Scott Kardel aka Palomar Skies
@palomarskies.bsky.social
Associate professor of astronomy at Palomar College, user of smart telescopes. 🔭 Blog: http://visiblesuns.blogspot.com/
Pinned
1:37:11 PM on Tuesday, July 15, 2025, over the North Atlantic Ocean.
"The world is still beautiful, even with all the traffic, the injustice, the noise, the wars. The world is still beautiful. It's all we have and we should celebrate it." - Film score composer Lionel Newman
Reposted by Scott Kardel aka Palomar Skies
In the century leading up to 1975, nearly 6000 freighters went down in the Great Lakes.
The Edmund Fitzgerald was the last.
The last. In 50 years, not a single commercial freighter has been lost in the Great Lakes.
Why?
It's NOAA. Of course it's NOAA.
The Edmund Fitzgerald was the last.
The last. In 50 years, not a single commercial freighter has been lost in the Great Lakes.
Why?
It's NOAA. Of course it's NOAA.
November 11, 2025 at 1:50 AM
In the century leading up to 1975, nearly 6000 freighters went down in the Great Lakes.
The Edmund Fitzgerald was the last.
The last. In 50 years, not a single commercial freighter has been lost in the Great Lakes.
Why?
It's NOAA. Of course it's NOAA.
The Edmund Fitzgerald was the last.
The last. In 50 years, not a single commercial freighter has been lost in the Great Lakes.
Why?
It's NOAA. Of course it's NOAA.
Tragic. 🔭
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 1:04 AM
Tragic. 🔭
Reposted by Scott Kardel aka Palomar Skies
-Oct 18, more than 7 million Americans stand up and stand together.
-Nov 4, millions of Dems turn out for landslide wins in VA, NJ, NY, CA, GA, many other places.
-Nov 9, eight "Dems" say "Oh, this nice Mike Johnson and Mr. Trump say they care about health. If they don't, well shame on them..."
-Nov 4, millions of Dems turn out for landslide wins in VA, NJ, NY, CA, GA, many other places.
-Nov 9, eight "Dems" say "Oh, this nice Mike Johnson and Mr. Trump say they care about health. If they don't, well shame on them..."
November 10, 2025 at 2:55 AM
-Oct 18, more than 7 million Americans stand up and stand together.
-Nov 4, millions of Dems turn out for landslide wins in VA, NJ, NY, CA, GA, many other places.
-Nov 9, eight "Dems" say "Oh, this nice Mike Johnson and Mr. Trump say they care about health. If they don't, well shame on them..."
-Nov 4, millions of Dems turn out for landslide wins in VA, NJ, NY, CA, GA, many other places.
-Nov 9, eight "Dems" say "Oh, this nice Mike Johnson and Mr. Trump say they care about health. If they don't, well shame on them..."
Reposted by Scott Kardel aka Palomar Skies
I've summarized the truth about Loeb's 10 "anomalies" about 3I/ATLAS in one post.
Thanks to @deschscoveries.bsky.social @michael-w-busch.bsky.social @cometary.org and @marshall-eubanks.bsky.social for contributing their expertise!
Thanks to @deschscoveries.bsky.social @michael-w-busch.bsky.social @cometary.org and @marshall-eubanks.bsky.social for contributing their expertise!
Loeb’s 3I/ATLAS “Anomalies” Explained
Avi Loeb continues to claim that 3I/ATLAS has many anomalous behaviors that lead to the conclusion that it “might” be an alien spacecraft. He carefully hedges the probability that it is a spacecraft ...
sites.psu.edu
November 10, 2025 at 12:22 AM
I've summarized the truth about Loeb's 10 "anomalies" about 3I/ATLAS in one post.
Thanks to @deschscoveries.bsky.social @michael-w-busch.bsky.social @cometary.org and @marshall-eubanks.bsky.social for contributing their expertise!
Thanks to @deschscoveries.bsky.social @michael-w-busch.bsky.social @cometary.org and @marshall-eubanks.bsky.social for contributing their expertise!
