David Dickinson
@astrodave.bsky.social
Writer, Space pundit, Skywatcher
Pinned
Feb Astronomy
1-Full Snow Moon
3-Moon occults Regulus (N America, Atlantic)
11-Moon occults Antares (S Atlantic)
16-Moon occults Mars (S Pacific)
17-Annular solar eclipse (Antarctic)
18-Venus pairs w/Moon
18-Moon occults Mercury (SE US)
19-Mercury greatest elongation
24-Moon occults M45 (Arctic)
1-Full Snow Moon
3-Moon occults Regulus (N America, Atlantic)
11-Moon occults Antares (S Atlantic)
16-Moon occults Mars (S Pacific)
17-Annular solar eclipse (Antarctic)
18-Venus pairs w/Moon
18-Moon occults Mercury (SE US)
19-Mercury greatest elongation
24-Moon occults M45 (Arctic)
It’s not one of the images cited as ‘iconic’ from the early Space Age… but the Soviet Union’s Luna 9 snapped the 1st image from the surface of the Moon #OnThisDay February 3, 1966, looking out over its landing site in the Oceanus Procellarum (Ocean of Storms): commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Fi...
February 3, 2026 at 3:17 PM
It’s not one of the images cited as ‘iconic’ from the early Space Age… but the Soviet Union’s Luna 9 snapped the 1st image from the surface of the Moon #OnThisDay February 3, 1966, looking out over its landing site in the Oceanus Procellarum (Ocean of Storms): commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Fi...
Reposted by David Dickinson
February 3, 2026 at 12:46 AM
Reposted by David Dickinson
More to come. All about the Deep Space Network if you're interested: www.nasa.gov/communicatin... It will play a key role in communicating with the Artemis II Moon mission this month. Oh and this is cool: See which antennas are communicating with which spacecraft live: eyes.nasa.gov/apps/dsn-now...
February 1, 2026 at 10:26 PM
More to come. All about the Deep Space Network if you're interested: www.nasa.gov/communicatin... It will play a key role in communicating with the Artemis II Moon mission this month. Oh and this is cool: See which antennas are communicating with which spacecraft live: eyes.nasa.gov/apps/dsn-now...
One. More. week: theconversation.com/nasas-artemi...
NASA’s Artemis II crewed mission to the Moon shows how US space strategy has changed since Apollo – and contrasts with China’s closed program
Today, there aren’t just two countries competing to get to the Moon. More countries have space programs, and private industry plays a larger role.
theconversation.com
February 2, 2026 at 11:52 PM
One. More. week: theconversation.com/nasas-artemi...
Tonight: the waning gibbous Moon occults the bright star Regulus (Alpha Leonis) for eastern North America, the Atlantic and NW Africa centered on ~3:28 UT… this will be a tough one to catch though, as the dazzling Moon is -98% illuminated during the event, just a day past Full.
February 2, 2026 at 1:07 PM
Tonight: the waning gibbous Moon occults the bright star Regulus (Alpha Leonis) for eastern North America, the Atlantic and NW Africa centered on ~3:28 UT… this will be a tough one to catch though, as the dazzling Moon is -98% illuminated during the event, just a day past Full.
