David Wilson
@astrodave2.bsky.social
Astronomer at CU Boulder. I look at small stars with space telescopes. In my spare time I run medium distances, build and paint various tiny plastic people and visit old ships. He/Him
Reposted by David Wilson
Cecilia Payne Gaposchkin’s autobiography is just amazing. Every astronomer should read it.
Here she is talking about her memories of Annie Jump Cannon.
Here she is talking about her memories of Annie Jump Cannon.
January 22, 2026 at 12:30 AM
Cecilia Payne Gaposchkin’s autobiography is just amazing. Every astronomer should read it.
Here she is talking about her memories of Annie Jump Cannon.
Here she is talking about her memories of Annie Jump Cannon.
Reposted by David Wilson
Beautiful graphic of the day (because that should be a thing: Our Solar System
By my data hero Eleanor Lutz
By my data hero Eleanor Lutz
January 16, 2026 at 2:12 AM
Beautiful graphic of the day (because that should be a thing: Our Solar System
By my data hero Eleanor Lutz
By my data hero Eleanor Lutz
Reposted by David Wilson
And we are up on arXiv! arxiv.org/abs/2601.01628 🔭
January 6, 2026 at 4:12 PM
And we are up on arXiv! arxiv.org/abs/2601.01628 🔭
Yay go Pandora! 🔭
January 11, 2026 at 4:29 PM
Yay go Pandora! 🔭
Reposted by David Wilson
I'll share this again for 2026 and for any new influx--well over 100 planetary scientists here on Bluesky.
Given <waves hands around> they may not necessarily be posting much about planetary science, but that's how it goes.
If you're a planetary scientist and want to be on the list, DM me!
Given <waves hands around> they may not necessarily be posting much about planetary science, but that's how it goes.
If you're a planetary scientist and want to be on the list, DM me!
January 11, 2026 at 3:52 PM
I'll share this again for 2026 and for any new influx--well over 100 planetary scientists here on Bluesky.
Given <waves hands around> they may not necessarily be posting much about planetary science, but that's how it goes.
If you're a planetary scientist and want to be on the list, DM me!
Given <waves hands around> they may not necessarily be posting much about planetary science, but that's how it goes.
If you're a planetary scientist and want to be on the list, DM me!
ok look
NASA Discovers Distant Planet With Conditions That Could Sustain Rocks https://theonion.com/nasa-discovers-distant-planet-with-conditions-that-could-sustain-rocks/
January 6, 2026 at 10:49 PM
ok look
And we are up on arXiv! arxiv.org/abs/2601.01628 🔭
January 6, 2026 at 4:12 PM
And we are up on arXiv! arxiv.org/abs/2601.01628 🔭
Three professional football players v. one enthusiastic space hopper owner, place your bets
December 30, 2025 at 9:15 PM
Three professional football players v. one enthusiastic space hopper owner, place your bets
Looking around my childhood bookshelves, wondering if just one book can really be said to be my origin st- oh that's it, that's the one
December 28, 2025 at 4:57 PM
Looking around my childhood bookshelves, wondering if just one book can really be said to be my origin st- oh that's it, that's the one
Reposted by David Wilson
Final of ✨ #planetaryScience image of 2025 ✨ is here:
Uranus vs. Earth
or
outer vs. inner Solar System
🗳️ The vote link is 3 posts down. Voting ends on Tuesday, Dec. 30, at 3 p.m. UTC/4 p.m. CET/10 a.m. EST/7 a.m. PST/midnight JST. 🧪⚛️
Uranus vs. Earth
or
outer vs. inner Solar System
🗳️ The vote link is 3 posts down. Voting ends on Tuesday, Dec. 30, at 3 p.m. UTC/4 p.m. CET/10 a.m. EST/7 a.m. PST/midnight JST. 🧪⚛️
December 26, 2025 at 3:00 PM
Final of ✨ #planetaryScience image of 2025 ✨ is here:
Uranus vs. Earth
or
outer vs. inner Solar System
🗳️ The vote link is 3 posts down. Voting ends on Tuesday, Dec. 30, at 3 p.m. UTC/4 p.m. CET/10 a.m. EST/7 a.m. PST/midnight JST. 🧪⚛️
Uranus vs. Earth
or
outer vs. inner Solar System
🗳️ The vote link is 3 posts down. Voting ends on Tuesday, Dec. 30, at 3 p.m. UTC/4 p.m. CET/10 a.m. EST/7 a.m. PST/midnight JST. 🧪⚛️
Reposted by David Wilson
Discworld QOTD, from Hogfather
December 25, 2025 at 6:01 PM
Discworld QOTD, from Hogfather
Experiments with phone, telescope and cold fingers 🔭
December 24, 2025 at 10:28 PM
Experiments with phone, telescope and cold fingers 🔭
Yay early Christmas present!!! All these stars will soon be yours 🔭
December 24, 2025 at 5:31 PM
Yay early Christmas present!!! All these stars will soon be yours 🔭
Reposted by David Wilson
We have our final matchup for #planetaryScience image of the year. It's Uranus vs. Earth.
