Dr. Caitlin Ahrens
@ahrensscience.bsky.social
Planetary scientist, lunar exploration and sustainability policy. Lunar architecture nerd! UMD-CRESST-II Asst. Research Scientist at NASA GSFC. Science Outreach! Ten Outstanding Young Americans 2018. WVU alum. Views are my own.
Reposted by Dr. Caitlin Ahrens
These earthquakes confuse me.
They're analogous to a number of subduction zone earthquakes that occur at much deeper depths (temperature matters more than pressure/depth for proposed earthquake mechanisms in the mantle), but most explanations for subduction zone earthquakes won't work for them.
They're analogous to a number of subduction zone earthquakes that occur at much deeper depths (temperature matters more than pressure/depth for proposed earthquake mechanisms in the mantle), but most explanations for subduction zone earthquakes won't work for them.
🌟OPEN ACCESS🌟In a new #TSR paper, scientists explore deep mantle earthquakes in Wyoming. In particular, they consider the question of how earthquakes occur in rocks that should be deforming in a ductile fashion — not breaking. ⚒️
buff.ly/N49GZJZ
buff.ly/N49GZJZ
January 18, 2026 at 10:19 PM
These earthquakes confuse me.
They're analogous to a number of subduction zone earthquakes that occur at much deeper depths (temperature matters more than pressure/depth for proposed earthquake mechanisms in the mantle), but most explanations for subduction zone earthquakes won't work for them.
They're analogous to a number of subduction zone earthquakes that occur at much deeper depths (temperature matters more than pressure/depth for proposed earthquake mechanisms in the mantle), but most explanations for subduction zone earthquakes won't work for them.
Reposted by Dr. Caitlin Ahrens
It gets much, much better!
Airbus' Pleiades NEO 3 satellite captured 30cm resolution imagery of SLS rolling out to the pad today at 16:24:26 UTC.
Incredible imagery!
I've uploaded the full capture to @soaratlas.bsky.social: soaratlas.com/maps/140457
Airbus' Pleiades NEO 3 satellite captured 30cm resolution imagery of SLS rolling out to the pad today at 16:24:26 UTC.
Incredible imagery!
I've uploaded the full capture to @soaratlas.bsky.social: soaratlas.com/maps/140457
January 18, 2026 at 1:27 AM
It gets much, much better!
Airbus' Pleiades NEO 3 satellite captured 30cm resolution imagery of SLS rolling out to the pad today at 16:24:26 UTC.
Incredible imagery!
I've uploaded the full capture to @soaratlas.bsky.social: soaratlas.com/maps/140457
Airbus' Pleiades NEO 3 satellite captured 30cm resolution imagery of SLS rolling out to the pad today at 16:24:26 UTC.
Incredible imagery!
I've uploaded the full capture to @soaratlas.bsky.social: soaratlas.com/maps/140457
Reposted by Dr. Caitlin Ahrens
Though they will be pretty far away, human vision is just about the sharpest in the world (in terms of clarity of images, or visual acuity). Ernie Wright explains what will be in the crew's view and shows off his mad visualization skillz: www.youtube.com/watch?v=wdF4...
Artemis Science: Visualizing NASA’s Next Lunar Flyby
YouTube video by NASA Goddard
www.youtube.com
January 18, 2026 at 2:39 AM
Though they will be pretty far away, human vision is just about the sharpest in the world (in terms of clarity of images, or visual acuity). Ernie Wright explains what will be in the crew's view and shows off his mad visualization skillz: www.youtube.com/watch?v=wdF4...
Reposted by Dr. Caitlin Ahrens
Artemis II is at the pad! This is a huge, huge milestone for this mission, this team, and the Agency that I'm proud and privileged to be a part of. While you're enjoying looking at the rocket I’m here to make you a SCIENCE thread! 🧪🔭⚒️🛰️🌔🪐🪨🩸 #planetsci 🧵 www.youtube.com/watch?app=de...
