Dan Burns
@the-physics-well.net
Physics Educator, Space Enthusiast, Astrophotographer
https://the-physics-well.net/
https://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
November 25, 2025 at 3:48 PM
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 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
November 24, 2025 at 7:53 PM
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
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
November 24, 2025 at 12:42 AM
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
My earliest memory is seeing JFK’s casket lying in state in the rotunda on our black and white TV. I had just turned 3. It stuck with me because my parents were very sad about it and I couldn’t understand why.
November 23, 2025 at 4:41 PM
My earliest memory is seeing JFK’s casket lying in state in the rotunda on our black and white TV. I had just turned 3. It stuck with me because my parents were very sad about it and I couldn’t understand why.
Most famous? Maybe. The Benld meteorite has been on display in Chicago's Field Museum for decades. www.ancient-origins.net/videos/benld...
November 22, 2025 at 4:27 PM
Most famous? Maybe. The Benld meteorite has been on display in Chicago's Field Museum for decades. www.ancient-origins.net/videos/benld...
I love StaStaX! You can have it save the individual files and create a video with it too. #astrophotgraphy
November 20, 2025 at 11:47 PM
I love StaStaX! You can have it save the individual files and create a video with it too. #astrophotgraphy
Understand. I think once you are doing 2D momentum they have seen that you have to take the mass into account. It would be nice if you could add mass to the hover pucks but they barely levitate themselves as it is. I wonder if you could reduce their mass by removing bits of plastic and foam.
November 20, 2025 at 1:13 AM
Understand. I think once you are doing 2D momentum they have seen that you have to take the mass into account. It would be nice if you could add mass to the hover pucks but they barely levitate themselves as it is. I wonder if you could reduce their mass by removing bits of plastic and foam.
I will be there. I am conducting a workshop Saturday morning and an interactive session Monday morning. I arrive Friday afternoon and leave Tuesday morning. #ITeachPhysics @aapthq.bsky.social @ncnaapt.bsky.social
November 19, 2025 at 6:00 PM
I will be there. I am conducting a workshop Saturday morning and an interactive session Monday morning. I arrive Friday afternoon and leave Tuesday morning. #ITeachPhysics @aapthq.bsky.social @ncnaapt.bsky.social
This is the solution to the hypothetical (as of today) reply to Frank Drake's Arecibo Message. The message is in John L. Casti's excellent book, Paradigms Lost. As far as I know, he didn't copy it from a real alien transmission. Try challenging your students to decode the binary message.
November 18, 2025 at 6:49 PM
This is the solution to the hypothetical (as of today) reply to Frank Drake's Arecibo Message. The message is in John L. Casti's excellent book, Paradigms Lost. As far as I know, he didn't copy it from a real alien transmission. Try challenging your students to decode the binary message.
Turns it it wasn't an alien! It was some SOFIA swag from the great people at the NASA Astronomy Activation Ambassadors program. I will distribute it to the teachers at the next PTSOS.org workshop. science.nasa.gov/sciact-team/...
November 17, 2025 at 5:36 PM
Turns it it wasn't an alien! It was some SOFIA swag from the great people at the NASA Astronomy Activation Ambassadors program. I will distribute it to the teachers at the next PTSOS.org workshop. science.nasa.gov/sciact-team/...
At my 39 N latitude, green is usually seen as a low glowing fringe in the distance. On 11/11 it was more dynamic as this time-lapse video using 4s exposures shows. I think it is a strong substorm that must have been amazing for those to my north. It is reflected in the lake. #astrophotography
November 17, 2025 at 5:31 PM
At my 39 N latitude, green is usually seen as a low glowing fringe in the distance. On 11/11 it was more dynamic as this time-lapse video using 4s exposures shows. I think it is a strong substorm that must have been amazing for those to my north. It is reflected in the lake. #astrophotography
What perfect album came out the year you turned 16? (I will be 152 when it comes out again!)
November 17, 2025 at 3:29 AM
What perfect album came out the year you turned 16? (I will be 152 when it comes out again!)
I challenged my 9th grade students to decode this hypothetical reply to the Arecibo Message. A few took up my challenge and succeeded. They had creative interpretations of the resulting image. I will give the source when I post the solution tomorrow. It is not from @setiinstitute.bsky.social
November 16, 2025 at 11:09 PM
I challenged my 9th grade students to decode this hypothetical reply to the Arecibo Message. A few took up my challenge and succeeded. They had creative interpretations of the resulting image. I will give the source when I post the solution tomorrow. It is not from @setiinstitute.bsky.social
I wonder what this package from @setiinstitute.bsky.social could be? I bet Avi Loeb has some ideas!
November 16, 2025 at 5:08 PM
I wonder what this package from @setiinstitute.bsky.social could be? I bet Avi Loeb has some ideas!
I just realized while I was replying to you Pink Floyd was playing in the background. My blob looks like there was some thin cirrus obscuring it, but I think it was perfectly clear.
November 15, 2025 at 12:15 AM
I just realized while I was replying to you Pink Floyd was playing in the background. My blob looks like there was some thin cirrus obscuring it, but I think it was perfectly clear.
