Michele Bannister
@astrokiwi.bsky.social
Planetary astronomer @UCNZ: envisioning worlds from here and elsewhere, in a dark & glorious sky. Rutherford Discovery Fellow. Asteroid (10463). Pākehā; she
Pinned
Michele Bannister
@astrokiwi.bsky.social
· Jun 10
Near-future rocket launches could slow ozone recovery
npj Climate and Atmospheric Science - Near-future rocket launches could slow ozone recovery
rdcu.be
New paper day! In 'Near-future rocket launches could slow ozone recovery', we show that scaling up use of launch vehicles 🚀 has a point where the healing of the ozone layer is affected 🧪🛰️
Open access, free to read & share
Open access, free to read & share
This is particularly sad as Lowell has long been a centre for Solar System planetary astronomy, a rare field internationally 🔭
Flagstaff’s Lowell Observatory plans to cut nearly all its research funding and reduce the number of paid science staff to just two positions next year.
Lowell Observatory slashes research funding in the midst of financial struggle
Flagstaff’s Lowell Observatory plans to cut nearly all its research funding and reduce the number of paid science staff to just two positions next year.
buff.ly
November 11, 2025 at 6:53 AM
This is particularly sad as Lowell has long been a centre for Solar System planetary astronomy, a rare field internationally 🔭
Reposted by Michele Bannister
If you don’t do research you’re not an observatory, you’re a tourist attraction. Solidarity to the excellent astronomers at Lowell.
Flagstaff’s Lowell Observatory plans to cut nearly all its research funding and reduce the number of paid science staff to just two positions next year.
Lowell Observatory slashes research funding in the midst of financial struggle
Flagstaff’s Lowell Observatory plans to cut nearly all its research funding and reduce the number of paid science staff to just two positions next year.
buff.ly
November 11, 2025 at 4:28 AM
If you don’t do research you’re not an observatory, you’re a tourist attraction. Solidarity to the excellent astronomers at Lowell.
Reposted by Michele Bannister
Looking to start a PhD in Physics & Astronomy in 2026? The team @physicsuol.bsky.social have announced their STFC-funded projects on offer next year, spanning astrophysics, planetary science, and space instrumentation. Deadline: Jan 18th, contact us to learn more!
le.ac.uk/study/resear...
le.ac.uk/study/resear...
November 7, 2025 at 1:32 PM
Looking to start a PhD in Physics & Astronomy in 2026? The team @physicsuol.bsky.social have announced their STFC-funded projects on offer next year, spanning astrophysics, planetary science, and space instrumentation. Deadline: Jan 18th, contact us to learn more!
le.ac.uk/study/resear...
le.ac.uk/study/resear...
First of the cornflowers, last of the freesias. Orlaya is a drifting sea of umbels. #bloomscrolling
First flower vase I've had a chance to pick in quite a while 🌱🇳🇿
First flower vase I've had a chance to pick in quite a while 🌱🇳🇿
November 6, 2025 at 8:34 AM
First of the cornflowers, last of the freesias. Orlaya is a drifting sea of umbels. #bloomscrolling
First flower vase I've had a chance to pick in quite a while 🌱🇳🇿
First flower vase I've had a chance to pick in quite a while 🌱🇳🇿
Delighted to be working with @rjme.bsky.social and the Auckland folks on this major Marsden Council project, which supports our @vrubinobs.bsky.social involvement
Investing in our future with today's best and brightest ideas - the 2025 #MarsdenFund results are out! Ka rawe!
www.royalsociety.org.nz/news/marsden...
www.royalsociety.org.nz/news/marsden...
Marsden in 2025: Investing in our future with today’s best and brightest ideas
Investing in our best for the benefit of us all, Te Pūtea Rangahau a Marsden, the Marsden Fund in 2025 is supporting novel fundamental research into new medications and therapies, more profitable crop...
www.royalsociety.org.nz
November 5, 2025 at 10:07 AM
Delighted to be working with @rjme.bsky.social and the Auckland folks on this major Marsden Council project, which supports our @vrubinobs.bsky.social involvement
Open consultation & pitch process with the NZ space community. Open consultation & pitch process with the NZ space community. Expert review of proposals.