NASA's Artemis II Live Views from Kennedy Space Center
YouTube video by NASA
www.youtube.com
January 18, 2026 at 2:33 AM
Artemis II is at the pad! This is a huge, huge milestone for this mission, this team, and the Agency that I'm proud and privileged to be a part of. While you're enjoying looking at the rocket I’m here to make you a SCIENCE thread! 🧪🔭⚒️🛰️🌔🪐🪨🩸 #planetsci 🧵 www.youtube.com/watch?app=de...
Reposted by Dr. Caitlin Ahrens
🧵
This nice pic from Alireza Vafa shows a triple conjunction of Moon, Jupiter & Saturn, captured through clouds in the wintry twilight, over the Alborz Mountains in Iran after sunset on Dec 17, 2020. 🔭
At the time of their Great Conjunction...⤵️
➡️ apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap20121...
🧪 #planetsci
1/5
This nice pic from Alireza Vafa shows a triple conjunction of Moon, Jupiter & Saturn, captured through clouds in the wintry twilight, over the Alborz Mountains in Iran after sunset on Dec 17, 2020. 🔭
At the time of their Great Conjunction...⤵️
➡️ apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap20121...
🧪 #planetsci
1/5
January 17, 2026 at 7:49 PM
🧵
This nice pic from Alireza Vafa shows a triple conjunction of Moon, Jupiter & Saturn, captured through clouds in the wintry twilight, over the Alborz Mountains in Iran after sunset on Dec 17, 2020. 🔭
At the time of their Great Conjunction...⤵️
➡️ apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap20121...
🧪 #planetsci
1/5
This nice pic from Alireza Vafa shows a triple conjunction of Moon, Jupiter & Saturn, captured through clouds in the wintry twilight, over the Alborz Mountains in Iran after sunset on Dec 17, 2020. 🔭
At the time of their Great Conjunction...⤵️
➡️ apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap20121...
🧪 #planetsci
1/5
Reposted by Dr. Caitlin Ahrens
1 month until a 'ring of fire' annular solar eclipse puts on a show — mostly for penguins www.space.com/stargazing/s...
1 month until a 'ring of fire' annular solar eclipse puts on a show — mostly for penguins
The first solar eclipse of the year will take place on Feb. 17, 2026.
www.space.com
January 17, 2026 at 1:01 PM
1 month until a 'ring of fire' annular solar eclipse puts on a show — mostly for penguins www.space.com/stargazing/s...
Reposted by Dr. Caitlin Ahrens
And here's the Canadian Space Agency's Press Kit for #ArtemisII - www.asc-csa.gc.ca/eng/missions... #CSA
January 16, 2026 at 11:40 PM
And here's the Canadian Space Agency's Press Kit for #ArtemisII - www.asc-csa.gc.ca/eng/missions... #CSA
Reposted by Dr. Caitlin Ahrens
NASA says its Crew-11 astronauts have arrived in Houston after 1st-ever medical evacuation from space station www.space.com/space-explor...
NASA says its Crew-11 astronauts have arrived in Houston after 1st-ever medical evacuation from space station
"All crew members remain stable."
www.space.com
January 16, 2026 at 11:43 PM
NASA says its Crew-11 astronauts have arrived in Houston after 1st-ever medical evacuation from space station www.space.com/space-explor...
Reposted by Dr. Caitlin Ahrens
“Creature alert..creature alert!”
New comb jelly species discovered near Puerto Rico. These would be pretty low-calorie "gelata” snacks for us, but it’s fun to see humans exploring the deep sea!
New comb jelly species discovered near Puerto Rico. These would be pretty low-calorie "gelata” snacks for us, but it’s fun to see humans exploring the deep sea!
Meet Duobrachium sparksae: a newly described comb jelly that looks like a glowing hot-air balloon drifting just above the deep seafloor. Transparent, delicate, and unmistakably transfixing, it reminds us how much biodiversity is in the deep oceans.
www.fisheries.noaa.gov/feature-stor...
www.fisheries.noaa.gov/feature-stor...
January 16, 2026 at 11:45 PM
“Creature alert..creature alert!”
New comb jelly species discovered near Puerto Rico. These would be pretty low-calorie "gelata” snacks for us, but it’s fun to see humans exploring the deep sea!
