Kenneth Becker
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geophotographer.org
Kenneth Becker
@geophotographer.org
1.3K followers 2.2K following 920 posts
Geoscientist/canine caretaker. UAF alum. Based in Alaska

Seismology/Volcanology/Meteorology/Astronomy/Space Weather, & Science Communication

Sometimes successful at photography

See my starter packs for more science!
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A 2012 solar eruption rivaled the power of the 1859 Carrington Event but narrowly missed Earth. New USGS research maps the consequences if a storm of that magnitude hit the US grid today.
🔭🧪☀️🛰️⚒️
#SpaceWeather
#Geology
#SolarStorm
#Science
#Carrington

www.usgs.gov/news/feature...
What a Solar Superstorm Could Mean for the US
If a geomagnetic storm as large as the famed “Carrington Event” of 1859 were to occur today, it could adversely affect telecommunications and electric power transmission systems across the U.S., espec...
www.usgs.gov
January 7, 2026 at 7:59 PM
geophotographer.org
Stars in Sextans A form dust grains made almost entirely of iron despite the galaxy having low levels of heavy elements. JWST observations verify that chemically primitive stars can generate solid material. Iron grains absorb light efficiently without the spectral signatures of silicates
#jwst
🔭🧪🛰️
NASA Webb Finds Early-Universe Analog's Unexpected Talent for Making Dust - NASA Science
Using NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope, astronomers have spotted two rare kinds of dust in the dwarf galaxy Sextans A, one of the most chemically primitive
science.nasa.gov
January 7, 2026 at 10:07 AM
geophotographer.org
NASA’s Parker Solar Probe mapped the Sun’s outer magnetic boundary, the Alfvén surface, for the first time. Flying closer than ever, it reveals where the solar wind escapes and shapes space weather. #NASA #Sun #SpaceWeather #SolarScience
🧪🔭🛰️☀️

Paper:
iopscience.iop.org/article/10.3...
First maps of the sun's outer boundary may help predict solar storms
NASA’s Parker Solar Probe has mapped the shifting boundary between the sun and the rest of the solar system.
www.sciencenews.org
January 6, 2026 at 1:46 AM
geophotographer.org
Happy Winter Solstice! In Fairbanks, we're only getting 3 hours and 42 minutes daylight. The sun sets soon at 2:40 pm here.

Image courtesy of National Weather Service Fairbanks

📷❄️☀️🌄
#sunset
#wintersolstice
#alaska
#nws
Image of the solstice sunset today, December 21st 2025, taken from the geophysical institute by the NationalWeather Service, Fairbanks office.
December 21, 2025 at 11:27 PM
geophotographer.org
Webb’s near-infrared image shows that the flash called GRB 250314A came from a supernova when the universe was only 730Myo. The image also reveals the host galaxy for the first time at this distance, giving scientists a direct view of early cosmic evolution.
#JWST
#Astrophysics
#EarlyUniverse
🧪🛰️🔭
GRB 250314A Pull-out (NIRCam Image) - NASA Science
NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope identified the source of a super bright flash of light known as a gamma-ray burst: a supernova that exploded when the universe was only 730 million years old. Webb’s ...
science.nasa.gov
December 11, 2025 at 6:00 AM
Reposted by Kenneth Becker
akearthquake.bsky.social
As of this morning, our data analysts have worked through ~180 aftershocks above magnitude 3 from yesterday's large earthquake near the Hubbard Glacier. While we have not detected landslides, note that this event was on the same fault system that led to the 1958 Lituya Bay tsunami.
December 7, 2025 at 7:07 PM
Reposted by Kenneth Becker
vincentledvina.bsky.social
A G3 (STRONG) geomagnetic storm watch has been issued by the NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center. This is due to a CME predicted to arrive at Earth around early-midday Dec 9 UT (Monday night).

Auroral displays may be seen across the central U.S. Follow for more updates.
December 7, 2025 at 4:44 AM
geophotographer.org
Article by the Alaska Earthquake Center regarding today's M7 earthquake.
🧪⚒️
#earthquake
#alaska
December 7, 2025 at 4:17 AM
Reposted by Kenneth Becker
earthquakeguy.bsky.social
Did you feel shaking in Yukon at 1:41 p.m. MST today? That was a M7 #earthquake near the seismically active YK-AK border and 250 km to the west of #Whitehorse.
Shaking was felt across much of Yukon and southeastern AK.
Details and report shaking:
www.earthquakescanada.nrcan.gc.ca/recent/2025/...
⚒️🧪
Canadian National Seismic Network seismic station at Whitehorse, Yukon, showing the felt ground shaking from today's M7 earthquake located 250 km to the west of the city. Shaking level is amplified to show several of the aftershocks.
December 6, 2025 at 10:44 PM
geophotographer.org
Update from AEC:

There have been a number of aftershocks, and AEC has confirmed the initial event to be a magnitude 7.

