Jason Nishiyama
@evilscientistca.bsky.social
Teacher, astronomer, political scientist and father. I wrote a book once: http://evl.link/df
Alberta, Canada
Alberta, Canada
Normal cats learn the sound of the can opener. Mine know the sound of me unwrapping kamaboko...
February 15, 2026 at 9:49 PM
Normal cats learn the sound of the can opener. Mine know the sound of me unwrapping kamaboko...
M72 is a globular cluster located about 55 kly away in the constellation of Aquarius.
Globular clusters orbit our (and other) Galaxy. Basically a large ball of hundreds of thousands of stars, we don't have a clear idea of how they were formed. #astronomy
Globular clusters orbit our (and other) Galaxy. Basically a large ball of hundreds of thousands of stars, we don't have a clear idea of how they were formed. #astronomy
February 13, 2026 at 2:19 AM
M72 is a globular cluster located about 55 kly away in the constellation of Aquarius.
Globular clusters orbit our (and other) Galaxy. Basically a large ball of hundreds of thousands of stars, we don't have a clear idea of how they were formed. #astronomy
Globular clusters orbit our (and other) Galaxy. Basically a large ball of hundreds of thousands of stars, we don't have a clear idea of how they were formed. #astronomy
M70 is a globular cluster located about 29 kly away in the constellation of Sagittarius.
M70 is a fairly compact globular cluster, suggesting that it has undergone core collapse, a process in GC where stars have moved to the core of the cluster, increasing the stellar density there. #astronomy
M70 is a fairly compact globular cluster, suggesting that it has undergone core collapse, a process in GC where stars have moved to the core of the cluster, increasing the stellar density there. #astronomy
February 11, 2026 at 10:52 PM
M70 is a globular cluster located about 29 kly away in the constellation of Sagittarius.
M70 is a fairly compact globular cluster, suggesting that it has undergone core collapse, a process in GC where stars have moved to the core of the cluster, increasing the stellar density there. #astronomy
M70 is a fairly compact globular cluster, suggesting that it has undergone core collapse, a process in GC where stars have moved to the core of the cluster, increasing the stellar density there. #astronomy
M8, the Lagoon Nebula, is an emission nebula located about 4100 ly away in the constellation of Sagittarius.
It contains many Bok Globules, small dark nebula which are dense and are likely locations of star formation. #astronomy
It contains many Bok Globules, small dark nebula which are dense and are likely locations of star formation. #astronomy
February 10, 2026 at 10:54 PM
M8, the Lagoon Nebula, is an emission nebula located about 4100 ly away in the constellation of Sagittarius.
It contains many Bok Globules, small dark nebula which are dense and are likely locations of star formation. #astronomy
It contains many Bok Globules, small dark nebula which are dense and are likely locations of star formation. #astronomy
M7 is an open cluster located about 980 ly away in the constellation of Scorpius.
It is the southernmost of the Messier objects, which explains the fuzziness of the image. #astronomy
It is the southernmost of the Messier objects, which explains the fuzziness of the image. #astronomy
February 9, 2026 at 10:46 PM
M7 is an open cluster located about 980 ly away in the constellation of Scorpius.
It is the southernmost of the Messier objects, which explains the fuzziness of the image. #astronomy
It is the southernmost of the Messier objects, which explains the fuzziness of the image. #astronomy
M34 is an open cluster located about 1500 ly away in the constellation of Perseus.
It has a higher average metallicity than the Sun, meaning it has slightly more elements heavier than helium than the Sun does. #astronomy
It has a higher average metallicity than the Sun, meaning it has slightly more elements heavier than helium than the Sun does. #astronomy
February 5, 2026 at 11:16 PM
M34 is an open cluster located about 1500 ly away in the constellation of Perseus.
It has a higher average metallicity than the Sun, meaning it has slightly more elements heavier than helium than the Sun does. #astronomy
It has a higher average metallicity than the Sun, meaning it has slightly more elements heavier than helium than the Sun does. #astronomy
M103 is an open cluster located about 9400ly away in the constellation of Cassiopeia.
At between 12 million to 25 million years old, this is a very young cluster of stars. #astronomy
At between 12 million to 25 million years old, this is a very young cluster of stars. #astronomy
February 4, 2026 at 11:25 PM
M103 is an open cluster located about 9400ly away in the constellation of Cassiopeia.