If I say this enough, it'll happen, right?
If I say this enough, it'll happen, right?
Space Agency looks into possible government-owned and operated satellite
Space Agency looks into possible government-owned and operated satellite
The satellite would monitor things like such as illegal fishing.
www.rnz.co.nz
November 5, 2025 at 9:44 AM
Open consultation & pitch process with the NZ space community. Open consultation & pitch process with the NZ space community. Expert review of proposals.
If I say this enough, it'll happen, right?
If I say this enough, it'll happen, right?
Reposted by Michele Bannister
The transverse term A2 is (3.75+-1.59)e-7 au/day2 (2.4sigma).
i.e. negligible. These are
*not* “unprecedented,
*not* unexpected, I’m unaware of any scientist friends who are “bewildered”. Still a comet, albeit an interesting one whose properties may tell us something about other systems. #3IATLAS
i.e. negligible. These are
*not* “unprecedented,
*not* unexpected, I’m unaware of any scientist friends who are “bewildered”. Still a comet, albeit an interesting one whose properties may tell us something about other systems. #3IATLAS
November 5, 2025 at 2:24 AM
The transverse term A2 is (3.75+-1.59)e-7 au/day2 (2.4sigma).
i.e. negligible. These are
*not* “unprecedented,
*not* unexpected, I’m unaware of any scientist friends who are “bewildered”. Still a comet, albeit an interesting one whose properties may tell us something about other systems. #3IATLAS
i.e. negligible. These are
*not* “unprecedented,
*not* unexpected, I’m unaware of any scientist friends who are “bewildered”. Still a comet, albeit an interesting one whose properties may tell us something about other systems. #3IATLAS
Reposted by Michele Bannister
Updated Comet 3I/ATLAS #3IATLAS orbit dropped from JPL Small-Body Database, including measured positions thru Nov 4.
ssd.jpl.nasa.gov/tools/sbdb_l...
The “non-gravitational” acceleration terms in the orbit are *barely statistically significant*…the radial term A1 is (1.11+-0.30)e-7 au/day2 (3.7sig)
ssd.jpl.nasa.gov/tools/sbdb_l...
The “non-gravitational” acceleration terms in the orbit are *barely statistically significant*…the radial term A1 is (1.11+-0.30)e-7 au/day2 (3.7sig)
Small-Body Database Lookup
This website makes extensive use of JavaScript. The top menus will not function without it and most tools will also not work.
ssd.jpl.nasa.gov
November 5, 2025 at 2:15 AM
Updated Comet 3I/ATLAS #3IATLAS orbit dropped from JPL Small-Body Database, including measured positions thru Nov 4.
ssd.jpl.nasa.gov/tools/sbdb_l...
The “non-gravitational” acceleration terms in the orbit are *barely statistically significant*…the radial term A1 is (1.11+-0.30)e-7 au/day2 (3.7sig)
ssd.jpl.nasa.gov/tools/sbdb_l...
The “non-gravitational” acceleration terms in the orbit are *barely statistically significant*…the radial term A1 is (1.11+-0.30)e-7 au/day2 (3.7sig)
Season of the rhodo continues
November 5, 2025 at 4:44 AM
Season of the rhodo continues
Reposted by Michele Bannister
Academics in Assyria in the 7th c BC complain that admin is preventing them from doing research and teaching
November 3, 2025 at 10:04 AM
Academics in Assyria in the 7th c BC complain that admin is preventing them from doing research and teaching
Reposted by Michele Bannister
I recommend this article by @meghanbartels.bsky.social and @leebillings.bsky.social for folks who are looking for *factual* information about why 3I/ATLAS is of interest to planetary astronomers: www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-...
The Race to Study an Interstellar Comet from Deep Space
Astronomers are hustling to use interplanetary spacecraft to study the interstellar comet dubbed 3I/ATLAS while the sun is hiding it from Earth
www.scientificamerican.com
October 31, 2025 at 7:15 PM
I recommend this article by @meghanbartels.bsky.social and @leebillings.bsky.social for folks who are looking for *factual* information about why 3I/ATLAS is of interest to planetary astronomers: www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-...