⚒️🧪
#alaska
#earthquake

earthquake.alaska.edu

Follow @akearthquake.bsky.social for more information
December 6, 2025 at 10:18 PM
geophotographer.org
akearthquake.bsky.social akearthquake.bsky.social @akearthquake.bsky.social · Dec 6
The National Tsunami Warning Center announced there is NOT a tsunami expected from the M6.8. https://www.tsunami.gov/
U.S. Tsunami Warning Centers
www.tsunami.gov
December 6, 2025 at 9:39 PM
geophotographer.org
There is no tsunami risk for this earthquake. I will repost the Earthquake Center's announcement about that.

Go to AEC's website for more information:
earthquake.alaska.edu
⚒️🧪
#Alaska
#earthquake
December 6, 2025 at 9:39 PM
geophotographer.org
SWOT recorded the 29 July 2025 M8.8 Kamchatka tsunami in altimetry, showing unexpected dispersive wave patterns. This data could refine tsunami forecasts and constrain the rupture and models
#SWOT
#tsunami
🧪⚒️🌊🛰️

Article
scitechdaily.com/nasa-satelli...

Paper
pubs.geoscienceworld.org/ssa/tsr/arti...
Model Animation of M8.8 Kamchatka, Russia 2025 Tsunami
YouTube video by SciTech Daily
youtu.be
December 4, 2025 at 4:19 AM
geophotographer.org
A team led by University of Cambridge analyzed 183 fossil backbone segments from at least 32 ancient anacondas and found they already measured 4-5 metres around 12.4Mya. Their size has remained essentially unchanged since then.
#Anaconda
#Evolution
🧪⚒️🐍🧬

Paper
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
Scientists discover why anacondas stayed giants for 12 million years
Ancient anaconda fossils show that the snakes became giants soon after emerging in Miocene South America. Their size has stayed stable for over 12 million years, even though other huge reptiles went e...
www.sciencedaily.com
December 4, 2025 at 3:47 AM
geophotographer.org
They certainly didn't chicken out!

I'll see myself out.

🧪⚒️
#ak
#alaska
#earthquake
#chickens
#footage
#AEC
akearthquake.bsky.social akearthquake.bsky.social @akearthquake.bsky.social · Nov 29
This may just be my favorite video from Thursday's shaker. Whatever happened to animals being able to sense an earthquake coming? These birds are basically unruffled. Maybe they're used to it? Thanks to Michele from Knik for this one! And to everyone who shared your informative videos.
November 30, 2025 at 2:42 AM
geophotographer.org
Denali's night-light, Fairbanks, Alaska, November 2025

Photo credit Kenneth Becker
📷
#photography
#sunset
#Denali
#alaska
The image captures a sunset behind Mount Denali, taken from a vantage point three miles north of Fairbanks. The sky is a gradient of colors, transitioning from a deep orange near the horizon to a dark gray as it ascends. A layer of thick, dark gray clouds hovers above, while the lower sky remains vivid with shades of orange and yellow. The silhouette of Mount Denali is visible against the vibrant sky, with its outline partially obscured by clouds. In the foreground, there is a forested area with dark silhouettes of tall pine trees. Below the horizon, small scattered lights is the city of Fairbanks, with noticeable smoke rising from one area, forming a thin plume that drifts into the sky.
November 29, 2025 at 5:05 AM
geophotographer.org
An excellent visualization of the subduction zone up here and the location of the earthquake. Thank you for sharing @judithgeology.bsky.social!
🧪⚒️
#earthquake
#alaska
judithgeology.bsky.social Dr. Judith Hubbard @judithgeology.bsky.social · Nov 27
⚒️ 🧪

This morning, a M6 earthquake struck at ~70 km depth near Anchorage, Alaska.

Earthquakes are a regular part of life here: this is a subduction zone, with earthquakes deepening east to west. M6 earthquakes fall well within the range of "normal".

USGS page: earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/...
Map, cross-section and timeline (2020-present) of earthquakes around Anchorage, Alaska, colored by depth.
November 28, 2025 at 1:34 AM
geophotographer.org
From the AEC:

"Here's a serving of earthquake science about this morning's magnitude 6.0 to go with your holiday meal"

www.facebook.com/share/1Wt9xT...

#AlaskaEarthquake
#SouthcentralAlaska
#Anchorage
#Willow
#Wasilla
#EagleRiver
#Palmer
#MatSuValley
#Girdwood
#HoustonAlaska
#AEC

⚒️🧪⚠️
Magnitude 6 Susitna Earthquake Shakes Up Thanksgiving | Alaska Earthquake Center
A magnitude 6.0 earthquake beneath Susitna, Alaska, was felt by thousands of Alaskans at about 8:12 am on Thanksgiving morning.
earthquake.alaska.edu
November 27, 2025 at 11:53 PM
geophotographer.org
A message from AKDOT for Alaska residents regarding this morning's earthquake:

www.facebook.com/share/p/1KLZ...