One of the brightest auroral features I have seen was this blob on 5/11/24, due east. I took this with my iPhone as I was using my other camera to create a time lapse and it was pointed north. I kept thinking that a train was approaching as it slowly grew in brightness.
November 15, 2025 at 12:13 AM
One of the brightest auroral features I have seen was this blob on 5/11/24, due east. I took this with my iPhone as I was using my other camera to create a time lapse and it was pointed north. I kept thinking that a train was approaching as it slowly grew in brightness.
I was stunned by the brightness at my 39 N latitude Northern California location. I was fortunate to be outside during the most intense part when orange appeared inside the red. I watched my camera click away and was tempted to adjust the settings because it looked over-saturated! #astrophotography
November 14, 2025 at 5:36 PM
I was stunned by the brightness at my 39 N latitude Northern California location. I was fortunate to be outside during the most intense part when orange appeared inside the red. I watched my camera click away and was tempted to adjust the settings because it looked over-saturated! #astrophotography
That is the Torque Feeler lab in the Conceptual Physics Lab Manual. I used a 0.5 kg mass instead of the specified 1 kg. 1 kg hurts! "Feel the torque, Luke" #ITeachPhysics
November 14, 2025 at 5:14 PM
That is the Torque Feeler lab in the Conceptual Physics Lab Manual. I used a 0.5 kg mass instead of the specified 1 kg. 1 kg hurts! "Feel the torque, Luke" #ITeachPhysics
This hand-held iPhone image shows the view from 39 N latitude at 9:38 PM on 11/11/2025. The edge of the aurora (or possibly a SAR) reaches all the way to due east. Orion can be seen rising on the right as its reflection sets into the lake. #astrophotography
November 13, 2025 at 8:06 PM
This hand-held iPhone image shows the view from 39 N latitude at 9:38 PM on 11/11/2025. The edge of the aurora (or possibly a SAR) reaches all the way to due east. Orion can be seen rising on the right as its reflection sets into the lake. #astrophotography
We had a red and green lake at line 39 N in Northern California on 11/11. #astrophotography
November 13, 2025 at 5:39 PM
We had a red and green lake at line 39 N in Northern California on 11/11. #astrophotography
I wrote this Smart Cart sense and control activity: www.pasco.com/resources/la... My favorite was a Red Light/Green Light program. It was a little over the top because I had access to all the PASCO equipment. It has a Smart Cart with a motor, light sensor, and wireless light source. #ITeachPhysics
November 13, 2025 at 5:29 PM
I wrote this Smart Cart sense and control activity: www.pasco.com/resources/la... My favorite was a Red Light/Green Light program. It was a little over the top because I had access to all the PASCO equipment. It has a Smart Cart with a motor, light sensor, and wireless light source. #ITeachPhysics
Great list. The free iPhone app Constellation Map Mobile is useful for polar alignment in the daytime. Put in search South Celestial Pole mode, place the phone on the mount's north side. Adjust the Az and El until the phone is pointed down at the SCP. apps.apple.com/us/app/const... #astrophotography
November 13, 2025 at 5:15 PM
Great list. The free iPhone app Constellation Map Mobile is useful for polar alignment in the daytime. Put in search South Celestial Pole mode, place the phone on the mount's north side. Adjust the Az and El until the phone is pointed down at the SCP. apps.apple.com/us/app/const... #astrophotography
I was able to upgrade my room for an extra 3$/night for a High Roller view room. I took this time-lapse from our room at the Westin 8 years ago. It takes 30 min to rotate in real time. With a diameter of 158 m, what is the centripetal acceleration of a passenger? #ITeachPhysics
November 13, 2025 at 3:11 PM
I was able to upgrade my room for an extra 3$/night for a High Roller view room. I took this time-lapse from our room at the Westin 8 years ago. It takes 30 min to rotate in real time. With a diameter of 158 m, what is the centripetal acceleration of a passenger? #ITeachPhysics
After the outburst ended after 9:00, this Unchanging Red Band stayed in the sky until the midnight outburst. It's not an aurora, it is a Stable Auroral Red arc (SAR). They were named before we knew how they formed. I propose we call them URB spaceweatherarchive.com/2021/11/22/3... #astrophotography
November 12, 2025 at 11:45 PM
After the outburst ended after 9:00, this Unchanging Red Band stayed in the sky until the midnight outburst. It's not an aurora, it is a Stable Auroral Red arc (SAR). They were named before we knew how they formed. I propose we call them URB spaceweatherarchive.com/2021/11/22/3... #astrophotography
A cropped still from the after midnight outburst shows the reflected aurora better as the lake was calmer, more lights have been turned off, and the red pillars were closer to the horizon. The Big Dipper shines through in the center. #astrophotography
November 12, 2025 at 7:49 PM
A cropped still from the after midnight outburst shows the reflected aurora better as the lake was calmer, more lights have been turned off, and the red pillars were closer to the horizon. The Big Dipper shines through in the center. #astrophotography