Spaceflight Missions to Watch for in February 2026
(1 of 2)
2-VKS RF/Soyuz/Plesetsk/Unk
2-SpaceX/Falcon-9/VSFB/Starlink G17-32
3-SpaceX/Falcon-9/Cape/Starlink G6-103
6-SpaceX/Falcon-9/VSFB/Starlink G17-33
7-SpaceX/Falcon-9/Cape/Starlink G6-104
8-NASA/SLS Block-1/KSC/Artemis II
(1 of 2)
2-VKS RF/Soyuz/Plesetsk/Unk
2-SpaceX/Falcon-9/VSFB/Starlink G17-32
3-SpaceX/Falcon-9/Cape/Starlink G6-103
6-SpaceX/Falcon-9/VSFB/Starlink G17-33
7-SpaceX/Falcon-9/Cape/Starlink G6-104
8-NASA/SLS Block-1/KSC/Artemis II
February 2, 2026 at 12:36 PM
Spaceflight Missions to Watch for in February 2026
(1 of 2)
2-VKS RF/Soyuz/Plesetsk/Unk
2-SpaceX/Falcon-9/VSFB/Starlink G17-32
3-SpaceX/Falcon-9/Cape/Starlink G6-103
6-SpaceX/Falcon-9/VSFB/Starlink G17-33
7-SpaceX/Falcon-9/Cape/Starlink G6-104
8-NASA/SLS Block-1/KSC/Artemis II
(1 of 2)
2-VKS RF/Soyuz/Plesetsk/Unk
2-SpaceX/Falcon-9/VSFB/Starlink G17-32
3-SpaceX/Falcon-9/Cape/Starlink G6-103
6-SpaceX/Falcon-9/VSFB/Starlink G17-33
7-SpaceX/Falcon-9/Cape/Starlink G6-104
8-NASA/SLS Block-1/KSC/Artemis II
Reposted by David Dickinson
Oh lordy, woo hoo! X8.1 and X1.5 solar flares from sunspot 4366. 😃
X-ray Solar Flares
X8 2357 UT Feb01
X-ray Solar Flares
X8 2357 UT Feb01
February 2, 2026 at 12:44 AM
Oh lordy, woo hoo! X8.1 and X1.5 solar flares from sunspot 4366. 😃
X-ray Solar Flares
X8 2357 UT Feb01
X-ray Solar Flares
X8 2357 UT Feb01
Wowser. Massive sunspot region AR 4366 juuust kicked off a powerful X-8.1 class flare within the past hour... could be an interesting spaceweather week ahead. #DwarfLab #DwarfMini
February 2, 2026 at 12:33 AM
Wowser. Massive sunspot region AR 4366 juuust kicked off a powerful X-8.1 class flare within the past hour... could be an interesting spaceweather week ahead. #DwarfLab #DwarfMini
Interesting. The Helix Nebula shares key similarities with a remote, amateur-discovered planetary nebula:
skyandtelescope.org/astronomy-ne... - Via @skyandtelescope.bsky.social
skyandtelescope.org/astronomy-ne... - Via @skyandtelescope.bsky.social
What the Helix Nebula Has in Common with a Supernova Remnant
Sculpted gases in the Helix Nebula look like the firework-like tendrils in a distant amateur-discovered supernova remnant — here's why.
skyandtelescope.org
February 1, 2026 at 10:55 PM
Interesting. The Helix Nebula shares key similarities with a remote, amateur-discovered planetary nebula:
skyandtelescope.org/astronomy-ne... - Via @skyandtelescope.bsky.social
skyandtelescope.org/astronomy-ne... - Via @skyandtelescope.bsky.social
Feb Astronomy
1-Full Snow Moon
3-Moon occults Regulus (N America, Atlantic)
11-Moon occults Antares (S Atlantic)
16-Moon occults Mars (S Pacific)
17-Annular solar eclipse (Antarctic)
18-Venus pairs w/Moon
18-Moon occults Mercury (SE US)
19-Mercury greatest elongation
24-Moon occults M45 (Arctic)
1-Full Snow Moon
3-Moon occults Regulus (N America, Atlantic)
11-Moon occults Antares (S Atlantic)
16-Moon occults Mars (S Pacific)
17-Annular solar eclipse (Antarctic)
18-Venus pairs w/Moon
18-Moon occults Mercury (SE US)
19-Mercury greatest elongation
24-Moon occults M45 (Arctic)
February 1, 2026 at 3:54 PM
Feb Astronomy
1-Full Snow Moon
3-Moon occults Regulus (N America, Atlantic)
11-Moon occults Antares (S Atlantic)
16-Moon occults Mars (S Pacific)
17-Annular solar eclipse (Antarctic)
18-Venus pairs w/Moon
18-Moon occults Mercury (SE US)
19-Mercury greatest elongation
24-Moon occults M45 (Arctic)
1-Full Snow Moon
3-Moon occults Regulus (N America, Atlantic)
11-Moon occults Antares (S Atlantic)
16-Moon occults Mars (S Pacific)
17-Annular solar eclipse (Antarctic)
18-Venus pairs w/Moon
18-Moon occults Mercury (SE US)
19-Mercury greatest elongation
24-Moon occults M45 (Arctic)
Keep in mind... from a distance, Venus might appear 'Earth-like' -
www.science.org/content/arti...
www.science.org/content/arti...
Earth-size planet spotted with yearlong orbit
Long-overlooked Kepler signal discovered by citizen scientists reveals promising world worth a closer look
www.science.org
January 31, 2026 at 11:27 PM
Keep in mind... from a distance, Venus might appear 'Earth-like' -
www.science.org/content/arti...
www.science.org/content/arti...