We'll take a short break before voting. The vote starts on Dec. 26 at 3:00 p.m. UTC.
Uranus image: NASA/ESA/CSA/ @stsci.edu/ @andrealuck.bsky.social CC BY
Earth image: ISS, @stim3on.bsky.social
We'll take a short break before voting. The vote starts on Dec. 26 at 3:00 p.m. UTC.
Uranus image: NASA/ESA/CSA/ @stsci.edu/ @andrealuck.bsky.social CC BY
Earth image: ISS, @stim3on.bsky.social
December 24, 2025 at 3:27 PM
We have our final matchup for #planetaryScience image of the year. It's Uranus vs. Earth.
We'll take a short break before voting. The vote starts on Dec. 26 at 3:00 p.m. UTC.
Uranus image: NASA/ESA/CSA/ @stsci.edu/ @andrealuck.bsky.social CC BY
Earth image: ISS, @stim3on.bsky.social
We'll take a short break before voting. The vote starts on Dec. 26 at 3:00 p.m. UTC.
Uranus image: NASA/ESA/CSA/ @stsci.edu/ @andrealuck.bsky.social CC BY
Earth image: ISS, @stim3on.bsky.social
Reposted by David Wilson
Remember those red spots next to two white dwarf stars that looked like possible planets in JWST images that we found?
We just had a paper accepted that continues to tell the story.
We just had a paper accepted that continues to tell the story.
December 18, 2025 at 2:20 AM
Remember those red spots next to two white dwarf stars that looked like possible planets in JWST images that we found?
We just had a paper accepted that continues to tell the story.
We just had a paper accepted that continues to tell the story.
Reposted by David Wilson
Milky Way over Pembrokeshire, one flight, three trains and not enough sleep later 🔭
December 16, 2025 at 7:21 PM
Milky Way over Pembrokeshire, one flight, three trains and not enough sleep later 🔭
Milky Way over Pembrokeshire, one flight, three trains and not enough sleep later 🔭
December 16, 2025 at 7:21 PM
Milky Way over Pembrokeshire, one flight, three trains and not enough sleep later 🔭
Orion over Boulder 🔭
December 15, 2025 at 5:15 AM
Orion over Boulder 🔭
Reposted by David Wilson
Our XMM-Newton has observed comet 3I/ATLAS in X-ray light!
When gas molecules streaming from a comet collide with the solar wind they produce X-rays, seen here as the red glow of 3I/ATLAS 👉 www.esa.int/ESA_Multimed...
Blue marks empty space with little X-rays. The black line is a detector gap 🔭 🧪
When gas molecules streaming from a comet collide with the solar wind they produce X-rays, seen here as the red glow of 3I/ATLAS 👉 www.esa.int/ESA_Multimed...
Blue marks empty space with little X-rays. The black line is a detector gap 🔭 🧪
![This image shows an X-ray view of interstellar comet 3I ATLAS, captured by ESA’s XMM-Newton spacecraft. At the centre of the image, a bright red spot stands out against a dark background, like a fiery beacon. Starting from this core, faint gradients of purple and blue spread outward, creating a slightly rotated rectangular frame, divided by a thin horizontal line. The red colour shows low-energy X-rays, blue marks empty space with very few X-rays. A yellow arrow labelled “Sun” points left, indicating the comet’s orientation in the Solar System. At the bottom right, a scale marker reads “5 arcmin”, providing a sense of spatial dimension.]](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:p5h5ai6lj6bc53b7mmvy3rf2/bafkreicot2eitpk5sa6jclrhzqsrrpa5dxwb7dwomik2zs66b3ye37jst4@jpeg)
December 12, 2025 at 2:00 PM
Our XMM-Newton has observed comet 3I/ATLAS in X-ray light!
When gas molecules streaming from a comet collide with the solar wind they produce X-rays, seen here as the red glow of 3I/ATLAS 👉 www.esa.int/ESA_Multimed...
