhan.bsky.social · 3h
The Secretary of Defense, ladies and gentlemen
November 25, 2025 at 1:55 PM
the-physics-well.net
I use a one shot color camera for comets because it is difficult enough to process without combining images from 4 filters. I am enjoying the simplification of using them for deep sky images too. I took this Horsehead Nebula image waiting for Comet 3I/Atlas to rise. Details In ALT #astrophotography
I band of pink emission nebula is blocked by a dark shape that resembles a knight chess piece. Bright blue stars are shrouded by blue reflection nebula in a filed of stars. The best 63 of 73, 2 minute exposures taken with a Takahashi TSA 120 with a 0.7x reducer and modified Sony Alpha 7 III. Processed using Astro Pixel Processor, Starnet ++, and Photoshop.
November 25, 2025 at 3:48 PM
Reposted by Dan Burns
khagolnomy.space
November 25, 2025 at 1:49 PM
the-physics-well.net
I have imaged objects that formed outside our solar system and objects that formed inside it. Comet 3I/Atlas is the first one I have imaged that formed outside our solar system and currently inside ours! You can even see a tiny tail on this interstellar tadpole! Details in ALT. #astrophotography
small blue-green comet with a small spike of a tail in a field of stars. The best 32 of 34, 60 second exposures using a Takahashi TSA 120 with 0.7x reducer, Sony Alpha 7 III camera, processed using Astro Pixel processor, Starnet++, Photoshop
November 24, 2025 at 7:53 PM
Reposted by Dan Burns
aapthq.bsky.social
Do you teach physics and need support? Consider applying to the Bauder fund for assistance with special physics teaching activities. Apply by December 1st for consideration at the 2026 AAPT Winter Meeting. Learn more at ow.ly/7y4x50VRp8Q #AAPTFunding #AAPTGrants
November 24, 2025 at 3:01 PM
Reposted by Dan Burns
thephysicsshow.bsky.social
A quick reminder that seats for our December performances are now on sale. Tell your friends. Tickets at: www.thephysicsshow.com
November 23, 2025 at 10:07 PM
the-physics-well.net
It's been over a month since I had any deep sky images to post. I captured some exposures of the Pleiades Friday night to test out my gear for a try at Comet 3I/Atlas Saturday AM. Low fog spoiled the attempt at the comet, but this image was a nice consolation prize. Details in ALT #astrophotography
The best 99 out of 120, 30 second exposures with a Takahashi TSA-120 with a 0.7x reducer and a modified Sony Alpha 7 III. Processed with Astro Pixel Processor, StarNet++, Photoshop.
November 24, 2025 at 12:42 AM
Reposted by Dan Burns
ddavisspaceart.bsky.social
Today, 62 years later, I again remember that day as an 11 year old in San Jose, California. The weather was similar to todays, a dark ominous overcast. I remember the crazy panicked school kid comments, and going home to the TV coverage. Here are 4 simultaneous photographs of that moment in Dallas.
These are photos of the third and final shot that ended the life of President Kennedy on 12:30 Texas time November 22, 1963. This event was captured on several still and movie cameras. 8 mm film was a common home media then, and that time was about the start of when events with many witnesses started being likely to have photo documentation. Here is photography in different media, Polaroid still and 8mm motion pictures, of the last 'head shot' that killed President Kennedy. Upper left: Mary Ann Moorman brought her Polaroid camera and clicked the shutter just as the Presidents car passed by. Upper right: This is a frame from the 8mm movie Mary Muchmore obtained for slightly over three seconds, Mary Moorman can be seen taking her photo on the left in the black dress. Lower left: Orville Nix obtained a similar but farther view with his 8mm movie camera. Lower right: The 8mm Zapruder Film is the measuring rod by which all other photography of the assassination is referenced. No other camera obtained as clear and continuous coverage of the events. This is frame 'Z' 315, two frames after the impact. A resulting 'puff' can be seen above Kennedy's head. The book 'Pictures Of The Pain Photography and the assassination of President Kennedy' by Richard B. Trask is Probably the best book quantifying the visual evidence that will ever be made. One intriguing finding of the book is that there were several photographers at the scene whose images have never been seen. The echoes of that terrible day reverberate in the minds of those who remember, like the other few Big Moments that touched the hearts of those alive then. November 22 was a seminal event, which along with the Vietnam policies of the Johnson Administration brought a time of contemplation and reappraisal to millions of especially younger people. Sober appraisals of where we were collectively going and what we wanted to do and be rose to the surface. And the Apollo Moon landings became part of his legacy.
November 23, 2025 at 5:34 AM
Reposted by Dan Burns
apod.shinyakato.dev
🔭 The Observable Universe