New comb jelly species discovered near Puerto Rico. These would be pretty low-calorie "gelata” snacks for us, but it’s fun to see humans exploring the deep sea!
Reposted by Dr. Caitlin Ahrens
Some BIG DEAL things about the upcoming #ArtemisII mission to lunar orbit:
- Humans beyond Low Earth Orbit (LEO) for first time in 54 years
- First woman beyond LEO
- First person of colour beyond LEO
- First crewed Orion mission
- First lunar flyby with humans since Apollo
Points 2 & 3 important!
- Humans beyond Low Earth Orbit (LEO) for first time in 54 years
- First woman beyond LEO
- First person of colour beyond LEO
- First crewed Orion mission
- First lunar flyby with humans since Apollo
Points 2 & 3 important!
The very big rocket that will be taking four humans on a journey that will be the furthest any humans have journeyed from everything on Earth in 54 years - incl. every living being that we know about, will be rolling out in ~12 hours from now.
It's slow TV.
But with a big rocket. 🚀
It's slow TV.
But with a big rocket. 🚀
Watch NASA roll huge Artemis 2 moon rocket out to the launch pad on Jan. 17 www.space.com/space-explor...
January 16, 2026 at 11:47 PM
Some BIG DEAL things about the upcoming #ArtemisII mission to lunar orbit:
- Humans beyond Low Earth Orbit (LEO) for first time in 54 years
- First woman beyond LEO
- First person of colour beyond LEO
- First crewed Orion mission
- First lunar flyby with humans since Apollo
Points 2 & 3 important!
- Humans beyond Low Earth Orbit (LEO) for first time in 54 years
- First woman beyond LEO
- First person of colour beyond LEO
- First crewed Orion mission
- First lunar flyby with humans since Apollo
Points 2 & 3 important!
Reposted by Dr. Caitlin Ahrens
Now this is art.
January 16, 2026 at 7:11 PM
Now this is art.
Reposted by Dr. Caitlin Ahrens
Proud of our @setiinstitute.bsky.social partnership combining @skymapper.bsky.social global telescope network with SETI scientific expertise opens continuous, AI-augmented sky monitoring to scientists everywhere. Science shouldn’t be held back by centralized access.
www.seti.org/news/skymapp...
www.seti.org/news/skymapp...
SkyMapper: Mapping the Entire Sky, All the Time
www.seti.org
December 23, 2025 at 2:59 AM
Proud of our @setiinstitute.bsky.social partnership combining @skymapper.bsky.social global telescope network with SETI scientific expertise opens continuous, AI-augmented sky monitoring to scientists everywhere. Science shouldn’t be held back by centralized access.
www.seti.org/news/skymapp...
www.seti.org/news/skymapp...
Reposted by Dr. Caitlin Ahrens
@wired.com is hiring not one but two senior editor positions. Join the best team in journalism, no joke. Here is science... condenast.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/CondeC...
Senior Editor, Science
WIRED is where a better future is imagined. For three decades, we have been the indispensable guide to a world in constant transformation. We cover humanity’s biggest challenges, from climate change t...
condenast.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com
January 16, 2026 at 1:41 PM
@wired.com is hiring not one but two senior editor positions. Join the best team in journalism, no joke. Here is science... condenast.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/CondeC...
Reposted by Dr. Caitlin Ahrens
HiPOD: A Landslide of Mars
This stunning image shows a landslide in Sirenum Fossae, just on the edge of Daedalia Planum, where multiple lava flows have occurred. What was the geometry of the failure that caused it?
https://uahirise.org/hipod/ESP_076597_1540
NASA/JPL-Caltech/University of Arizona
This stunning image shows a landslide in Sirenum Fossae, just on the edge of Daedalia Planum, where multiple lava flows have occurred. What was the geometry of the failure that caused it?
https://uahirise.org/hipod/ESP_076597_1540
NASA/JPL-Caltech/University of Arizona
January 16, 2026 at 3:01 PM
HiPOD: A Landslide of Mars
This stunning image shows a landslide in Sirenum Fossae, just on the edge of Daedalia Planum, where multiple lava flows have occurred. What was the geometry of the failure that caused it?
https://uahirise.org/hipod/ESP_076597_1540
NASA/JPL-Caltech/University of Arizona
This stunning image shows a landslide in Sirenum Fossae, just on the edge of Daedalia Planum, where multiple lava flows have occurred. What was the geometry of the failure that caused it?
https://uahirise.org/hipod/ESP_076597_1540
NASA/JPL-Caltech/University of Arizona
Reposted by Dr. Caitlin Ahrens
Reposted by Dr. Caitlin Ahrens
Jupiter has more oxygen than the sun, new simulations reveal www.space.com/astronomy/ju...
