Leila Belkora PhD, astrophysics

Google search "how much does a good telescope cost" - result: 2.5 billion USD Hubble Space Telescope, Cost

It's that time of year. "I want to get them a telescope for Christmas but they might not stay interested so I don't want to spend too much but I want to get a good one.”

The season wouldn’t start without them. Who knew one lost consonant could bring so much pleasure?

Belated but warm wishes on your birthday, Scott! Have an excellent year.

YouTube video by VOCES8 VOCES8: Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening by Eric Whitacre

I have mixed feelings in general about setting Frost’s poems to music, but it is interesting to know that Eric Whitacre recently got long-sought permission to perform his piece, which is beautiful.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=FgcZ...

While I was writing under deadline pressure, I left little notes to myself. I’m trying to clean up my desk now, and so far have found these notes are either a) unimportant, b) unintelligible, or c) absolutely vital pieces of information I’d left out of the manuscript.

It’s quite nerve-wracking.

Pine trees in thick fog.

Season of mists and all that, but also, somehow, dry skin.

With eye on future, Lowell Observatory shaves jobs, focuses science As scientists scramble to land on their feet, the observatory’s mission remains to conduct science and public outreach.

Sad to read about the effects of constrained budgets on staff at Lowell. 🧪🔭
physicstoday.aip.org/news/with-ey...

PBS News Hour | Former USAID employees keep agency’s life-saving work afloat | Season 2025 Former USAID employees keep dismantled agency’s life-saving work afloat

These former U.S. AID employees have big hearts, great entrepreneurial and organizational spirit, and seem to be making a real difference alleviating suffering in the world. If you want to “look for the helpers,” here they are…

www.pbs.org/video/former...

Reposting this since many are doing some holiday shopping. I’m not sure if you can use the discount code AND benefit from the current “Black Friday” sale… hoping someone will order and let me know! 🧪🔭

Bright red toyon berries.

Great blue heron perched on a branch low over the water. Behind it, harder to see, a yellow-crowned night heron.

San Gabriel mountains in the distance with reeds and water in the foreground.

Great egret, a large white bird, stalking something in the water at the base of a tall reedy plant.

Birding the San Joaquin Marsh this afternoon.

Did not manage to get a good picture of the white pelican that flew so low over my head, beating its wings, that I heard feathers swishing.

A City Is Broke. Can Billionaires’ Urbanist Dream Offer It a Last Chance?

Article of interest to my fellow Californians. As usual, some of the comments are substantive and insightful.

www.nytimes.com/2025/11/18/b...

Distant mountains, with the highest peaks showing some snow. Foreground water and middle ground urban area, including one tall white building. Sky is pastel blue and cloudy gray.

Yesterday’s view of the San Gabriel mountains, dusted with snow. Newport Beach “back bay” in foreground.

Jupiter appears as a bright star in a night sky colored purple with auroral light. The planet is rising over a dark ridge, its light reflected in the waters of a lake in the foreground. Woodruff Narrows Reservoir, Wyoming. Photo: Bill Dunford.

Jupiter, itself home to massive auroras, rising through auroras and clouds on Nov. 11.

Cherries pie with slice removed and filling visible.

I made sour cherry for someone’s birthday recently. Had to use canned cherries of course. Passable though.

Biblichor! I love it.

Today, in Utah, homeowners *or renters* can simply buy a solar panel at Costco, take it home, and plug it in to a wall socket, like an appliance. It just sits there & trims about 15-20% off a residential power bill. If you move to another apt., you can take it with you.

The compromise solution is cold (refrigerated) mandarin orange segments that come in a can.

A little good 🧪 news
“Controls on ozone-depleting chemical compounds…are driving the gradual recovery of the ozone layer, which remains on track to recover fully later this century as countries around the world replace ozone-depleting substances with less-harmful alternatives.”
x.com/sptelescope/...

The spacecraft’s StowCam imager shows the OSIRIS-APEX instrument deck in the foreground while providing a view of Earth as the spacecraft flies over the Atlantic Ocean. South America can be seen on the left side of the frame. Credit: NASA/Goddard/University of Arizona/Lockheed Martin

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.)

I’ve used both books and they are excellent. Together they can guide a scholarly writer from the early stage of refining a book ✨ idea ✨ all the way to refining a book manuscript 📕.

Peanut Allergies Have Plummeted in Children, Study Shows

Good news, and the culmination of years of research into preventing food allergies.

The article doesn’t mention it, but the original impetus for this research came from an alumnus of my high school, Gideon Lack. 🧪

www.nytimes.com/2025/10/20/w...

Glad you had a good turnout, Seán!

Took the rainbow picture before going into grocery store. This is what greeted me upon exiting. Very heavy downpour (not snow as it may look).

Segment of rainbow against a grey cloud, with a bit of blue sky beneath. Three palm trees in foreground.

California rainbow just now. Happy Friday!

Sorry to hear it.

It takes 225 million years or so for the Solar System to make one orbit around the galaxy. Sharks evolved long enough ago that they’ve done it twice.

Yes, that was good. The best was about the E*s**** files though.

I couldn’t believe it at first, thought this was a prank.

Some funny replies to the original poster. But still concerning.

I’m set for readers Sammie, but thank you.

It comprehends multitudes. Waiting to see if my editor will notice or allow some of my fun entries.