Sandpiper

YouTube video by KATU News The Exploding Whale: An infamous moment in Oregon history creates a strangely beloved icon

55 years ago today, the Oregon State Highway Division had a whale of a problem on its hands. How it solved it is the stuff of legends.

In other words: Happy Exploding Whale Day!

I want you to have that wristwatch. That's granting a Christmas wish to a random BSky stranger. Pleaseeee?

My first reaction is to be skeptical, given the prevalence of AI generated video these days. Are there any technical details disclosed about how this was sighted, how the video was obtained, and if the source is reputable? If this is real, it is extraordinary and worthy of media coverage.

Ah! The many faces of Lulu. A dog with big feelings. <3

That's disgusting. What an asshole!

Is the new kid a puppy or full-grown? Absoutely adorable!

Are those red-necked phaloropes?

YouTube video by Rep. Joe Morelle Rep. Joe Morelle and Peter Morley

Here's my full conversation with Congressman @morelle.house.gov My last meeting of the day. I was exhausted, Anjelika was exhausted but we did it ALL for YOU! The Congressman cares a great deal about his constituents & EVERY American & wants to stop the BIG UGLY BILL!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=m_-9...

Peter, that was a wonderful interview. Yes, you do look exhausted but you spoke really well. Thank you for being our advocate. 💜

The treasure i needed in these dark times! That subreddit totally cracked me up.

With everything going on in the world right now, I REALLY needed this!

Whoa! Rubin Observatory ... you first light overachievers!!! 😍🔭

I'm so sorry to hear about your sweet pup My deepest condolences to you and your family. 💔

Has there been any information released about what caused the explosion? Does anyone know what exactly they were testing?

After the news day we had today, i really needed that refreshing thread.

Thank you for this thread, Chris. The diversity of exoplanets found so far is absolutely amazing. This thread was a fun read that I really needed.

For secret reasons, I’m making a list of types of exoplanet. What should I add? My list starts:

hot jupiters
hot neptunes
lava worlds
Earth-like places
comet-like planets
planets around young stars
planets around old stars
planets around pulsars (eh?)
🔭 🛰️

Kip Thorne's final message in his AEI anniversary lecture.

I am utterly terrified of empidonax flycatchers!

Love this guy!

The White House Gutted Science Funding. Now It Wants to ‘Correct’ Research.

#StandUpforScience
@standupforscience.bsky.social

www.nytimes.com/2025/06/03/c... (gift article)

An orange disk, darker along the edges. There are two clusters opf dark spots on the right. Those are sunspots.

Today's sun image, dedicated to the memory of Mr. Eclipse, Fred Espenak. RIP.

#astrophotography

A friend posted this on her FB page and i felt so bad about having to debunk it. People get genuinely excited about these events, and it bothers me that there are jerks out there taking advantage of it.

NSF, NASA and NIH budgets per year, inflation adjusted from 2000-2025 along with the proposed cuts. NSF includes research component only. Massive cuts across all sectors, well below support spanning 25 years.

How bad will it be? Catastrophic.

Proposed cuts to #NSF, #NIH, and #NASA will set the US R&D landscape back 25 yrs+, cause economic and job loss now, and undermine innovations to come.

But, this is the WH's *proposed* budget.

Speak up now before it is too late.

(inflation adjusted $-s below)

i just read the press release and will be writing about it for @earthskyscience.bsky.social next week. It is fascinating!

Cool! I would be inclined to go with semipalmated because that bill is short and stubby. I have seen a few that are more "dressed up" with rufous back and wing feathers. But I guess only the bird knows for sure. 😆

Follow-up: when did you see it? Westerns tend to come through a bit earlier in May in small numbers along the east coast. If memory serves, you're in NJ. But you never know where/when these birds show up. I got my first ever white-rumped sandpiper yesterday!

Do you have photos showing the bill? My 1st impression was semip. sandpiper. However, the other commentor is probably right that it's a western due to rusty upperparts. But there are no streaks on the flanks. A look at the bill would be useful. Westerns have a slightly longer drooping bill.

It was a Chinese rocket dumping fuel.

It's beautiful. Can you add alt text to your images for visually impaired people?