Illustration Credit & Licence: Wikipedia, Pablo Carlos Budassi

apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap25112...
A diagram is shown depicting various parts of the universe that are observable. In the middle are the parts closest to Earth, and around the far edges are parts furthest from Earth. Planets, galaxies, and the CMB are illustrated. Please see the explanation for more detailed information.
November 23, 2025 at 8:00 AM
Reposted by Dan Burns
vincentledvina.bsky.social
If anyone is looking for good presents for the upcoming holidays, check out my most popular product, my aurora borealis "Magic Mug!"

Available on my website: theauroraguy.com/products/aur...
November 22, 2025 at 8:04 AM
Reposted by Dan Burns
aapthq.bsky.social
TODAY is the last day to take advantage of the extended deadline for #AAPTWM26 Early Bird registration. Don't delay; you must register by 11:59 pm PT to get the discounted rates! ow.ly/grj250WWIyv #AAPTConference #AAPTMeeting #ITeachPhysics
November 21, 2025 at 2:25 PM
Reposted by Dan Burns
drfunkyspoon.bsky.social
Why are planetary scientists, astrobiologists and and SETI scientists so negative (pissed off, even) about Avi Loeb’s repeated claims that 3I/Atlas may be an invading alien spaceship?
🧵
🧪🔭🛸
(1/7)
November 10, 2025 at 11:41 PM
Reposted by Dan Burns
naztronomy.com
Looks better than starnet I think! No artifacts left behind.

I have a video on StarStaX for star trails if you're curious what I used: youtu.be/WWgfNlSiDT4
StarStaX Tutorial: The EASIEST Way to Create Stunning Star Trails Images
YouTube video by Naztronomy
youtu.be
November 20, 2025 at 8:05 PM
Reposted by Dan Burns
setiinstitute.bsky.social
#PPOD: A vast cavity on the Red Planet looks back at ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter (TGO) with an icy stare. The crater is located in Utopia Planitia, the largest known impact basin in the Solar System, with a diameter of roughly 3,300 km, or twice the size of Earth’s Sahara Desert from north to south. 🧪
A smooth sided crater takes up the majority of this image, taken from space, of the surface of Mars. Ejecta from the impact can be seen as lighter colored dust around the rim of the crater and even in some smaller craters to the left and below the main one. Dark streaks down the inside cliff walls could be evidence of water ice under the surface. The bottom of the crater seems to be almost flat.
November 20, 2025 at 4:03 PM
Reposted by Dan Burns
pnwphysics.bsky.social
youtu.be/C_r5UJrxcck?...
1959 Chevrolet Bel Air vs. 2009 Chevrolet Malibu IIHS crash test
YouTube video by IIHS
youtu.be
November 20, 2025 at 4:56 AM
Reposted by Dan Burns
deanbaird.bsky.social
Did I spend the past few days crafting a question set to accompany episode 1 of The American Revolution? All 112 minutes? One hundred questions? Priced at: Free?

Yes. Tell your history colleagues.

