Michele Bannister
@astrokiwi.bsky.social
Planetary astronomer @UCNZ: envisioning worlds from here and elsewhere, in a dark & glorious sky. Rutherford Discovery Fellow & Assoc. Professor. 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
Reposted by Michele Bannister
Oh, and here's the most elegant moth that flew into our moth lights this week.
It's the appropriately named Exquisite Olearia Owlet (*Meterana exquisita*) and we saw just one of them and it looks to be the first record of the species from North Canterbury.
Just […]
[Original post on mastodon.nz]
It's the appropriately named Exquisite Olearia Owlet (*Meterana exquisita*) and we saw just one of them and it looks to be the first record of the species from North Canterbury.
Just […]
[Original post on mastodon.nz]
January 30, 2026 at 5:33 AM
Oh, and here's the most elegant moth that flew into our moth lights this week.
It's the appropriately named Exquisite Olearia Owlet (*Meterana exquisita*) and we saw just one of them and it looks to be the first record of the species from North Canterbury.
Just […]
[Original post on mastodon.nz]
It's the appropriately named Exquisite Olearia Owlet (*Meterana exquisita*) and we saw just one of them and it looks to be the first record of the species from North Canterbury.
Just […]
[Original post on mastodon.nz]
🔭
I am sorry to share the news of the passing of LPL Professor Emeritus Uwe Fink. Uwe was a stalwart member of LPL, joining the lab back in 1967. He worked on many topics, especially spectroscopic studies of planets, satellites, nebulae, asteroids, and comets.
January 29, 2026 at 3:29 AM
🔭
C/2026 B2 has gone back to e <1 with the latest JPL fit, the flurry of excitement subsides
January 29, 2026 at 2:05 AM
C/2026 B2 has gone back to e <1 with the latest JPL fit, the flurry of excitement subsides
Reposted by Michele Bannister
Here's a fun piece of code I wrote to visualize the astrometric orbital elements. To run the visualization for yourself, check it out here: github.com/sblunt/show-...
Black dashed is the line of nodes, and lighter purple indicates the part of the orbit that is behind the plane of the sky. Enjoy!
Black dashed is the line of nodes, and lighter purple indicates the part of the orbit that is behind the plane of the sky. Enjoy!
January 27, 2026 at 10:54 PM
Here's a fun piece of code I wrote to visualize the astrometric orbital elements. To run the visualization for yourself, check it out here: github.com/sblunt/show-...
Black dashed is the line of nodes, and lighter purple indicates the part of the orbit that is behind the plane of the sky. Enjoy!
Black dashed is the line of nodes, and lighter purple indicates the part of the orbit that is behind the plane of the sky. Enjoy!
Reposted by Michele Bannister
As the Aotearoa/NZ research system shifts around us, it's important to hear from the voices within, especially those who are the future of the system!
It has been an absolute privilege for the New Zealand Science Review to work with early career researchers (ECRs) to get their experiences on record
It has been an absolute privilege for the New Zealand Science Review to work with early career researchers (ECRs) to get their experiences on record
Early Career Voices from a Changing Research System
| New Zealand Science Review
doi.org
January 27, 2026 at 2:11 AM
As the Aotearoa/NZ research system shifts around us, it's important to hear from the voices within, especially those who are the future of the system!
It has been an absolute privilege for the New Zealand Science Review to work with early career researchers (ECRs) to get their experiences on record
It has been an absolute privilege for the New Zealand Science Review to work with early career researchers (ECRs) to get their experiences on record
Reposted by Michele Bannister
Attention folks in the weather, climate, disaster, wildfire, and Earth science communities: NSF has just published a new "Dear Colleague" letter inviting feedback (by Mar 13) on the proposal to dismantle the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR). www.nsf.gov/funding/...
January 23, 2026 at 9:57 PM
Attention folks in the weather, climate, disaster, wildfire, and Earth science communities: NSF has just published a new "Dear Colleague" letter inviting feedback (by Mar 13) on the proposal to dismantle the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR). www.nsf.gov/funding/...
Reposted by Michele Bannister
It's the summer in NZ. Plums are in season. Cherries are in season. Ergo, plum and cherry torte.
January 23, 2026 at 6:32 PM
It's the summer in NZ. Plums are in season. Cherries are in season. Ergo, plum and cherry torte.
Reposted by Michele Bannister
@lickobservatory.bsky.social update: the dome is now sealed! Thanks to the summit staff, contractors, and main-campus staff for an amazing amount of work over the past four months. Now we can catch our breath and plan how to checkout/repair the telescope and the dome.
January 22, 2026 at 6:26 PM
@lickobservatory.bsky.social update: the dome is now sealed! Thanks to the summit staff, contractors, and main-campus staff for an amazing amount of work over the past four months. Now we can catch our breath and plan how to checkout/repair the telescope and the dome.
