John Blackwell

US military shot down party balloon after assessing as drone: Reports The U.S. military shot down a suspected drone near El Paso that was later identified as a party balloon, prompting a brief FAA airspace closure.

<LOL> Happy birthday to you! <as heart shaped mylar balloon travels through the skies..... then...

ZOT!

Laser protection system goes into action and shoots it down. Way to go. How many billions of dollars were spent on this?

www.newsweek.com/us-military-...

Bluebird not really enjoying the heavy snowfall this afternoon.

Bluebird not really enjoying the heavy snowfall this afternoon.

Hawk in pines out back

Thanks to Sue's sharp eyes in catching this fellow landing in the pines out back: eyeing some squirrel supper.

#nikonphotography
#birding

Get Ready for the Geminids It’s December and that means one of the best celestial events will grace the skies. The Geminid meteor shower should peak between Saturday night and Sunday morning, December 13–14.

The Geminid Meteor Shower is upon us. Be sure to find a DARK sky site, away from town and city lights. Brings winter weather clothing and warm food/drink. This event, like most meteor showers, peaks in the morning hours. No telescopes or binocular required.

skyandtelescope.org/press-releas...

Sunspots Dec 3 2025

Monster sunspot group today (at 16:25UT). It's actually three groups in a row: 4298, 4294 and 4296.
#nikonphotography #Televue #baader #EduSky #astrophotography

Aurora from Exeter, NH, USA Nov 11/12, 2025

Aurora from Exeter, NH, USA Nov 11/12, 2025

Aurora from Exeter, NH, USA Nov 11/12, 2025

Aurora from Exeter, NH, USA Nov 11/12, 2025

Aurora from Exeter, NH, USA Nov 11/12, 2025
Strong geomagnetic storm in progress with high probability of more aurora tonight. #EduSky #astrophotography #astronomy

Today's Sun: putting on a good sunspot show.

#Nikon #TeleVie #Baader solar wedge.
#EduSky #astrophotography #astronomy

AI 2027 A research-backed AI scenario forecast.

Wondering about AI and how it will go over the next decade or two? .... maybe check this out. It is a thinker, for sure. Yes, making such predictions is a challenge. These folk are smart and know their stuff. It is a potential scenario, and not a good one for humanity. ai-2027.com

A splendid moment on this day in 2017: Casper, Wyoming, perfect weather, the whole family and totality.

#astronomy
#astrophotography #Nikon
#EduSky

kayaking rest stop

A little bit of relaxation as the summer slowly comes to a close. #kayaking

Aug 3 sunspots

Excellent seeing conditions today, and the Sun is sharing some excellent sunspot groups as well. There is a forest fire smoke layer above us, but very steady conditions prevail.

#astronomy #sunspots #baader #TV85 #edusky #astrophotography

Sunspots today: the Sun is very active still as we make our way through solar maximum. Good seeing conditions, so I though I would share.

Sunspots today: the Sun is very active still as we make our way through solar maximum. Good seeing conditions, so I though I would share.

#tv80 #baader solar wedge #nikonphotography #edusky #astronomy

NH Backyard Birds

NH Backyard Birds

The hummingbirds arrived yesterday. That makes me happy. It was raining, so here are two wet-bird photos from the backyard. #Nikon

Marching onwards: huge sunspot groups continues to impress.

Marching onwards: huge sunspot groups continues to impress. #sunspot #astronomy #edusky #astrophotography #nikon TV85 Baader solar wedge

May 2nd sunspots

Monstrous sunspot has come into full view... and we have a clear-sky moment! This with TV85 and Baader solar wedge. #Nikon. #EduSky #Astrophotography #Astronomy

Lunar eclipse series

lunar eclipse totality

Nice views of the lunar eclipe last night. Had some visitors to the observatory: all good, just a little frosty by the end of the night ;-) These through a 500mm tripod mounted Z9 with 500mm lens. #astronomy #astrophotography #moon #eclipse #astrosky #astrophotography #edusky

Tonight's Earthshine and stars. #Moon #nikon

Tonight's Earthshine and stars.