At between 12 million to 25 million years old, this is a very young cluster of stars. #astronomy
At between 12 million to 25 million years old, this is a very young cluster of stars. #astronomy
NGC 40 is a planetary nebula located about 1600 ly away in the constellation of Cepheus.
It was discovered by William Herschel in 1788. Hershel also gave this class of objects their name of planetary nebula because they looked a bit like the planet Uranus which he had discovered earlier. #astronomy
It was discovered by William Herschel in 1788. Hershel also gave this class of objects their name of planetary nebula because they looked a bit like the planet Uranus which he had discovered earlier. #astronomy
February 3, 2026 at 10:58 PM
NGC 40 is a planetary nebula located about 1600 ly away in the constellation of Cepheus.
It was discovered by William Herschel in 1788. Hershel also gave this class of objects their name of planetary nebula because they looked a bit like the planet Uranus which he had discovered earlier. #astronomy
It was discovered by William Herschel in 1788. Hershel also gave this class of objects their name of planetary nebula because they looked a bit like the planet Uranus which he had discovered earlier. #astronomy
M23 is an open cluster located about 2000 ly away in the constellation of Sagitarius.
The bright star to the upper right is a 6th magnitude star (about as dim as a star can get and still visible to the unaided eye) and is only 330ly away. #astronomy
The bright star to the upper right is a 6th magnitude star (about as dim as a star can get and still visible to the unaided eye) and is only 330ly away. #astronomy
February 3, 2026 at 1:41 AM
M23 is an open cluster located about 2000 ly away in the constellation of Sagitarius.
The bright star to the upper right is a 6th magnitude star (about as dim as a star can get and still visible to the unaided eye) and is only 330ly away. #astronomy
The bright star to the upper right is a 6th magnitude star (about as dim as a star can get and still visible to the unaided eye) and is only 330ly away. #astronomy
Grade 9 open house at ye olde school….
January 30, 2026 at 1:53 AM
Grade 9 open house at ye olde school….
M42, the Great Nebula in Orion, is an emission nebula located about 1300 ly away in the constellation of Orion.
This false colour image maps one of the emission lines of oxygen, hydrogen and sulphur to blue, green, and red in the image showing us where these elements are in the nebula. #astronomy
This false colour image maps one of the emission lines of oxygen, hydrogen and sulphur to blue, green, and red in the image showing us where these elements are in the nebula. #astronomy
January 29, 2026 at 1:13 AM
M42, the Great Nebula in Orion, is an emission nebula located about 1300 ly away in the constellation of Orion.
This false colour image maps one of the emission lines of oxygen, hydrogen and sulphur to blue, green, and red in the image showing us where these elements are in the nebula. #astronomy
This false colour image maps one of the emission lines of oxygen, hydrogen and sulphur to blue, green, and red in the image showing us where these elements are in the nebula. #astronomy
M36 is an open cluster located about 4300 ly away in the constellation of Auriga.
It is a fairly young cluster, only 25 My old. This means it will still have stars much hotter than the Sun in it as they haven't had time to evolve to extinction. #astronomy
It is a fairly young cluster, only 25 My old. This means it will still have stars much hotter than the Sun in it as they haven't had time to evolve to extinction. #astronomy
January 28, 2026 at 12:38 AM
M36 is an open cluster located about 4300 ly away in the constellation of Auriga.
It is a fairly young cluster, only 25 My old. This means it will still have stars much hotter than the Sun in it as they haven't had time to evolve to extinction. #astronomy
It is a fairly young cluster, only 25 My old. This means it will still have stars much hotter than the Sun in it as they haven't had time to evolve to extinction. #astronomy
Mars is the 4th planet from the Sun in our Solar System.
Though it's radius is about half of the Earth's, it's mass is about 1/10th the Earth's mass. #astronomy
Though it's radius is about half of the Earth's, it's mass is about 1/10th the Earth's mass. #astronomy
January 27, 2026 at 1:36 AM
Mars is the 4th planet from the Sun in our Solar System.
Though it's radius is about half of the Earth's, it's mass is about 1/10th the Earth's mass. #astronomy
Though it's radius is about half of the Earth's, it's mass is about 1/10th the Earth's mass. #astronomy
NGC 4361 is a planetary nebula located about 3400 ly away in the constellation of Corvus.
