Michal J A Paszkiewicz
@michalyoudoing.bsky.social
History of Science, Astronomy, Cartography, Transport, Software, AI
Translating 17th century Astronomy texts
Author:
-The Perfect Transport: and the science of why you can't have it
-Almagestum Novum: History of Astronomy
Translating 17th century Astronomy texts
Author:
-The Perfect Transport: and the science of why you can't have it
-Almagestum Novum: History of Astronomy
Pinned
Almagestum Novum: History of Astronomy
Buy Almagestum Novum: History of Astronomy on Amazon.com ✓ FREE SHIPPING on qualified orders
www.amazon.com
Riccioli's Almagestum Novum (1651) wasn't just the most comprehensive Astronomy Textbook ever.
It also linked House Grimaldi to French Royal ancestors, pushing the diplomacy that would ally Monaco with France and protect them from Italian Unification.
www.amazon.com/Almagestum-N...
It also linked House Grimaldi to French Royal ancestors, pushing the diplomacy that would ally Monaco with France and protect them from Italian Unification.
www.amazon.com/Almagestum-N...
******ALERT*******
FUN SPOILING POST
1. Heliocentrism wasn't "Godless". Rather, the problem found with heliocentrism in 1616 was that Galileo had been reinterpreting scripture based on unproved claims. The Augustinian tradition allowed reinterpretation with proven science, which this was not.
...
FUN SPOILING POST
1. Heliocentrism wasn't "Godless". Rather, the problem found with heliocentrism in 1616 was that Galileo had been reinterpreting scripture based on unproved claims. The Augustinian tradition allowed reinterpretation with proven science, which this was not.
...
Another comic I never bothered posting
This one from 2023. Topical galileo humour apropos of precisely nothing at all
This one from 2023. Topical galileo humour apropos of precisely nothing at all
![1. [Title Panel]: Is Your 17th Century Astronomer Spending Too Much Time on His Telescope?
2. [Text -only panel] These days, more and more 17th Century Astronomers have access to telescopes. Here are some warning signs that they are on the slippery slope to Godless heliocentrism!
3. STAYING UP LATE WITH THEIR TELESCOPE
[GALILEO is looking through his telescope out the window at a starry sky].
GALILEO'S WIFE:
Go to bed, Galileo!
GALILEO: In a minute...
4. ‘FOMO’ (FEAR OF MISSING OBSERVATIONS)
GALILEO'S WIFE:
Dinner, Galileo!
GALILEO [Looking through telescope]:
Just need to check my orbits
5. WITHDRAWING FROM REAL-WORLD ACTIVITIES
[Galileo's friend the POPE is now standing next to Galileo, who is still looking through his telescope]
THE POPE: Come to church, Galileo!
GALILEO: Not now...
6. FALLING OUT WITH FRIENDS
GALILEO: [Showing The Pope the book he's working on) I'm just working on my book challenging the Bible's view of the Universe
7. BEING ARRESTED BY THE INQUISITION
[GALILEO is being dragged out of the room, hands outstretched to his telescope. He is calling to it]:
GALILEO: Telescooope
9. GETTING SENTENCED TO HOUSE ARREST UNTIL DEATH FOR HERESY
[GALILEO sitting in front of his telescope, now with bars over the windows]
GALILEO: Ah, crap.
10. CONTINUED TELESCOPE USE DESPITE NEGATIVE CONSEQUENCES
[GALILEO in same position but now with long white beard, he is looking through his telescope through a barred jail window at the sky]
GALILEO'S WIFE:
Go to bed, Galileo!
GALILEO: In a minute...
[Ends]](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:4m3we4apbjayclzcnhwe3pfp/bafkreibook423m77cuwcpoahuocnd5dmylnlfi7jdhgaladuzytsynr7q4@jpeg)
February 5, 2026 at 12:40 PM
******ALERT*******
FUN SPOILING POST
1. Heliocentrism wasn't "Godless". Rather, the problem found with heliocentrism in 1616 was that Galileo had been reinterpreting scripture based on unproved claims. The Augustinian tradition allowed reinterpretation with proven science, which this was not.