Reposted by Michele Bannister
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 Michele Bannister
Are you looking for a postdoc position working on asteroids and comets? Would it help if it's in a beautiful place in southern France? If yes, then consider applying to the following position of my colleague Benoit Carry at the Observatory in Nice:
euraxess.ec.europa.eu/jobs/402212
#planetSci
euraxess.ec.europa.eu/jobs/402212
#planetSci
Post-doc on properties of Solar system small bodies
The small bodies of our Solar system (comets and asteroids) are the remnants of the building blocs that accreted to form the planets. The suite of events that occurred during planet formation left pri...
euraxess.ec.europa.eu
January 21, 2026 at 4:38 PM
Are you looking for a postdoc position working on asteroids and comets? Would it help if it's in a beautiful place in southern France? If yes, then consider applying to the following position of my colleague Benoit Carry at the Observatory in Nice:
euraxess.ec.europa.eu/jobs/402212
#planetSci
euraxess.ec.europa.eu/jobs/402212
#planetSci
Reposted by Michele Bannister
Here's a short timelapse of last night's aurora from Ōtautahi-Christchurch, NZ, before my camera battery went flat.
https://flic.kr/p/2rSMH8h
#aurora #christchurch #nz #Ōtautahi #timelapse
https://flic.kr/p/2rSMH8h
#aurora #christchurch #nz #Ōtautahi #timelapse
aurora over Ōtautahi-Christchurch, NZ
This is a short timelapse movie of last night's aurora, starting at 11:14 PM on 20 January 2026, before my camera's battery went flat. Note to self: keep camera battery fully charged.
www.flickr.com
January 20, 2026 at 6:51 PM
Here's a short timelapse of last night's aurora from Ōtautahi-Christchurch, NZ, before my camera battery went flat.
https://flic.kr/p/2rSMH8h
#aurora #christchurch #nz #Ōtautahi #timelapse
https://flic.kr/p/2rSMH8h
#aurora #christchurch #nz #Ōtautahi #timelapse
Reposted by Michele Bannister
This is fine and perfectly normal and not an indication of climate crisis effects becoming commonplace.
January 20, 2026 at 10:12 PM
This is fine and perfectly normal and not an indication of climate crisis effects becoming commonplace.
Reposted by Michele Bannister
We're so excited to share the results of the ALMA large program ARKS that studied the distribution of dust and gas in a sample of 24 exoKuiper belts. With @lucaroundtheworld.bsky.social, Meredith Hughes and a large collaboration, we just published 10 papers presenting our first results arkslp.org
January 20, 2026 at 9:18 AM
We're so excited to share the results of the ALMA large program ARKS that studied the distribution of dust and gas in a sample of 24 exoKuiper belts. With @lucaroundtheworld.bsky.social, Meredith Hughes and a large collaboration, we just published 10 papers presenting our first results arkslp.org
Reposted by Michele Bannister
Should you have clear sky right now, it is worth a look
January 20, 2026 at 9:24 AM
Should you have clear sky right now, it is worth a look
Reposted by Michele Bannister
Holy aurora, Batman!! :O
January 20, 2026 at 7:18 AM
Holy aurora, Batman!! :O
Reposted by Michele Bannister
My textbook on SETI is published!
I hope you like it!
Please see if your libraries offer a free download—mine does!
iopscience.iop.org/book/mono/97...
🧪🔭
I hope you like it!
Please see if your libraries offer a free download—mine does!
iopscience.iop.org/book/mono/97...
🧪🔭
The Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence: Theory and practice
The Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence: Theory and practice, Wright, Jason T
iopscience.iop.org
January 19, 2026 at 5:55 PM
My textbook on SETI is published!
I hope you like it!
Please see if your libraries offer a free download—mine does!
iopscience.iop.org/book/mono/97...
🧪🔭
I hope you like it!
Please see if your libraries offer a free download—mine does!
iopscience.iop.org/book/mono/97...
🧪🔭
Reposted by Michele Bannister
Tens of thousands of New Zealanders live with endometriosis and chronic pelvic pain. For the first time, and study reveals the cost of these conditions - NZ$22.6 billion per year - with the largest economic toll not for treatment but the inability to work theconversation.com/chronic-pelv...
Chronic pelvic pain and endometriosis affect thousands in NZ – a new study reveals the staggering cost
For the first time, research has put a dollar figure on the medical and economic toll of these relatively common conditions in New Zealand.
theconversation.com
January 19, 2026 at 8:15 AM
Tens of thousands of New Zealanders live with endometriosis and chronic pelvic pain. For the first time, and study reveals the cost of these conditions - NZ$22.6 billion per year - with the largest economic toll not for treatment but the inability to work theconversation.com/chronic-pelv...