It is a dying star that has used up its nuclear fuel and has thrown off its outer layers. This leaves behind what was the hot core which we see as the central star. #astronomy
It is a dying star that has used up its nuclear fuel and has thrown off its outer layers. This leaves behind what was the hot core which we see as the central star. #astronomy
January 22, 2026 at 10:54 PM
NGC 4361 is a planetary nebula located about 3400 ly away in the constellation of Corvus.
It is a dying star that has used up its nuclear fuel and has thrown off its outer layers. This leaves behind what was the hot core which we see as the central star. #astronomy
It is a dying star that has used up its nuclear fuel and has thrown off its outer layers. This leaves behind what was the hot core which we see as the central star. #astronomy
Albireo is a double star located about 370 ly away in the constellation of Cygnus.
It is unclear if they are a true binary system or an optical double. They are one of the few deep space objects that the human eye can perceive colour of. #astronomy
It is unclear if they are a true binary system or an optical double. They are one of the few deep space objects that the human eye can perceive colour of. #astronomy
January 22, 2026 at 3:38 AM
Albireo is a double star located about 370 ly away in the constellation of Cygnus.
It is unclear if they are a true binary system or an optical double. They are one of the few deep space objects that the human eye can perceive colour of. #astronomy
It is unclear if they are a true binary system or an optical double. They are one of the few deep space objects that the human eye can perceive colour of. #astronomy
M93 is an open cluster located about 3400 ly away in the constellation of Puppis.
Open clusters are found in the Galactic plane and are the result of relatively recent star formation in the arms of our Galaxy. #astronomy
Open clusters are found in the Galactic plane and are the result of relatively recent star formation in the arms of our Galaxy. #astronomy
January 21, 2026 at 2:02 AM
M93 is an open cluster located about 3400 ly away in the constellation of Puppis.
Open clusters are found in the Galactic plane and are the result of relatively recent star formation in the arms of our Galaxy. #astronomy
Open clusters are found in the Galactic plane and are the result of relatively recent star formation in the arms of our Galaxy. #astronomy
M40 is an optical double star located in the constellation of Ursa Major.
It is an optical double because the stars are only close in our line of sight. One star is 470ly away while the other is 1010 ly away. The stars themselves are not associated. #astronomy
It is an optical double because the stars are only close in our line of sight. One star is 470ly away while the other is 1010 ly away. The stars themselves are not associated. #astronomy
January 20, 2026 at 2:23 AM
M40 is an optical double star located in the constellation of Ursa Major.
It is an optical double because the stars are only close in our line of sight. One star is 470ly away while the other is 1010 ly away. The stars themselves are not associated. #astronomy
It is an optical double because the stars are only close in our line of sight. One star is 470ly away while the other is 1010 ly away. The stars themselves are not associated. #astronomy
M105 (centre right) is an elliptical galaxy located about 36.6 Mly away in the constellation of Leo.
Unlike spirals which are disk shaped, elliptical galaxies are balls with no defined internal structure. The can vary in shape from spherical to a flattened ellipse. #astronomy
Unlike spirals which are disk shaped, elliptical galaxies are balls with no defined internal structure. The can vary in shape from spherical to a flattened ellipse. #astronomy
January 16, 2026 at 2:07 AM
M105 (centre right) is an elliptical galaxy located about 36.6 Mly away in the constellation of Leo.
Unlike spirals which are disk shaped, elliptical galaxies are balls with no defined internal structure. The can vary in shape from spherical to a flattened ellipse. #astronomy
Unlike spirals which are disk shaped, elliptical galaxies are balls with no defined internal structure. The can vary in shape from spherical to a flattened ellipse. #astronomy
M17 is an emission nebula located about 5500ly away in the constellation of Sagittarius.
Emission nebulae usually glow due to hot stars inside them that have recently formed. The UV light causes the gas of the nebula to glow. #astronomy
Emission nebulae usually glow due to hot stars inside them that have recently formed. The UV light causes the gas of the nebula to glow. #astronomy
January 14, 2026 at 11:07 PM
M17 is an emission nebula located about 5500ly away in the constellation of Sagittarius.
Emission nebulae usually glow due to hot stars inside them that have recently formed. The UV light causes the gas of the nebula to glow. #astronomy
Emission nebulae usually glow due to hot stars inside them that have recently formed. The UV light causes the gas of the nebula to glow. #astronomy
NGC 7662 is a planetary nebula located about 5700 ly away in the constellation of Andromeda.