#AlaskaEarthquake #SouthcentralAlaska #Anchorage #Willow #Wasilla #EagleRiver #Palmer #MatSuValley #Girdwood #HoustonAlaska
🚧🛣️👷👷‍♀️🏗️🏢🏠🦺⚠️
Nov. 27, 2025 Good morning Southcentral Alaska! After a significant seismic event, such as the 6.0 we experienced this morning, DOT&PF conducts inspections of our highways, bridges, airports, and tunnels. While travel impacts are unlikely, we will report any finding here and on our 511 system. The image features a rectangular graphic with a bright orange background. In the center, on a pale yellow rectangle with rounded corners, there is text related to earthquake response. The top section displays an emblem featuring a landscape with mountains, water, an airplane, and a building, encircled by the words "TRANSPORTATION & PUBLIC FACILITIES STATE OF ALASKA" in a blue and gold ring. Below the emblem, the heading reads "Earthquake Response" in large blue letters. Following this is a short dividing line, beneath which is a block of text in smaller blue letters describing the actions taken by Alaska DOT&PF after seismic events.
November 27, 2025 at 11:40 PM
geophotographer.org
Reminder to anyone who felt the shaking, even if you didn't get a video:
If you haven't already, submit your felt report for the magnitude 6.0 earthquake near Willow, Alaska here:

earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/...
🧪⚒️
#alaska
#earthquake
#dyfi
#usgs
The image is a screenshot of a webpage from the USGS, displaying information about an earthquake. The USGS logo appears at the top left with the tagline "science for a changing world" below it. To the right, the title "Earthquake Hazards Program" is shown with a note that it is in cooperation with "AK." Below, in large bold text, there's the earthquake magnitude "M 6.0" followed by the location "12 km WNW of Susitna, Alaska." Additional details, including the date "2025-11-27 17:11:29 (UTC)," coordinates "61.570°N 150.751°W," and depth "69.4 km," are displayed beneath the location. At the bottom, the text "Felt Report – Tell Us!" is prominently featured.
November 27, 2025 at 11:26 PM
geophotographer.org
AEC's FB:

*We've gotten a number of videos that people have shared to our Facebook feed. Thankfully there is no significant damage reported, likely because the earthquake was so deep, but people were certainly shaken thoroughly. Here's a scene from Palmer."
www.facebook.com/share/p/17bY...
🧪⚒️
Powerful Earthquake! #earthquake #earthquakes #earthquakesurvival
YouTube video by McSpeed Alaskan Adventures
youtube.com
November 27, 2025 at 10:59 PM
geophotographer.org
From AEC's Facebook page:

"This interesting video of this morning's shaker demonstrates the arrival of two sets of felt waves -- S waves and then surface waves. Play with the volume on to hear the shaking!
Thank you to Bryanna in Anchorage."

www.facebook.com/share/v/169m...
🧪⚒️
#earthquake
#alaska
November 27, 2025 at 10:55 PM
geophotographer.org
More info on the M6.0 earthquake NW of Anchorage

earthquake.alaska.edu/event/ak2025...
FB page
www.facebook.com/Akearthquake

AEC is requesting anyone with video footage or photos from this earthquake to send them to:

uaf-aec@alaska.edu

(or message through FaceBook)

🧪⚒️
#earthquake
#alaska
Willow M6.0 | Alaska Earthquake Center
Alaskan Earthquake Center
earthquake.alaska.edu
November 27, 2025 at 10:45 PM
geophotographer.org
Perseverance gathered years of radio data from Martian dust storms, and new analysis confirms the signals match lightning discharges rather than wind. The finding points to active electrical activity within Mars’s evolving weather
#Mars
#NASA
#PlanetaryScience
🧪🔭
Paper
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
NASA Recorded Lightning Crackling on Mars For The First Time
A lonely rover toiling among the sands of Mars has now answered an age-old question: If lightning crackles on the red planet and no one hears it, does it still make a sound? In recordings obtained by ...
www.sciencealert.com
November 27, 2025 at 9:21 AM
geophotographer.org
Last light, UAF Geophysical Institute, Fairbanks, Alaska, January 2022

📷
#photography
#sunset
#winter
#alaska
The image showcases a winter sunset over a snowy landscape. In the foreground, snow-covered ground is visible, with outlines of parked cars partially buried in snowbanks. Leafless trees are scattered throughout, silhouetted against the setting sun. The sky is a mixture of warm oranges and yellows at the horizon, transitioning to purples and blues higher up. Two evergreen trees frame the scene on the left and right edges, adding depth to the composition. The overall atmosphere is serene and calm, with a contrasting interplay between the warm sunset and cold snow.
November 26, 2025 at 4:26 AM