Reposted by David Dickinson
The U.S. government has entered a partial shutdown over a fight for immigration reform. Some science-related funding, including for FEMA, Education, & Health & Human services, has also gotten caught up in this fight.
eos.org/research-and...
eos.org/research-and...
Partial Shutdown Over DHS Funding Ensnares Education, Health - Eos
The U.S. government entered a partial shutdown Saturday at 12:01 Eastern after the Senate failed to resolve a showdown over funding for DHS and restrictions on ICE.
eos.org
January 31, 2026 at 5:01 AM
The U.S. government has entered a partial shutdown over a fight for immigration reform. Some science-related funding, including for FEMA, Education, & Health & Human services, has also gotten caught up in this fight.
eos.org/research-and...
eos.org/research-and...
(Astro) Story time… A while back, I was making copies of maps for a murder mystery game. In an effort to save printer ink, I instructed CoPilot AI to simply gray scale the master graphic for printing… turns out, it did lots more than that: it decided to also translate the labels into gibberish:
January 31, 2026 at 3:56 PM
(Astro) Story time… A while back, I was making copies of maps for a murder mystery game. In an effort to save printer ink, I instructed CoPilot AI to simply gray scale the master graphic for printing… turns out, it did lots more than that: it decided to also translate the labels into gibberish:
Ouch: one of NASA's 3 WB-57 aircraft made an emergency gears up landing this week (the crew is safe) -
www.twz.com/space/nasa-w... (with video)
www.twz.com/space/nasa-w... (with video)
NASA WB-57F Canberra Jet Makes Fiery Belly-Landing In Houston (Updated)
NASA has a fleet of just three of the high-flying WB-57F aircraft, which are used for a wide array of scientific and defense-related missions.
www.twz.com
January 30, 2026 at 10:53 PM
Ouch: one of NASA's 3 WB-57 aircraft made an emergency gears up landing this week (the crew is safe) -
www.twz.com/space/nasa-w... (with video)
www.twz.com/space/nasa-w... (with video)
Reposted by David Dickinson
U.S. District Judge Margaret Garnett dismissed a federal murder charge against Luigi Mangione, finding it was technically flawed.
Garnett left in place stalking charges that carry a maximum punishment of life in prison. https://to.pbs.org/3NNajJo
Garnett left in place stalking charges that carry a maximum punishment of life in prison. https://to.pbs.org/3NNajJo
Federal prosecutors can't seek death penalty against Luigi Mangione, judge rules
U.S. District Judge Margaret Garnett dismissed a federal murder charge against Mangione, finding it was technically flawed. Garnett left in place stalking charges that carry a maximum punishment of li...
to.pbs.org
January 30, 2026 at 4:59 PM
U.S. District Judge Margaret Garnett dismissed a federal murder charge against Luigi Mangione, finding it was technically flawed.
Garnett left in place stalking charges that carry a maximum punishment of life in prison. https://to.pbs.org/3NNajJo
Garnett left in place stalking charges that carry a maximum punishment of life in prison. https://to.pbs.org/3NNajJo
Reposted by David Dickinson
The second stage of the first Zhuque-3 rocket launched in December reentered at 1239 UTC today (±1 min) over the Southern Ocean, according to a US Space Force TIP message. There was a surprising level of interest in the event in Europe, due to ground tracks & reentry estimates.
This is a spectacular view of the fiery descent and failed landing attempt of the Zhuque-3 first stage. m.weibo.cn/detail/52397...
January 30, 2026 at 4:12 PM
The second stage of the first Zhuque-3 rocket launched in December reentered at 1239 UTC today (±1 min) over the Southern Ocean, according to a US Space Force TIP message. There was a surprising level of interest in the event in Europe, due to ground tracks & reentry estimates.
Reposted by David Dickinson
Sculpted gases in the Helix Nebula, revealed in a new Webb Telescope image, look like the firework-like tendrils in a distant amateur-discovered supernova remnant — here’s why.
skyandtelescope.org/astronomy-ne...
skyandtelescope.org/astronomy-ne...
January 30, 2026 at 4:15 PM
Sculpted gases in the Helix Nebula, revealed in a new Webb Telescope image, look like the firework-like tendrils in a distant amateur-discovered supernova remnant — here’s why.
skyandtelescope.org/astronomy-ne...
skyandtelescope.org/astronomy-ne...