The American Revolution - 1. In Order to Be Free [PBS]
www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/The-...
The American Revolution - 1. In Order to Be Free [PBS]
Questions to accompany episode 1 of PBS's The American Revolution: A Film by Ken Burns, Sarah Botstein & David Schmidt. Political protest escalates into violence. War gives thirteen colonies a com...
www.teacherspayteachers.com
November 20, 2025 at 2:00 AM
the-physics-well.net
#ITeachPhysics
cossettej.bsky.social Joe Cossette @cossettej.bsky.social · 5d
For a little remix of @afreeparticle.com's "Rings of Fire", I 3D printed some magnetic hoops that students could stick to the lockers at any height and distance. For some classes, I gave groups a target time and some I gave a target horizontal distance.
November 20, 2025 at 12:40 AM
Reposted by Dan Burns
ngttg.bsky.social
Every year the Planetary Society does a voted "best of" for space, and I love voting! Here's how I voted this year:

www.planetary.org/best-of-2025

🪐🔭🛰️🧪
Best of 2025
Cast your vote for the best of space exploration and science in 2025!
www.planetary.org
November 20, 2025 at 12:13 AM
Reposted by Dan Burns
aapthq.bsky.social
Are you a K-12 teacher planning to attend #AAPTWM26? If so, check out the K-12 Meeting Resources. Learn more ➡ ow.ly/eW6P50XuimK #AAPTMeeting #AAPTConference #ITeachPhysics
November 19, 2025 at 8:18 PM
Reposted by Dan Burns
vincentledvina.bsky.social
A huge prominence is slowly lifting off the Sun's northern hemisphere right now - beautiful stuff. The CME will likely not have an Earth-directed component, this is just eye candy. :)
November 19, 2025 at 10:15 PM
Reposted by Dan Burns
rogerfreedman.bsky.social
Which of my #ITeachPhysics pals will I see at the January meeting? #VegasBaby
aapthq.bsky.social AAPTHQ @aapthq.bsky.social · 7d
Did you miss the Early Bird registration deadline? Good news! The deadline has been extended until Friday, November 21st! Don't delay; must register by 11:59 pm PT! ow.ly/grj250WWIyv #AAPTConference #AAPTMeeting #AAPTWM26 #ITeachPhysics
November 18, 2025 at 12:09 PM
Reposted by Dan Burns
aapthq.bsky.social
Join us for the next AAPT Virtual Coffee Hour on "Using Generative AI Productively for Teaching and Learning" with presenters Joe Heafner, Brittney VornDick, & Kris Lui on Dec. 9th at 7:30 pm EST. This event is open to the public. ow.ly/3Eqr50Xu6Af #AAPTCoffeeHour #PhysicsEducation #ITeachPhysics
November 19, 2025 at 3:00 PM
Reposted by Dan Burns
karenattiah.bsky.social
I will never forget having to edit Jamal’s final, posthumous piece for the Washington Post, after he was murdered.

He was calling for free expression in the Arab world. You can read it here :

www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/glo...
Opinion | Jamal Khashoggi: What the Arab world needs most is free expression
The Arab world needs a modern version of the old transnational media so citizens can be informed about global events.
www.washingtonpost.com
November 18, 2025 at 6:48 PM
Reposted by Dan Burns
pnwphysics.bsky.social
Excited to have published another Blog post with Vernier on our Car Road Safety project!

I’m really proud of the work my students put into this project and hoping this blog post adds more legitimacy to their advocacy as we take it up with the county #iteachphysics

www.vernier.com/blog/real-wo...
Real-World Physics Problems: Using Vernier Video Analysis to Build Evidence for Safer School Zones - Vernier
Every day, my students cross 112th Street outside our high school—a busy, four-lane corridor with a 40 mph speed limit that often feels more like...
www.vernier.com
November 18, 2025 at 5:59 PM
Reposted by Dan Burns
aapthq.bsky.social
Join us TONIGHT for an AAPT Virtual Coffee Hour on "An Evening with Paul Hewitt," featuring presenters Paul Hewitt and John Suchocki from Conceptual Academy, at 7:30 pm EST. This event is open to the public. ow.ly/fJfn50XbSZy #AAPTCoffeeHour #PhysicsEducation #ITeachPhysics
November 18, 2025 at 2:48 PM