Jupiter has more oxygen than the sun, new simulations reveal
"It really shows how much we still have to learn about planets, even in our own solar system."
www.space.com
January 16, 2026 at 3:02 PM
Jupiter has more oxygen than the sun, new simulations reveal www.space.com/astronomy/ju...
Reposted by Dr. Caitlin Ahrens
me [left]
the news [right]
the news [right]
January 16, 2026 at 1:02 PM
me [left]
the news [right]
the news [right]
Reposted by Dr. Caitlin Ahrens
A major loss. Don York is best known for leading SDSS, which brought optical astronomy into the era of big data.
I met him through his work on the diffuse interstellar bands. Every time we interacted, he was kind, encouraging, and happy to chat with a then-young PhD student (me). 🔭☄️
I met him through his work on the diffuse interstellar bands. Every time we interacted, he was kind, encouraging, and happy to chat with a then-young PhD student (me). 🔭☄️
Donald G. York, co-founder of Sloan Digital Sky Survey and ‘visionary’ astronomer, 1944-2025
news.uchicago.edu/story/donald... 🧪🔭
news.uchicago.edu/story/donald... 🧪🔭
Donald G. York, co-founder of Sloan Digital Sky Survey and ‘visionary’ astronomer, 1944-2025
UChicago professor emeritus helped transform modern astronomy, mapped interstellar medium
news.uchicago.edu
January 16, 2026 at 12:51 PM
A major loss. Don York is best known for leading SDSS, which brought optical astronomy into the era of big data.
I met him through his work on the diffuse interstellar bands. Every time we interacted, he was kind, encouraging, and happy to chat with a then-young PhD student (me). 🔭☄️
I met him through his work on the diffuse interstellar bands. Every time we interacted, he was kind, encouraging, and happy to chat with a then-young PhD student (me). 🔭☄️
Reposted by Dr. Caitlin Ahrens
As you talk about Greenland, please make sure you are talking about the >56,000 Inuit who have called the Island their home for thousands of years. Here are 2 stories that include their voices, concerns, and hopes.
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
canadiangeographic.ca/articles/buy...
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
canadiangeographic.ca/articles/buy...
‘Buying countries is Stone Age mentality:’ Inuit speak up on Greenland
Indigenous Greenlanders, who endured centuries of colonialism from Denmark, now face a new threat from Donald Trump’s United States
canadiangeographic.ca
January 16, 2026 at 11:22 AM
As you talk about Greenland, please make sure you are talking about the >56,000 Inuit who have called the Island their home for thousands of years. Here are 2 stories that include their voices, concerns, and hopes.
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
canadiangeographic.ca/articles/buy...
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
canadiangeographic.ca/articles/buy...
Reposted by Dr. Caitlin Ahrens
Saturn’s south polar vortex in near-infrared false color. Processed using imagery taken by the Cassini spacecraft on October 12, 2006.
flic.kr/p/2h4L2U1
flic.kr/p/2h4L2U1
January 16, 2026 at 2:41 AM
Saturn’s south polar vortex in near-infrared false color. Processed using imagery taken by the Cassini spacecraft on October 12, 2006.
flic.kr/p/2h4L2U1
flic.kr/p/2h4L2U1
Reposted by Dr. Caitlin Ahrens
The Nobel Prize museum in Oslo subtweeting the fuck out of Trump today.
January 16, 2026 at 12:53 AM
The Nobel Prize museum in Oslo subtweeting the fuck out of Trump today.