Let me say this in plain English: a comet can just be a comet
November 1, 2025 at 10:21 AM
Let me say this in plain English: a comet can just be a comet
Live in the Northern Hemisphere and want to see a comet older then the Solar System? Nice overview of upcoming pre-dawn visibility for interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS with small amateur telescopes 🔭🧪
All Eyes on Interstellar Comet 3I/ATLAS
Interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS will soon exit the Sun's glare to enter the morning sky. Get ready for the observing opportunity of a lifetime.
skyandtelescope.org
November 1, 2025 at 10:01 AM
Live in the Northern Hemisphere and want to see a comet older then the Solar System? Nice overview of upcoming pre-dawn visibility for interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS with small amateur telescopes 🔭🧪
Interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS returns to (very carefully done) ground-based view
We already recovered it with the Lowell Discovery Telescope this morning: cometary.org/@qicheng/sta...
Post by Qicheng Zhang, @qicheng@cometary.org
After passing superior conjunction last week, interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS is once again observable from the ground with optical telescopes, now in morning twilight. Here's a view from the Lowell Disco...
cometary.org
November 1, 2025 at 9:27 AM
Interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS returns to (very carefully done) ground-based view
Reposted by Michele Bannister
A personal reflection on the destructive erosion of ethics, norms and respect for law at NASA:
🧪🔭
🧵
🧪🔭
🧵
October 31, 2025 at 2:16 PM
A personal reflection on the destructive erosion of ethics, norms and respect for law at NASA:
🧪🔭
🧵
🧪🔭
🧵
October 31, 2025 at 2:32 AM
Reposted by Michele Bannister
Comet 3I Atlas from Level 0 data on 29-October from clear filter images on WFI3 from PUNCH. Its in there... it is very clear in the stack of these images.
October 30, 2025 at 4:08 PM
Comet 3I Atlas from Level 0 data on 29-October from clear filter images on WFI3 from PUNCH. Its in there... it is very clear in the stack of these images.
Reposted by Michele Bannister
Interstellar comet 3I Atlas from all clear filter data from PUNCH's WFI3 satellite on October 29th. This is the combination of 134 separate images. It's again visible in single frames (moving coming next). Probably visual magnitude ~9.5ish.
October 30, 2025 at 4:05 PM
Interstellar comet 3I Atlas from all clear filter data from PUNCH's WFI3 satellite on October 29th. This is the combination of 134 separate images. It's again visible in single frames (moving coming next). Probably visual magnitude ~9.5ish.
Reposted by Michele Bannister
☄️ Comet #3I/ATLAS is currently making its closest approach to the Sun.
#ESAJuice might catch the best view of this comet in a very active state. Juice will attempt observations in November 2025, with data received on Earth in February 2026 👉 www.esa.int/Science_Expl...
🔭🧪
#ESAJuice might catch the best view of this comet in a very active state. Juice will attempt observations in November 2025, with data received on Earth in February 2026 👉 www.esa.int/Science_Expl...
🔭🧪
October 30, 2025 at 2:05 PM
☄️ Comet #3I/ATLAS is currently making its closest approach to the Sun.
#ESAJuice might catch the best view of this comet in a very active state. Juice will attempt observations in November 2025, with data received on Earth in February 2026 👉 www.esa.int/Science_Expl...
🔭🧪
#ESAJuice might catch the best view of this comet in a very active state. Juice will attempt observations in November 2025, with data received on Earth in February 2026 👉 www.esa.int/Science_Expl...
