Phil Plait
@philplait.bsky.social
Bad Astronomer (formerly @BadAstronomer), SciCommer, Dork. Crash Course Astronomy guy. He/him. Newsletter: badastronomy.beehiiv.com
I'm self-employed so my opinions do in fact represent my company's.
I'm self-employed so my opinions do in fact represent my company's.
Pinned
Phil Plait
@philplait.bsky.social
· Oct 10
Pinned post:
Wanna know where all my stuff is? about.me/philplait
My book Under Alien Skies: underalienskies.com
My newsletter (Monday issues are free!): badastronomy.beehiiv.com
My fave post here on BlueSky: bsky.app/profile/phil...
Wanna know where all my stuff is? about.me/philplait
My book Under Alien Skies: underalienskies.com
My newsletter (Monday issues are free!): badastronomy.beehiiv.com
My fave post here on BlueSky: bsky.app/profile/phil...
Yeah. I'm on a low-salt diet and those things have a decent chance of killing me but maybe not this NEXT bag so...
February 10, 2026 at 2:00 AM
Yeah. I'm on a low-salt diet and those things have a decent chance of killing me but maybe not this NEXT bag so...
OMG
Makes more sense than a flat Earth
Makes more sense than a flat Earth
An entirely reasonable question prompted by a show that has never once explained where anyone came from or why they’re still here.
#cookiemonster #drwho #elmo #grover #oscar #sesamestreet #snuffleupagus #timelord #vampire #OddNews
#cookiemonster #drwho #elmo #grover #oscar #sesamestreet #snuffleupagus #timelord #vampire #OddNews
If Oscar the Grouch Is a Time Lord, Then What Is the Rest of Sesame Street?
An entirely reasonable question prompted by a show that has never once explained where anyone came from or why they’re still here.
oddnews.com
February 10, 2026 at 1:57 AM
OMG
Makes more sense than a flat Earth
Makes more sense than a flat Earth
Oh yeah. We ate a bag of those a few months ago, and yeah. Yeah.
February 10, 2026 at 1:49 AM
Oh yeah. We ate a bag of those a few months ago, and yeah. Yeah.
Oh this is fantastic art using actual images from space missions. Jupiter and Io, Earth, and Mars.
Impossible Portrait: Jupiter and Io (Cassini), Earth (Rosetta) and Mars (Hope Mission) - From Andrea Luck (andrealuck.bsky.social) - https://flic.kr/p/2mRNEX8
February 10, 2026 at 1:39 AM
Oh this is fantastic art using actual images from space missions. Jupiter and Io, Earth, and Mars.
Reposted by Phil Plait
So we're clear (because the press is apparently incapable) this is a fake competition investigation designed to help local right wing propaganda broadcasters consolidate and increase their power over whatever's left of local U.S. news
FCC Chairman Brendan Carr Probes Comcast Relations With NBC Stations
FCC Chairman Brendan Carr sent a letter to Comcast on Tuesday announcing a probe of the company's relations with NBC affiliates.
variety.com
February 9, 2026 at 2:19 PM
So we're clear (because the press is apparently incapable) this is a fake competition investigation designed to help local right wing propaganda broadcasters consolidate and increase their power over whatever's left of local U.S. news
Huh. HUH.
Trump, who says he had "no idea" at the time that Epstein sexually molested girls, told the police in 2006 that "everyone has known he’s been doing this.” That's according to an FBI interview with the then-Palm Beach police chief.
Here's a gift link to Julie K. Brown's article in the Miami Herald.
Here's a gift link to Julie K. Brown's article in the Miami Herald.
Trump told Palm Beach police chief ‘everyone’ knew about Epstein, Maxwell was ‘evil’
The new information comes as Ghislaine Maxwell was summoned to appear Monday before a Congressional committee.
www.miamiherald.com
February 9, 2026 at 11:23 PM
Huh. HUH.
Funny, I'm way over by science communicators. Fair, but I *was* a pro for like 20 years. 😜
February 9, 2026 at 11:02 PM
Funny, I'm way over by science communicators. Fair, but I *was* a pro for like 20 years. 😜
He sounds terrific; a role model we could all use. I'm sorry he's gone, but glad he raised such a wonderful woman.
February 9, 2026 at 10:22 PM
He sounds terrific; a role model we could all use. I'm sorry he's gone, but glad he raised such a wonderful woman.
He knows where to find me
February 9, 2026 at 10:20 PM
He knows where to find me
STRONGLY endorse
Yesterday marked Stand Up For Science's first birthday! We want to keep fighting for science for years to come, but that comes at a cost. If you would like to make a birthday donation, please visit this link: standupforscience.net/donate
Thank you for helping us Stand Up For Science!
Thank you for helping us Stand Up For Science!
February 9, 2026 at 8:18 PM
STRONGLY endorse
Oh, sorry about that! Please send me an email and I'll look into it: thebadastronomer@gmail.com
February 9, 2026 at 5:58 PM
Oh, sorry about that! Please send me an email and I'll look into it: thebadastronomer@gmail.com
Reposted by Phil Plait
Oh! And what’s this? A new 5th Doctor box set, with stories by Lauren Mooney, Stewart Pringle, and a handsome, talented writer called… oh, how embarrassing! It’s me! Mine had the working title of “Tegan Jovanka’s Bloody Annoying Groundhog Day”, so you know the vibe:
FIVE STAR! ✨ Click https://bgfn.sh/rough if you can't wait another minute to find out more about April 2026's full-cast audio drama box set starring Peter Davison, Janet Fielding and Mark Strickson.