...
FUN SPOILING POST
1. Heliocentrism wasn't "Godless". Rather, the problem found with heliocentrism in 1616 was that Galileo had been reinterpreting scripture based on unproved claims. The Augustinian tradition allowed reinterpretation with proven science, which this was not.
...
I trained a speech-to-text model this week that shows signs of dyslexia.
I guess the cause is a slight bias towards a lower Character Error Rate (LER) over a lower Word Error Rate (WER).
I guess the cause is a slight bias towards a lower Character Error Rate (LER) over a lower Word Error Rate (WER).
February 4, 2026 at 9:52 PM
I trained a speech-to-text model this week that shows signs of dyslexia.
I guess the cause is a slight bias towards a lower Character Error Rate (LER) over a lower Word Error Rate (WER).
I guess the cause is a slight bias towards a lower Character Error Rate (LER) over a lower Word Error Rate (WER).
Reposted by Michal J A Paszkiewicz
Vibe coded a tool for helping me explain astronomical concepts today
sphaera-armillaris.vercel.app
The real trick is to know how to break the process down into chunks small enough to be manageable for an LLM.
sphaera-armillaris.vercel.app
The real trick is to know how to break the process down into chunks small enough to be manageable for an LLM.
January 31, 2026 at 9:37 PM
Vibe coded a tool for helping me explain astronomical concepts today
sphaera-armillaris.vercel.app
The real trick is to know how to break the process down into chunks small enough to be manageable for an LLM.
sphaera-armillaris.vercel.app
The real trick is to know how to break the process down into chunks small enough to be manageable for an LLM.
Vibe coded a tool for helping me explain astronomical concepts today
sphaera-armillaris.vercel.app
The real trick is to know how to break the process down into chunks small enough to be manageable for an LLM.
sphaera-armillaris.vercel.app
The real trick is to know how to break the process down into chunks small enough to be manageable for an LLM.
January 31, 2026 at 9:37 PM
Vibe coded a tool for helping me explain astronomical concepts today
sphaera-armillaris.vercel.app
The real trick is to know how to break the process down into chunks small enough to be manageable for an LLM.
sphaera-armillaris.vercel.app
The real trick is to know how to break the process down into chunks small enough to be manageable for an LLM.
Reposted by Michal J A Paszkiewicz
Beer brewing, master astronomer from Danzig, Johannes Hevelius was born 28 January 1611 #histsci
thonyc.wordpress.com/2012/01/28/t...
thonyc.wordpress.com/2012/01/28/t...
The last great naked-eye astronomer.
Anybody cognizant with the history of astronomy in the Early Modern Period almost certainly thinks that the tittle of this post alludes to Tycho Brahe but in fact it refers to a man born ten years …
thonyc.wordpress.com
January 28, 2026 at 8:18 AM
Beer brewing, master astronomer from Danzig, Johannes Hevelius was born 28 January 1611 #histsci
thonyc.wordpress.com/2012/01/28/t...
thonyc.wordpress.com/2012/01/28/t...
Another Gnostalgia episode, discussing the Stars, cosmology, and our resulting worldviews.
youtu.be/VG5b6b-lTfM?...
youtu.be/VG5b6b-lTfM?...
Episode 31: On The Stars With Michal Paszkiewicz
YouTube video by The Gnostalgia Podcast
youtu.be
December 26, 2025 at 9:41 PM
Another Gnostalgia episode, discussing the Stars, cosmology, and our resulting worldviews.
youtu.be/VG5b6b-lTfM?...
youtu.be/VG5b6b-lTfM?...
Reposted by Michal J A Paszkiewicz
I know no-one wants to think about next term right now, but please remind students to book their places on the Latin palaeography online short courses at beginner or intermediate level taking place in February 👇 #MedievalSky 📖🧑💻👩💻👨🏽💻👩🏻💻🧑🏿💻🧑💻 📚
ies.sas.ac.uk/news-events/...
ies.sas.ac.uk/news-events/...