It is the remnant of a low to intermediate mass star (1-6 solar masses) having blown off its outer layers, forming the nebula. #astronomy
It is the remnant of a low to intermediate mass star (1-6 solar masses) having blown off its outer layers, forming the nebula. #astronomy
January 13, 2026 at 10:49 PM
NGC 7662 is a planetary nebula located about 5700 ly away in the constellation of Andromeda.
It is the remnant of a low to intermediate mass star (1-6 solar masses) having blown off its outer layers, forming the nebula. #astronomy
It is the remnant of a low to intermediate mass star (1-6 solar masses) having blown off its outer layers, forming the nebula. #astronomy
M46 is an open cluster located about 4900 ly away in the constellation of Puppis.
The cluster contains about 500 stars spread over a radius of about 37 ly.
The planetary nebula NGC 2438 is not a member of the cluster as it is only about 1400ly away so it a foreground object. #astronomy
The cluster contains about 500 stars spread over a radius of about 37 ly.
The planetary nebula NGC 2438 is not a member of the cluster as it is only about 1400ly away so it a foreground object. #astronomy
January 13, 2026 at 1:15 AM
M46 is an open cluster located about 4900 ly away in the constellation of Puppis.
The cluster contains about 500 stars spread over a radius of about 37 ly.
The planetary nebula NGC 2438 is not a member of the cluster as it is only about 1400ly away so it a foreground object. #astronomy
The cluster contains about 500 stars spread over a radius of about 37 ly.
The planetary nebula NGC 2438 is not a member of the cluster as it is only about 1400ly away so it a foreground object. #astronomy
M95 is a barred spiral galaxy located about 33 Mly away in the constellation of Leo.
The central bar of stars is common amongst spiral galaxies. Our own Milky Way galaxy is a barred spiral.
The central bar of stars is common amongst spiral galaxies. Our own Milky Way galaxy is a barred spiral.
January 8, 2026 at 10:57 PM
M95 is a barred spiral galaxy located about 33 Mly away in the constellation of Leo.
The central bar of stars is common amongst spiral galaxies. Our own Milky Way galaxy is a barred spiral.
The central bar of stars is common amongst spiral galaxies. Our own Milky Way galaxy is a barred spiral.
Abell 2666 is a cluster of galaxies about 340 Mly away in the constellation of Pegasus.
Most galaxies tend to be in clusters, gravitationally influencing each other. The larger galaxies in the image are part of the Abell cluster. #astronomy
Most galaxies tend to be in clusters, gravitationally influencing each other. The larger galaxies in the image are part of the Abell cluster. #astronomy
January 7, 2026 at 10:56 PM
Abell 2666 is a cluster of galaxies about 340 Mly away in the constellation of Pegasus.
Most galaxies tend to be in clusters, gravitationally influencing each other. The larger galaxies in the image are part of the Abell cluster. #astronomy
Most galaxies tend to be in clusters, gravitationally influencing each other. The larger galaxies in the image are part of the Abell cluster. #astronomy
The Double Cluster is a pair of open clusters (NGC 884, left, and NGC 869, right) located about 7500 ly away in the constellation of Perseus.
#astronomy
#astronomy
January 7, 2026 at 12:01 AM
The Double Cluster is a pair of open clusters (NGC 884, left, and NGC 869, right) located about 7500 ly away in the constellation of Perseus.
#astronomy
#astronomy
Comets are icy messengers from the farthest reaches of the solar system.
The short period comets (p<200 years) originate in the Kuiper belt past the orbit of Neptune.
The long period comets originate from the Oort cloud, which extends to nearly a light year away from the Sun.
#astronomy
The short period comets (p<200 years) originate in the Kuiper belt past the orbit of Neptune.
The long period comets originate from the Oort cloud, which extends to nearly a light year away from the Sun.
#astronomy
January 5, 2026 at 10:43 PM
Comets are icy messengers from the farthest reaches of the solar system.
The short period comets (p<200 years) originate in the Kuiper belt past the orbit of Neptune.
The long period comets originate from the Oort cloud, which extends to nearly a light year away from the Sun.
#astronomy
The short period comets (p<200 years) originate in the Kuiper belt past the orbit of Neptune.
The long period comets originate from the Oort cloud, which extends to nearly a light year away from the Sun.
#astronomy