Reposted by Dr. Caitlin Ahrens
Final FY2026 NASA/NOAA Appropriations Bill Clears Senate, White House is Next spacepolicyonline.com/news/final-f...
January 16, 2026 at 1:06 AM
Final FY2026 NASA/NOAA Appropriations Bill Clears Senate, White House is Next spacepolicyonline.com/news/final-f...
Reposted by Dr. Caitlin Ahrens
🚨Calling all grad students who model earth surface processes.
You could win a CSDMS Syvitski Student Modeler Award, which includes *FREE* travel & lodging for the May CSDMS Annual Mtg in Minneapolis
JAN 26 DEADLINE to submit a project you completed in 2025. See csdms.colorado.edu/wiki/Student...
You could win a CSDMS Syvitski Student Modeler Award, which includes *FREE* travel & lodging for the May CSDMS Annual Mtg in Minneapolis
JAN 26 DEADLINE to submit a project you completed in 2025. See csdms.colorado.edu/wiki/Student...
Only a few weeks left to submit your latest and greatest codes and science finding for consideration for the #CSDMS student modeler award.
csdms.colorado.edu/wiki/Student...
Any #ESPIN-eers ready to share their work?
csdms.colorado.edu/wiki/Student...
Any #ESPIN-eers ready to share their work?
January 16, 2026 at 12:26 AM
🚨Calling all grad students who model earth surface processes.
You could win a CSDMS Syvitski Student Modeler Award, which includes *FREE* travel & lodging for the May CSDMS Annual Mtg in Minneapolis
JAN 26 DEADLINE to submit a project you completed in 2025. See csdms.colorado.edu/wiki/Student...
You could win a CSDMS Syvitski Student Modeler Award, which includes *FREE* travel & lodging for the May CSDMS Annual Mtg in Minneapolis
JAN 26 DEADLINE to submit a project you completed in 2025. See csdms.colorado.edu/wiki/Student...
Reposted by Dr. Caitlin Ahrens
Available projects:
1️⃣ Rubin Difference Detectives: figure out which detected changes in the sky are cosmic events and which are false alarms💥
2️⃣ Rubin Comet Catchers: help Rubin scientists spot comets in early data collected by the observatory☄️
Join at zooniverse.org/rubin 🔭
1️⃣ Rubin Difference Detectives: figure out which detected changes in the sky are cosmic events and which are false alarms💥
2️⃣ Rubin Comet Catchers: help Rubin scientists spot comets in early data collected by the observatory☄️
Join at zooniverse.org/rubin 🔭
Zooniverse
The Zooniverse is the world’s largest and most popular platform for people-powered research.
zooniverse.org
January 15, 2026 at 10:05 PM
Available projects:
1️⃣ Rubin Difference Detectives: figure out which detected changes in the sky are cosmic events and which are false alarms💥
2️⃣ Rubin Comet Catchers: help Rubin scientists spot comets in early data collected by the observatory☄️
Join at zooniverse.org/rubin 🔭
1️⃣ Rubin Difference Detectives: figure out which detected changes in the sky are cosmic events and which are false alarms💥
2️⃣ Rubin Comet Catchers: help Rubin scientists spot comets in early data collected by the observatory☄️
Join at zooniverse.org/rubin 🔭
Reposted by Dr. Caitlin Ahrens
🔭 Want to help explore the Universe? Join NSF–DOE Rubin Observatory on @zooniverse.bsky.social!
You can dive into real Rubin data, help classify objects, and be part of new discoveries from your own screen. 🌌✨
🔗: zooniverse.org/rubin
You can dive into real Rubin data, help classify objects, and be part of new discoveries from your own screen. 🌌✨
🔗: zooniverse.org/rubin
January 15, 2026 at 10:05 PM
🔭 Want to help explore the Universe? Join NSF–DOE Rubin Observatory on @zooniverse.bsky.social!
You can dive into real Rubin data, help classify objects, and be part of new discoveries from your own screen. 🌌✨
🔗: zooniverse.org/rubin
You can dive into real Rubin data, help classify objects, and be part of new discoveries from your own screen. 🌌✨
🔗: zooniverse.org/rubin