February 9, 2026 at 5:10 PM
Oh! And what’s this? A new 5th Doctor box set, with stories by Lauren Mooney, Stewart Pringle, and a handsome, talented writer called… oh, how embarrassing! It’s me! Mine had the working title of “Tegan Jovanka’s Bloody Annoying Groundhog Day”, so you know the vibe:
My free subscriptions have plateaued a bit lately, so why not sign up? You get a free issue every Monday, with cool science and pix and stuff. It's essentially a whole science book per year, and costs nothing!
👉 badastronomy.beehiiv.com/subscribe
👉 badastronomy.beehiiv.com/subscribe
February 9, 2026 at 4:12 PM
My free subscriptions have plateaued a bit lately, so why not sign up? You get a free issue every Monday, with cool science and pix and stuff. It's essentially a whole science book per year, and costs nothing!
👉 badastronomy.beehiiv.com/subscribe
👉 badastronomy.beehiiv.com/subscribe
We can now take *1,500-color* images of galaxies! Here's a gorgeous nearby spiral to sculpt your interest.
badastronomy.beehiiv.com/p/the-specta...
[words by me; this issue is free for all!]
🔭 🧪
badastronomy.beehiiv.com/p/the-specta...
[words by me; this issue is free for all!]
🔭 🧪
The spectacular Sculptor spiral galaxy in 1,500 colors!
Picking your colors carefully reveals rich science
badastronomy.beehiiv.com
February 9, 2026 at 4:07 PM
We can now take *1,500-color* images of galaxies! Here's a gorgeous nearby spiral to sculpt your interest.
badastronomy.beehiiv.com/p/the-specta...
[words by me; this issue is free for all!]
🔭 🧪
badastronomy.beehiiv.com/p/the-specta...
[words by me; this issue is free for all!]
🔭 🧪
Of *course* she didn't. She was moved to a cushy minimum security prison as an obvious bribe by Trump to stay quiet. Taking the 5th is safe; naming names could get her killed.
ALERT: Rep Robert Garcia (D-CA) says Ghislaine Maxwell has appeared for virtual deposition with House Oversight Cmte and “said nothing. She answered no questions and provided no information about the men who raped and trafficked women and girls”
February 9, 2026 at 3:53 PM
Of *course* she didn't. She was moved to a cushy minimum security prison as an obvious bribe by Trump to stay quiet. Taking the 5th is safe; naming names could get her killed.
It depends on the density of the material and the line of sight through it; a deeper cloud will look darker, of course. I'm not sure how dense and deep the material would have to be to look dark then.
February 9, 2026 at 3:51 PM
It depends on the density of the material and the line of sight through it; a deeper cloud will look darker, of course. I'm not sure how dense and deep the material would have to be to look dark then.
In my followup skeet I answer that. :)
February 9, 2026 at 3:49 PM
In my followup skeet I answer that. :)
What's even funnier is that the densities we're talking about here are still so rarefied they'd be close to a laboratory vacuum. Astronomers consider a million atoms per cubic centimeter to be a lot. That's one ten-trillionth the density of air at sea level.
February 9, 2026 at 3:39 PM
What's even funnier is that the densities we're talking about here are still so rarefied they'd be close to a laboratory vacuum. Astronomers consider a million atoms per cubic centimeter to be a lot. That's one ten-trillionth the density of air at sea level.
I'm always amazed when a see a truly dark splotch in a JWST image. The 'scope detects infrared light which can get through dense dust that's opaque to visible light, so how dense is that little cloud such that it can *entirely block the light from material behind it*? Yikes.
🔭 JWST Program 5437 - A Census to the Bottom of the IMF in W3: Atmospheres, Disks, Accretion, and Demographics: www.stsci.edu/jwst-program...
data: W3-JWST-3A-FINAL, released: 2026-02-08
NASA, ESA, CSA, STSci/ #JWST NIRCAM 440, 360, 182
data: W3-JWST-3A-FINAL, released: 2026-02-08
NASA, ESA, CSA, STSci/ #JWST NIRCAM 440, 360, 182
February 9, 2026 at 3:37 PM
I'm always amazed when a see a truly dark splotch in a JWST image. The 'scope detects infrared light which can get through dense dust that's opaque to visible light, so how dense is that little cloud such that it can *entirely block the light from material behind it*? Yikes.
I'd think the market would adapt to that change as well, I'd bet to make it more difficult.
February 9, 2026 at 2:26 PM
I'd think the market would adapt to that change as well, I'd bet to make it more difficult.
You'll be able to lift 10 times your own weight in paintings
February 9, 2026 at 2:25 PM
You'll be able to lift 10 times your own weight in paintings
February 9, 2026 at 1:38 PM
So now he plans to nuke the lunar poles to make lakes or something?
February 9, 2026 at 1:31 PM
So now he plans to nuke the lunar poles to make lakes or something?
Reposted by Phil Plait
[Elon’s voice over the Mars habitat intercom]
I have some important news about our oxygen supply.
I have some important news about our oxygen supply.
July 1, 2023 at 10:16 PM
[Elon’s voice over the Mars habitat intercom]
I have some important news about our oxygen supply.
I have some important news about our oxygen supply.