🔭🧪
Reposted by Michele Bannister
#NZ There’s a national immunisation week starting on Monday aims to raise vaccination rates
For measles we need a 95% coverage. Currently it’s
- 76.4% of all 2-year-olds
- 70.4% of Pacific 2-year-olds
- 63.3% of Māori toddlers
- 1 in 3 kids who catch it are hospitalised. Some will have brain damage
For measles we need a 95% coverage. Currently it’s
- 76.4% of all 2-year-olds
- 70.4% of Pacific 2-year-olds
- 63.3% of Māori toddlers
- 1 in 3 kids who catch it are hospitalised. Some will have brain damage
What you should know ahead of Measles Immunisation Week – Expert Reaction
What you should know ahead of Measles Immunisation Week - Expert Reaction - Science Media Centre
With measles spreading in the community and vaccination coverage too low to stop it, a national immunisation week starting on Monday aims to raise vaccination rates. Immunisation coverage of 95% is...
www.sciencemediacentre.co.nz
October 30, 2025 at 7:26 AM
#NZ There’s a national immunisation week starting on Monday aims to raise vaccination rates
For measles we need a 95% coverage. Currently it’s
- 76.4% of all 2-year-olds
- 70.4% of Pacific 2-year-olds
- 63.3% of Māori toddlers
- 1 in 3 kids who catch it are hospitalised. Some will have brain damage
For measles we need a 95% coverage. Currently it’s
- 76.4% of all 2-year-olds
- 70.4% of Pacific 2-year-olds
- 63.3% of Māori toddlers
- 1 in 3 kids who catch it are hospitalised. Some will have brain damage
Reposted by Michele Bannister
yesterday on RNZ I talked with Kathryn Ryan about cuts to NZ science funding and the risk of losing talent www.rnz.co.nz/national/pro...
here's some correspondence about the opposite problem: kiwi scientists who want to return home to work, but can't, given the bleak funding environment
#nzpol
here's some correspondence about the opposite problem: kiwi scientists who want to return home to work, but can't, given the bleak funding environment
#nzpol
October 30, 2025 at 9:33 AM
yesterday on RNZ I talked with Kathryn Ryan about cuts to NZ science funding and the risk of losing talent www.rnz.co.nz/national/pro...
here's some correspondence about the opposite problem: kiwi scientists who want to return home to work, but can't, given the bleak funding environment
#nzpol
here's some correspondence about the opposite problem: kiwi scientists who want to return home to work, but can't, given the bleak funding environment
#nzpol
Reposted by Michele Bannister
The comet is currently at a solar elongation of ~10degrees - so it's only 10 degrees away from the Sun on the sky. This is why ground-based observatories can't really observe it now. PUNCH, of course, is built to observe really close to the Sun, so Atlas is in its field of view non-stop right now.
October 28, 2025 at 10:00 PM
The comet is currently at a solar elongation of ~10degrees - so it's only 10 degrees away from the Sun on the sky. This is why ground-based observatories can't really observe it now. PUNCH, of course, is built to observe really close to the Sun, so Atlas is in its field of view non-stop right now.
Reposted by Michele Bannister
Comet 3I Atlas is back in the field of view of the PUNCH WFI instruments. Here is co-added stack of all of the images from the clear filter (centered around 550nm) from October 27th.
October 28, 2025 at 9:58 PM
Comet 3I Atlas is back in the field of view of the PUNCH WFI instruments. Here is co-added stack of all of the images from the clear filter (centered around 550nm) from October 27th.
Reposted by Michele Bannister
🚨 Measles Update: Two new cases confirmed today. This brings our total to 13 cases in the current response. Our contact tracing is moving fast, and we're urgently working to identify new locations of interest. The best protection is the MMR vaccine. Book today: spr.ly/6332371DCf
October 30, 2025 at 4:26 AM
🚨 Measles Update: Two new cases confirmed today. This brings our total to 13 cases in the current response. Our contact tracing is moving fast, and we're urgently working to identify new locations of interest. The best protection is the MMR vaccine. Book today: spr.ly/6332371DCf
Reposted by Michele Bannister
What you should know ahead of Measles Immunisation Week – Expert Reaction
What you should know ahead of Measles Immunisation Week - Expert Reaction - Science Media Centre
With measles spreading in the community and vaccination coverage too low to stop it, a national immunisation week starting on Monday aims to raise vaccination rates. Immunisation coverage of 95% is...
www.sciencemediacentre.co.nz
October 30, 2025 at 3:00 AM
What you should know ahead of Measles Immunisation Week – Expert Reaction