Introduction to Latin Palaeography
ies.sas.ac.uk
December 15, 2025 at 9:23 AM
I know no-one wants to think about next term right now, but please remind students to book their places on the Latin palaeography online short courses at beginner or intermediate level taking place in February 👇 #MedievalSky 📖🧑💻👩💻👨🏽💻👩🏻💻🧑🏿💻🧑💻 📚
ies.sas.ac.uk/news-events/...
ies.sas.ac.uk/news-events/...
Do I have any astronomy/history women followers who would be interested in volunteering their voice for two minor lines as the Egyptian goddess Sopdet in an animation?
December 15, 2025 at 10:10 AM
Do I have any astronomy/history women followers who would be interested in volunteering their voice for two minor lines as the Egyptian goddess Sopdet in an animation?
"It is no exaggeration to say that astronomy has existed as an exact science for more than five millenia. Throughout all of that time it has touched on matters of deep human concern."
- John North, Cosmos
- John North, Cosmos
December 1, 2025 at 10:31 PM
"It is no exaggeration to say that astronomy has existed as an exact science for more than five millenia. Throughout all of that time it has touched on matters of deep human concern."
- John North, Cosmos
- John North, Cosmos
Who actually dropped balls from towers?
Who dropped them best?
Who dropped them best?
October 11, 2025 at 8:37 AM
Who actually dropped balls from towers?
Who dropped them best?
Who dropped them best?
Reposted by Michal J A Paszkiewicz
Can anyone recommend me a good, accurate, scholarly, book on the history of telephones?
September 30, 2025 at 7:05 PM
Can anyone recommend me a good, accurate, scholarly, book on the history of telephones?
Can anyone recommend me a good, accurate, scholarly, book on the history of telephones?
September 30, 2025 at 7:05 PM
Can anyone recommend me a good, accurate, scholarly, book on the history of telephones?
No Galileo did not prove heliocentrism.
He didn't even claim he had proved it.
The 1st empirical evidence of Earth's motion was Bradley aberration, published 1728.
The myth that Galileo had proved it was started by Voltaire in 1734 in Letter 14 of Philosophical Letters.
bsky.app/profile/mich...
He didn't even claim he had proved it.
The 1st empirical evidence of Earth's motion was Bradley aberration, published 1728.
The myth that Galileo had proved it was started by Voltaire in 1734 in Letter 14 of Philosophical Letters.
bsky.app/profile/mich...
Galileo not da Vinci. Although I got the actual time wrong twice today so I may have misspoken. Anyway, having improved telescope technology, he *proved* the heliocentrism that Copernicus had previously established as a theory. And got branded a heretic for his troubles.
September 28, 2025 at 6:28 PM
No Galileo did not prove heliocentrism.
He didn't even claim he had proved it.
The 1st empirical evidence of Earth's motion was Bradley aberration, published 1728.
The myth that Galileo had proved it was started by Voltaire in 1734 in Letter 14 of Philosophical Letters.
bsky.app/profile/mich...
He didn't even claim he had proved it.
The 1st empirical evidence of Earth's motion was Bradley aberration, published 1728.
The myth that Galileo had proved it was started by Voltaire in 1734 in Letter 14 of Philosophical Letters.
bsky.app/profile/mich...
Reposted by Michal J A Paszkiewicz
#histsci 📜
There are so many hidden stories for you to discover at the Herschel Museum of Astronomy 🔭
youtube.com/shorts/nXXE1...
#spacehistory #astronomy #space #history #bathuk #museum
youtube.com/shorts/nXXE1...