In between observing comets this morning I did manage to catch the Moon in its waning gibbous phase. 🔭
November 10, 2025 at 12:57 AM
In between observing comets this morning I did manage to catch the Moon in its waning gibbous phase. 🔭
Reposted by Scott Kardel aka Palomar Skies
On this day in 1934 this kid was born and he’d grow up to write things that would inform my worldview for my whole life and that’s the reason I tell everyone I know to read Carl Sagan
November 9, 2025 at 5:57 PM
On this day in 1934 this kid was born and he’d grow up to write things that would inform my worldview for my whole life and that’s the reason I tell everyone I know to read Carl Sagan
November 9, 2025 at 9:52 PM
I was up early this morning to catch two comets. The first was C/2025 K1 (ATLAS), a nice telescopic comet currently in Leo. The 2nd was the not-a-spaceship interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS. It's the fuzzy dot at the center which I caught just over the trees as twilight was coming on. 🔭
November 9, 2025 at 8:10 PM
I was up early this morning to catch two comets. The first was C/2025 K1 (ATLAS), a nice telescopic comet currently in Leo. The 2nd was the not-a-spaceship interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS. It's the fuzzy dot at the center which I caught just over the trees as twilight was coming on. 🔭
Reposted by Scott Kardel aka Palomar Skies
November 9, 2025 at 7:16 PM
Last night at the planetarium one of our regulars gave me this old tie tack that had belonged to his dad. I recognized it immediately. It is of Telstar, the world’s first communications satellite. Telstar 1 was launched several months before I was born.
November 9, 2025 at 12:44 AM
Last night at the planetarium one of our regulars gave me this old tie tack that had belonged to his dad. I recognized it immediately. It is of Telstar, the world’s first communications satellite. Telstar 1 was launched several months before I was born.
Nice sunspots today - 7 November 2025. 🔭
November 7, 2025 at 7:40 PM
Nice sunspots today - 7 November 2025. 🔭
Reposted by Scott Kardel aka Palomar Skies
Lava overflows at the Kīlauea summit vents ended early Thursday morning, suggesting a delay in the start of the high fountaining phase of episode 36, per #USGS #HVO.
Models ssuggest the likely forecast window for anticipated high lava fountains is btwn now & November 11th.
#KilaueaUpdate #HVNP🌋
Models ssuggest the likely forecast window for anticipated high lava fountains is btwn now & November 11th.
#KilaueaUpdate #HVNP🌋
Kīlauea Volcano Eruption Update for Thursday, November 6
HAWAIʻI VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK - The start of high fountaining has been delayed due to stalled deformation at the summit.
www.bigislandvideonews.com
November 7, 2025 at 2:22 AM
Lava overflows at the Kīlauea summit vents ended early Thursday morning, suggesting a delay in the start of the high fountaining phase of episode 36, per #USGS #HVO.
Models ssuggest the likely forecast window for anticipated high lava fountains is btwn now & November 11th.
#KilaueaUpdate #HVNP🌋
Models ssuggest the likely forecast window for anticipated high lava fountains is btwn now & November 11th.
#KilaueaUpdate #HVNP🌋
Reposted by Scott Kardel aka Palomar Skies
NASA may be quietly gutting an iconic campus with what it calls strategic closures, workers fear edition.cnn.com/2025/11/04/s...
NASA may be quietly gutting an iconic campus with what it calls strategic closures, workers fear | CNN
Buildings at Goddard’s Maryland campus are being emptied and padlocked, sources say. NASA leadership has pushed back against the concerns.
edition.cnn.com
November 6, 2025 at 2:50 AM
NASA may be quietly gutting an iconic campus with what it calls strategic closures, workers fear edition.cnn.com/2025/11/04/s...
A very beautiful eruption happening now at Kīlauea in Hawai'i right now. Watch it here:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bqmp...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bqmp...
[V3cam] Kīlauea volcano, Hawaii (south Halemaʻumaʻu crater)
YouTube video by USGS
www.youtube.com
November 5, 2025 at 2:16 PM
A very beautiful eruption happening now at Kīlauea in Hawai'i right now. Watch it here:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bqmp...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bqmp...
I voted by mail weeks ago but am proudly wearing my I Voted sticker today.
November 4, 2025 at 9:28 PM
I voted by mail weeks ago but am proudly wearing my I Voted sticker today.
🔭 Tonight's Moon is nearly full. It's 97.2% illuminated.
November 4, 2025 at 4:26 AM
🔭 Tonight's Moon is nearly full. It's 97.2% illuminated.