Blue marks empty space with little X-rays. The black line is a detector gap 🔭 🧪
When gas molecules streaming from a comet collide with the solar wind they produce X-rays, seen here as the red glow of 3I/ATLAS 👉 www.esa.int/ESA_Multimed...
Blue marks empty space with little X-rays. The black line is a detector gap 🔭 🧪
Reposted by David Wilson
3rd quarter-final of ✨ #planetaryScience image of 2025 ✨
This round features the Giant Planets 🧪⚛️
🗳️ Voting ends on Monday, Dec. 15, at 3 p.m. UTC/4 p.m. CET/10 a.m. EST/7 a.m. PST/midnight JST.
🔽 The voting can be found after the fourth image.
Here come the next four quarter finalists 🪐
This round features the Giant Planets 🧪⚛️
🗳️ Voting ends on Monday, Dec. 15, at 3 p.m. UTC/4 p.m. CET/10 a.m. EST/7 a.m. PST/midnight JST.
🔽 The voting can be found after the fourth image.
Here come the next four quarter finalists 🪐
December 12, 2025 at 3:13 PM
3rd quarter-final of ✨ #planetaryScience image of 2025 ✨
This round features the Giant Planets 🧪⚛️
🗳️ Voting ends on Monday, Dec. 15, at 3 p.m. UTC/4 p.m. CET/10 a.m. EST/7 a.m. PST/midnight JST.
🔽 The voting can be found after the fourth image.
Here come the next four quarter finalists 🪐
This round features the Giant Planets 🧪⚛️
🗳️ Voting ends on Monday, Dec. 15, at 3 p.m. UTC/4 p.m. CET/10 a.m. EST/7 a.m. PST/midnight JST.
🔽 The voting can be found after the fourth image.
Here come the next four quarter finalists 🪐
Reposted by David Wilson
📢 PSA: Roman Cycle 1 Call for Proposal is now open!! 🚨
I'm so excited for the Roman launch currently planned for September 2026!! 🔭🧪
I'm so excited for the Roman launch currently planned for September 2026!! 🔭🧪
🚀The Roman Cycle 1 Call for Proposals is OPEN!
Unlock new discoveries with the Wide Field Instrument—your science starts here! Apply for funding to analyze Roman data, perform theory/lab research, and propose new observations. 🔭☄️
📅 Deadline: Mar 17, 2026 (5 PM PDT)
📝 bit.ly/4q3jbbL
Unlock new discoveries with the Wide Field Instrument—your science starts here! Apply for funding to analyze Roman data, perform theory/lab research, and propose new observations. 🔭☄️
📅 Deadline: Mar 17, 2026 (5 PM PDT)
📝 bit.ly/4q3jbbL
December 10, 2025 at 6:00 PM
📢 PSA: Roman Cycle 1 Call for Proposal is now open!! 🚨
I'm so excited for the Roman launch currently planned for September 2026!! 🔭🧪
I'm so excited for the Roman launch currently planned for September 2026!! 🔭🧪
Reposted by David Wilson
2nd quarter-final of ✨ #planetaryScience image of 2025 ✨
This round features the Moon and Mercury 🧪⚛️
🗳️ Voting ends on Friday, Dec. 12, at 3 p.m. UTC/4 p.m. CET/10 a.m. EST/7 a.m. PST/midnight JST.
🔽 The voting can be found after the fourth image.
Here come the next four quarter finalists 🌔
This round features the Moon and Mercury 🧪⚛️
🗳️ Voting ends on Friday, Dec. 12, at 3 p.m. UTC/4 p.m. CET/10 a.m. EST/7 a.m. PST/midnight JST.
🔽 The voting can be found after the fourth image.
Here come the next four quarter finalists 🌔
December 9, 2025 at 4:48 PM
2nd quarter-final of ✨ #planetaryScience image of 2025 ✨
This round features the Moon and Mercury 🧪⚛️
🗳️ Voting ends on Friday, Dec. 12, at 3 p.m. UTC/4 p.m. CET/10 a.m. EST/7 a.m. PST/midnight JST.
🔽 The voting can be found after the fourth image.
Here come the next four quarter finalists 🌔
This round features the Moon and Mercury 🧪⚛️
🗳️ Voting ends on Friday, Dec. 12, at 3 p.m. UTC/4 p.m. CET/10 a.m. EST/7 a.m. PST/midnight JST.
🔽 The voting can be found after the fourth image.
Here come the next four quarter finalists 🌔
Reposted by David Wilson