I’ve seen these, back in my Alaska days… Alan Tough caught an unusual phenomenon while observing the recent aurora storm from Scotland on the night of January 19-20: a green pulsating blob, a fine example of what’s known as an Isolated Proton Aurora (IPA) display:
www.flickr.com/photos/77768...
www.flickr.com/photos/77768...
Aurora 2026 January 19 - 20:34 UT
I was observing a faint green homogeneous patch to the left of the main auroral display when it suddenly brightened: just like someone switching on a spotlight. After a few seconds it faded again.
www.flickr.com
January 30, 2026 at 2:39 PM
I’ve seen these, back in my Alaska days… Alan Tough caught an unusual phenomenon while observing the recent aurora storm from Scotland on the night of January 19-20: a green pulsating blob, a fine example of what’s known as an Isolated Proton Aurora (IPA) display:
www.flickr.com/photos/77768...
www.flickr.com/photos/77768...
It’s a busy launch day worldwide… first up, SpaceX launched Starlink Group 17-19 from Vandenberg earlier this afternoon. Heavens-Above already has current sighting predictions posted for the batch, always a strange sight to see right after launch. www.youtube.com/watch?v=S7N_...
SpaceX Starlink 349 launch and Falcon 9 first stage landing, 29 January 2026
YouTube video by SciNews
www.youtube.com
January 29, 2026 at 8:34 PM
It’s a busy launch day worldwide… first up, SpaceX launched Starlink Group 17-19 from Vandenberg earlier this afternoon. Heavens-Above already has current sighting predictions posted for the batch, always a strange sight to see right after launch. www.youtube.com/watch?v=S7N_...
Mars is past solar conjunction, meaning we’re once again getting comms from missions on and around the Red Planet. And although the nearside of Sol looks placid, the Perseverance Rover notes that a large sunspot group (circled) currently visible from Mars may rotate into view over the next week.
January 28, 2026 at 4:07 PM
Mars is past solar conjunction, meaning we’re once again getting comms from missions on and around the Red Planet. And although the nearside of Sol looks placid, the Perseverance Rover notes that a large sunspot group (circled) currently visible from Mars may rotate into view over the next week.
Humans leave LEO for the first time in over half a century next month -
theconversation.com/nasas-artemi... Via @us.theconversation.com
theconversation.com/nasas-artemi... Via @us.theconversation.com
NASA’s Artemis II crewed mission to the Moon shows how US space strategy has changed since Apollo – and contrasts with China’s closed program
Today, there aren’t just two countries competing to get to the Moon. More countries have space programs, and private industry plays a larger role.
theconversation.com
January 28, 2026 at 12:29 AM
Humans leave LEO for the first time in over half a century next month -
theconversation.com/nasas-artemi... Via @us.theconversation.com
theconversation.com/nasas-artemi... Via @us.theconversation.com
Tonight: the +69% illuminated, waxing gibbous Moon occults the Pleiades open star cluster (Messier 45) for northern Greenland, Svalbard and the Siberian Arctic centered on 21:44 Universal Time (UT). The rest of us will see a close pairing of the two worldwide.
January 27, 2026 at 3:08 PM
Tonight: the +69% illuminated, waxing gibbous Moon occults the Pleiades open star cluster (Messier 45) for northern Greenland, Svalbard and the Siberian Arctic centered on 21:44 Universal Time (UT). The rest of us will see a close pairing of the two worldwide.
Reposted by David Dickinson
Salish Sea, Pacific Northwest
January 26, 2026 at 7:15 PM
Salish Sea, Pacific Northwest
Listening for satellite reentries: science.org/content/article/falling-space-junk-can-be-tracked-its-sonic-booms
Falling space junk can be tracked from its sonic booms
Seismic stations can accurately map re-entering debris with high accuracy
science.org
January 26, 2026 at 11:30 PM
Listening for satellite reentries: science.org/content/article/falling-space-junk-can-be-tracked-its-sonic-booms
Strange sights graced Scandinavian nights this weekend… we’re not talking about aurora, but a bizarre red glow seen crossing the skies over Norway and Finland last night around 20:45 Universal Time (UT). Mikko Peussa caught the scene from Turku, Finland: www.taivaanvahti.fi/observations...
January 26, 2026 at 4:23 PM
Strange sights graced Scandinavian nights this weekend… we’re not talking about aurora, but a bizarre red glow seen crossing the skies over Norway and Finland last night around 20:45 Universal Time (UT). Mikko Peussa caught the scene from Turku, Finland: www.taivaanvahti.fi/observations...