Reposted by Michele Bannister
MORE NEW HUBBLE IMAGES OF BABY STARS ✨
January 17, 2026 at 9:56 PM
MORE NEW HUBBLE IMAGES OF BABY STARS ✨
Reposted by Michele Bannister
If you wanna watch a really big rocket roll very slowly out to the launch pad in Florida, live, go here now m.youtube.com/watch?v=nrVn...
It’s the Artemis II mission, aiming to launch in the coming weeks to send humans to the Moon for the first time in over half a century
🧪
It’s the Artemis II mission, aiming to launch in the coming weeks to send humans to the Moon for the first time in over half a century
🧪
NASA's Artemis II Live Views from Kennedy Space Center
YouTube video by NASA
m.youtube.com
January 17, 2026 at 12:32 PM
If you wanna watch a really big rocket roll very slowly out to the launch pad in Florida, live, go here now m.youtube.com/watch?v=nrVn...
It’s the Artemis II mission, aiming to launch in the coming weeks to send humans to the Moon for the first time in over half a century
🧪
It’s the Artemis II mission, aiming to launch in the coming weeks to send humans to the Moon for the first time in over half a century
🧪
Looking forward to seeing what TESS measures of 3I/ATLAS through opposition. This is an interruption of TESS's regular survey cadence, for the remarkable event of an interstellar comet bright enough for TESS within the mission's lifetime
Observations of Comet 3I/Atlas
tess.mit.edu
January 17, 2026 at 3:38 AM
Looking forward to seeing what TESS measures of 3I/ATLAS through opposition. This is an interruption of TESS's regular survey cadence, for the remarkable event of an interstellar comet bright enough for TESS within the mission's lifetime
Reposted by Michele Bannister
A small film of spring flowers from my garden because we recover from stress 60% more quickly when we look at plants & if we find them beautiful our brains release dopamine, lifting mood. Pause for a few moments to help your synaptic soup 🌿🧠:
January 15, 2026 at 9:22 AM
A small film of spring flowers from my garden because we recover from stress 60% more quickly when we look at plants & if we find them beautiful our brains release dopamine, lifting mood. Pause for a few moments to help your synaptic soup 🌿🧠:
Means increased delta-v 💪☄️
With Ariel facing delays, @esa.int Comet Interceptor has found a new ride with a commercial Arian 6 launch customer.
Comet Interceptor will carry MIRMIS being built by @oxfordphysics.bsky.social
🔭🧪 #planetsci
spacenews.com/esas-comet-i...
Comet Interceptor will carry MIRMIS being built by @oxfordphysics.bsky.social
🔭🧪 #planetsci
spacenews.com/esas-comet-i...
ESA’s Comet Interceptor mission moves up launch
A delay in one European Space Agency mission is creating an opportunity for an earlier, and more capable, launch for another ESA spacecraft.
spacenews.com
January 15, 2026 at 7:39 AM
Means increased delta-v 💪☄️
Sometimes in the hard places, it's worth the reminder just to be amazed by things as simple as the shapes of leaves against the sky
January 13, 2026 at 1:18 AM
Sometimes in the hard places, it's worth the reminder just to be amazed by things as simple as the shapes of leaves against the sky
Reposted by Michele Bannister
Almost a decade ago Emma Johnston, Tanya Monro and I appeared at The National Press Club of Australia to talk about our stories and our views of issues that impact on Women in Science. It was an amazing experience…
I will miss you Emma.
theconversation.com/if-we-really...
I will miss you Emma.
theconversation.com/if-we-really...
If we really want an ideas boom, we need more women at the top tiers of science
If we want a genuine ideas boom in Australia, then we need to remove the barriers preventing women from reaching the highest levels in science.
theconversation.com
December 29, 2025 at 10:19 PM
Almost a decade ago Emma Johnston, Tanya Monro and I appeared at The National Press Club of Australia to talk about our stories and our views of issues that impact on Women in Science. It was an amazing experience…
I will miss you Emma.
theconversation.com/if-we-really...
I will miss you Emma.
theconversation.com/if-we-really...
Reposted by Michele Bannister
"I was completely overwhelmed by the beauty of it all, to the point of forgetting everything around me! A sky of absolute purity, free from artificial light.”
This is how astrophotographer Julien Looten remembers the night he captured this VLT view https://www.eso.org/public/images/potw2602a/
🔭 🧪
This is how astrophotographer Julien Looten remembers the night he captured this VLT view https://www.eso.org/public/images/potw2602a/
🔭 🧪
January 12, 2026 at 8:01 AM
"I was completely overwhelmed by the beauty of it all, to the point of forgetting everything around me! A sky of absolute purity, free from artificial light.”
This is how astrophotographer Julien Looten remembers the night he captured this VLT view https://www.eso.org/public/images/potw2602a/
🔭 🧪
This is how astrophotographer Julien Looten remembers the night he captured this VLT view https://www.eso.org/public/images/potw2602a/
🔭 🧪