#spacehistory #astronomy #space #history #bathuk #museum
There are so many hidden stories for you to discover at the Herschel Museum of Astronomy in Bath 🔭
YouTube video by Bath Preservation Trust
youtube.com
August 19, 2025 at 7:16 AM
#histsci 📜
Reposted by Michal J A Paszkiewicz
I had a great time talking with Brian Scarffe and Sebastian Morello about astronomy, astrology, Shakespeare, Freud and your mother, and other stuff at the Gnostalgia Podcast.
youtu.be/qK68-oiGAW0
youtu.be/qK68-oiGAW0
Astrology and the Renaissance with Michal Paszkiewicz
YouTube video by The Gnostalgia Podcast
youtu.be
June 19, 2025 at 1:42 PM
I had a great time talking with Brian Scarffe and Sebastian Morello about astronomy, astrology, Shakespeare, Freud and your mother, and other stuff at the Gnostalgia Podcast.
youtu.be/qK68-oiGAW0
youtu.be/qK68-oiGAW0
Spundle Ermine, from caterpillar to moth.
Super easy to keep, if you have infinite access to spindle trees.
Super easy to keep, if you have infinite access to spindle trees.
June 22, 2025 at 7:00 PM
Spundle Ermine, from caterpillar to moth.
Super easy to keep, if you have infinite access to spindle trees.
Super easy to keep, if you have infinite access to spindle trees.
I would urge everyone to write to their MPs to vote against Kim Leadbeater's Assisted Suicide bill.
The vote will occur tomorrow.
...
The vote will occur tomorrow.
...
June 19, 2025 at 7:57 PM
I would urge everyone to write to their MPs to vote against Kim Leadbeater's Assisted Suicide bill.
The vote will occur tomorrow.
...
The vote will occur tomorrow.
...
I had a great time talking with Brian Scarffe and Sebastian Morello about astronomy, astrology, Shakespeare, Freud and your mother, and other stuff at the Gnostalgia Podcast.
youtu.be/qK68-oiGAW0
youtu.be/qK68-oiGAW0
Astrology and the Renaissance with Michal Paszkiewicz
YouTube video by The Gnostalgia Podcast
youtu.be
June 19, 2025 at 1:42 PM
I had a great time talking with Brian Scarffe and Sebastian Morello about astronomy, astrology, Shakespeare, Freud and your mother, and other stuff at the Gnostalgia Podcast.
youtu.be/qK68-oiGAW0
youtu.be/qK68-oiGAW0
Reposted by Michal J A Paszkiewicz
🧵0/5
Johannes Kepler had the best arguments for Heliocentrism in his time, and continued to be the strongest advocate pretty much until Newton.
This is despite predating Galileo.
Here is a thread explaining Kepler's arguments as presented in Astronomia Nova (1609):
Johannes Kepler had the best arguments for Heliocentrism in his time, and continued to be the strongest advocate pretty much until Newton.
This is despite predating Galileo.
Here is a thread explaining Kepler's arguments as presented in Astronomia Nova (1609):
June 6, 2025 at 8:11 AM
🧵0/5
Johannes Kepler had the best arguments for Heliocentrism in his time, and continued to be the strongest advocate pretty much until Newton.
This is despite predating Galileo.
Here is a thread explaining Kepler's arguments as presented in Astronomia Nova (1609):
Johannes Kepler had the best arguments for Heliocentrism in his time, and continued to be the strongest advocate pretty much until Newton.
This is despite predating Galileo.
Here is a thread explaining Kepler's arguments as presented in Astronomia Nova (1609):
Reposted by Michal J A Paszkiewicz
The full story of the Mysterium Cosmographicum
thonyc.wordpress.com/2024/12/27/c...
thonyc.wordpress.com/2024/12/27/c...
Christmas Trilogy 2024 Part 3: The mysterious cosmos
Johannes Kepler (1571–1630) was born into what had once been a prominent family in the Free Imperial City of Weil der Stadt, his grandfather Sebald had been mayor of the city. By the time he was bo…
thonyc.wordpress.com
June 8, 2025 at 8:00 AM
The full story of the Mysterium Cosmographicum
thonyc.wordpress.com/2024/12/27/c...
thonyc.wordpress.com/2024/12/27/c...