#Moon #nikon #edusky #astronomy

Sample return - what could possibly go wrong? - The Supermassive Podcast This is The Supermassive Podcast from the Royal Astronomical Society. Every month, science journalist Izzie Clarke and astrophysicist Dr Becky Smethurst take you through the universe with the latest r...

Yea! Another episode of The Super Massive Podcast from the @royalastrosoc.bsky.social is out!

Sample Returns!!

Hosts: Izzie Clarke, @drbecky.bsky.social and @robertmassey.bsky.social
🔭

February 12, 2025 Yesterday afternoon, in a bizarre performance, President Donald Trump hosted reporters in the Oval Office, the formal working space of the President of the United States.

February 12, 2025

Young researchers mobilize to protest Trump administration’s science policies Stunned by attacks on the scientific research system, early career scientists plan a D.C. demonstration and a national ‘Stand Up for Science’ event.

Thanks to @statnews.com for featuring #standupforscience2025! www.statnews.com/2025/02/13/r...

We’re Standing Up for Science because we believe science is for everyone and benefits everyone. It’s time to advocate for science, funding, and education. Join us on March 7th in DC and Nationwide!

snowflake

snowflake

snowflake

snowflake

It's nice to wake up to a fresh layer of snow... and it is still snowing! The perfect opportunity(!) I say to myself, grabbing camera, and macro lens while still in my pajamas! Here are some of the better ones. The flakes are quite ornate and delicate this time.
#Nikon #Z9

Genticorum, a French Canadian traditional group

Genticorum, a French Canadian traditional group

Light post

Genticorum, a French Canadian traditional group

Results of the latest development tank. This is Ilford Delta 3200 exposed and developed at 1600iso. This is also a first run with the Leica M6 and a newly acquired Zeiss Sonnar 50mm f/1.5. Chemistry was Ilford Microphen. I am liking the results.

Some flakes from yesterday's snowfall. It remained cold with larger flakes this time around, making for a better session. Funny that I was exercising (stationary bike), so must have looked pretty darned funny to the neighbors running out with camera in bike shorts and a t-shirt to grab these.

Moon with Earthshine and the planet Venus.

Venus and Moon (with Earthshine).... nice view tonight.

I've pretty much started limiting my own access to the news by allowing myself an hour each dat to catch up on the various happenings out there in the world, and always starting with non-USA-sourced presentation. The USA is greatly divided and very much broken.

High school teachers and students continue doing real astronomy research It’s time! At the winter meeting of the American Astronomical Society (AAS), running from January 12 through January 16 in National Harbor, MD, 14 astronomy educators and 14 of their students from the...

All, looking for a spectacular way to get involved in astronomy education using real data and methods? You have to check out NITARP: Just do it! You and your students will love it. #astronomy #education #STEM

www.ipac.caltech.edu/news/high-sc...

Wishing everyone a happy and peaceful December solstice. 🙏🐧🌴❄️🌧⛷🏂🏄‍♀️🏄

Happy start of Summer for those in the southern hemisphere, and happy Winter for those up north.

B33 Horsehead nebula in Orion

...and one fun image taken on Monday night of B33, the Horsehead Nebula, in Orion. This one with a 0.3m f/8 Maksutov at Las Campanas, Chile. 40 minutes in Lum binned 2x2. They have the best seeing conditions of any observatory I have known. Amazing. #astrophotography #science #EduSky

Wrapping up the fall term: three days remaining to get everything done, comments written and then a short break for Thanksgiving before the start of Winter Term... then two weeks before the holiday break. Winter: 2 Sections of Selected Topics in Astronomy, 1 of Intro physics, and 1 Intro Astro.

It looks more and more like the US Govt is going to be led by daytime television personalities. Let's see: Lost in Space? F-Troop, Gilligan's Island? Were are we off to next?

<disgusted>