Reposted by Scott Kardel aka Palomar Skies
CA voters support Prop 50 because they want to stop the erosion of our democracy. Californians deserve a government that fights for better wages, lower costs, and economic opportunity for all. #CAVoteYesProp50 www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
California set to approve Prop 50 as voters signal displeasure with Trump
Voters set to accept new maps to help Democrats counter Republican gerrymandering – and check president’s power
www.theguardian.com
November 3, 2025 at 10:10 PM
CA voters support Prop 50 because they want to stop the erosion of our democracy. Californians deserve a government that fights for better wages, lower costs, and economic opportunity for all. #CAVoteYesProp50 www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
Reposted by Scott Kardel aka Palomar Skies
standard time is superior to DST
November 2, 2025 at 10:45 PM
standard time is superior to DST
🖖 He was 102! trekmovie.com/2025/11/02/s...
Star Trek Original Series Director Ralph Senensky Has Passed Away
The director who helmed several episodes of TOS was 102.
trekmovie.com
November 2, 2025 at 10:08 PM
🖖 He was 102! trekmovie.com/2025/11/02/s...
😉 I have been overhearing a lot of people talking about "the world Ceres" but not seeing any images here, so here's Ceres, which has dual citizenship as a dwarf planet and the largest asteroid. 🔭 1/4
November 2, 2025 at 9:35 PM
😉 I have been overhearing a lot of people talking about "the world Ceres" but not seeing any images here, so here's Ceres, which has dual citizenship as a dwarf planet and the largest asteroid. 🔭 1/4
Reposted by Scott Kardel aka Palomar Skies
Two more images from last night's session: Gassendi and Mare Humorum to the left, and Plato to Sinus Iridum to the right. Both best 10% frames from 2500 frame video taken with #CFF 135 🔭, #TeleVue 2.5x powermate, #Touptek 585MM camera. #astrophotography
November 2, 2025 at 10:37 AM
Two more images from last night's session: Gassendi and Mare Humorum to the left, and Plato to Sinus Iridum to the right. Both best 10% frames from 2500 frame video taken with #CFF 135 🔭, #TeleVue 2.5x powermate, #Touptek 585MM camera. #astrophotography
Reposted by Scott Kardel aka Palomar Skies
2nd Nov. 2025 marks the 25th anniversary of the ongoing human presence off-world.
That is, humans have continuously occupied the ISS for exactly 25 years today.
So if you're <= 24 years old, you've never lived in a world where humans were *only* terrestrial-based.
Image by HEO (from above!)
🔭🧪
That is, humans have continuously occupied the ISS for exactly 25 years today.
So if you're <= 24 years old, you've never lived in a world where humans were *only* terrestrial-based.
Image by HEO (from above!)
🔭🧪
November 2, 2025 at 4:35 AM
2nd Nov. 2025 marks the 25th anniversary of the ongoing human presence off-world.
That is, humans have continuously occupied the ISS for exactly 25 years today.
So if you're <= 24 years old, you've never lived in a world where humans were *only* terrestrial-based.
Image by HEO (from above!)
🔭🧪
That is, humans have continuously occupied the ISS for exactly 25 years today.
So if you're <= 24 years old, you've never lived in a world where humans were *only* terrestrial-based.
Image by HEO (from above!)
🔭🧪
Standard Time forever, please.
Love it or hate it, many will turn their clocks back on Sunday. The debate — whether or not to make daylight saving time permanent — continues. n.pr/4okDSzv
Daylight saving time ends Sunday. Here's what to know
Love it or hate it, many will turn their clocks back on Sunday. The debate — whether or not to make daylight saving time permanent — continues.
n.pr
November 2, 2025 at 1:47 AM
Standard Time forever, please.
Reposted by Scott Kardel aka Palomar Skies
What do we really know about interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS? I sat down with planetary astronomer Ariel Graykowski for an honest, curiosity-driven discussion—no promo, just science. #astronomy #comet3I www.youtube.com/live/zaVO-uf...
Comet 3I/ATLAS Perihelion Update
YouTube video by SETI Institute
www.youtube.com
November 1, 2025 at 3:38 PM
What do we really know about interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS? I sat down with planetary astronomer Ariel Graykowski for an honest, curiosity-driven discussion—no promo, just science. #astronomy #comet3I www.youtube.com/live/zaVO-uf...
Reposted by Scott Kardel aka Palomar Skies
Three @theguardian.com books cartoons from previous halloweens: 1. Haunted Bookshop
October 31, 2025 at 5:14 PM
Three @theguardian.com books cartoons from previous halloweens: 1. Haunted Bookshop