Reposted by Michal J A Paszkiewicz
Kepler, the famous astronomer wrote the novel "Somnium (the Dream)". Unfortunately I did not read it yet, but I heard he described his mother as a witch, which was problematic because his mother was convicted of being witch later.
somniumproject.wordpress.com/somnium/
somniumproject.wordpress.com/somnium/
Johannes Kepler: Somnium (The Dream)
[Footnotes with numbers are Kepler’s; footnotes with letters are mine.] I. The Dream The narrator reads about ancient magic before falling asleep in the moonlight to dream II. ‘My …
somniumproject.wordpress.com
June 6, 2025 at 5:03 PM
Kepler, the famous astronomer wrote the novel "Somnium (the Dream)". Unfortunately I did not read it yet, but I heard he described his mother as a witch, which was problematic because his mother was convicted of being witch later.
somniumproject.wordpress.com/somnium/
somniumproject.wordpress.com/somnium/
🧵0/5
Johannes Kepler had the best arguments for Heliocentrism in his time, and continued to be the strongest advocate pretty much until Newton.
This is despite predating Galileo.
Here is a thread explaining Kepler's arguments as presented in Astronomia Nova (1609):
Johannes Kepler had the best arguments for Heliocentrism in his time, and continued to be the strongest advocate pretty much until Newton.
This is despite predating Galileo.
Here is a thread explaining Kepler's arguments as presented in Astronomia Nova (1609):
June 6, 2025 at 8:11 AM
🧵0/5
Johannes Kepler had the best arguments for Heliocentrism in his time, and continued to be the strongest advocate pretty much until Newton.
This is despite predating Galileo.
Here is a thread explaining Kepler's arguments as presented in Astronomia Nova (1609):
Johannes Kepler had the best arguments for Heliocentrism in his time, and continued to be the strongest advocate pretty much until Newton.
This is despite predating Galileo.
Here is a thread explaining Kepler's arguments as presented in Astronomia Nova (1609):
Reposted by Michal J A Paszkiewicz
The first substantiated proposal of an exoplanet I'm aware of was in 1783. The star Algol was observed to be of variable brightness by the deaf astronomer John Goodricke.
His collaborator, Edward Pigott, proposed that it must be a planet that orbits the star and frequently occults it.
...
His collaborator, Edward Pigott, proposed that it must be a planet that orbits the star and frequently occults it.
...
May 15, 2025 at 2:55 PM
The first substantiated proposal of an exoplanet I'm aware of was in 1783. The star Algol was observed to be of variable brightness by the deaf astronomer John Goodricke.
His collaborator, Edward Pigott, proposed that it must be a planet that orbits the star and frequently occults it.
...
His collaborator, Edward Pigott, proposed that it must be a planet that orbits the star and frequently occults it.
...
"But only half of his body is seen in the image - you will say - not sufficient for such a hero. Clearly he carried the Earth into the Aether, but the whole Earth cannot hold the whole of him"
-Tycho Brahe, Epistles p.240
-Tycho Brahe, Epistles p.240
May 24, 2025 at 8:40 AM
"But only half of his body is seen in the image - you will say - not sufficient for such a hero. Clearly he carried the Earth into the Aether, but the whole Earth cannot hold the whole of him"
-Tycho Brahe, Epistles p.240
-Tycho Brahe, Epistles p.240
Spindle Ermine Moth caterpillars... the British equivalent of the silk worm.
These guys have been covering whole trees nearby with webbing.
Spindle Ermines usually will just eat spindle tree leaves, but my ones seem to be very happily munching away on some willow.
These guys have been covering whole trees nearby with webbing.
Spindle Ermines usually will just eat spindle tree leaves, but my ones seem to be very happily munching away on some willow.
May 20, 2025 at 8:59 AM
Spindle Ermine Moth caterpillars... the British equivalent of the silk worm.
These guys have been covering whole trees nearby with webbing.
Spindle Ermines usually will just eat spindle tree leaves, but my ones seem to be very happily munching away on some willow.
These guys have been covering whole trees nearby with webbing.
Spindle Ermines usually will just eat spindle tree leaves, but my ones seem to be very happily munching away on some willow.