Cynthia Phillips, PhD
@planetcynthia.bsky.social
Planetary geologist at NASA JPL. Europa is my favorite place in the solar system! Author of Astrophysics for Dummies https://www.amazon.com/Astrophysics-Dummies-Cynthia-Phillips/dp/1394235046/ and other books. Tweets are my own. She/her 🏳️🌈
Awesome picture of interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS as taken by a spacecraft orbiting Mars!
HiRISE Image of Exocomet 3I/ATLAS!
On 2 October 2025, MRO turned away from Mars to image 3I/ATLAS, only the third interstellar object ever observed passing through our solar system!
https://www.uahirise.org/releases/3i-atlas/
On 2 October 2025, MRO turned away from Mars to image 3I/ATLAS, only the third interstellar object ever observed passing through our solar system!
https://www.uahirise.org/releases/3i-atlas/
November 20, 2025 at 2:55 AM
Awesome picture of interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS as taken by a spacecraft orbiting Mars!
NASA’s fleet of Mars spacecraft will attempt observations of 3I/ATLAS as it passes by Mars on October 3! Stay tuned for results.
The government is shut down, but they can't stop me from posting stuff here.
At Mars this weekend, it's all eyes on the skies. NASA's robotic explorers – in orbit and on the ground – will attempt observations when Comet 3I/ATLAS cruises past the Red Planet on Oct 3
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZtQH...
At Mars this weekend, it's all eyes on the skies. NASA's robotic explorers – in orbit and on the ground – will attempt observations when Comet 3I/ATLAS cruises past the Red Planet on Oct 3
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZtQH...
NASA Spacecraft Observe Interstellar Comet 3I/ATLAS as It Approaches Mars
YouTube video by NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory
www.youtube.com
October 1, 2025 at 2:57 PM
NASA’s fleet of Mars spacecraft will attempt observations of 3I/ATLAS as it passes by Mars on October 3! Stay tuned for results.
Along with my day job at JPL, I’ve been busy the last several months writing Physics I For Dummies 4th Edition, and I wanted share that Barnes & Noble is running a 25% off campaign for members for all pre-orders, including my book! Sale goes thru 9/5.
www.barnesandnoble.com/w/physics-i-...
www.barnesandnoble.com/w/physics-i-...
Physics I For Dummies|Paperback
Discover the power of physics! Physics I For Dummies, 4th Edition explains the basic principles of physics simply and clearly. This useful guide includes easy-to-follow explanations of motion, energy,...
www.barnesandnoble.com
September 3, 2025 at 6:33 PM
Along with my day job at JPL, I’ve been busy the last several months writing Physics I For Dummies 4th Edition, and I wanted share that Barnes & Noble is running a 25% off campaign for members for all pre-orders, including my book! Sale goes thru 9/5.
www.barnesandnoble.com/w/physics-i-...
www.barnesandnoble.com/w/physics-i-...
Europa Clipper observes…. Mars? Yes, on its cruise to the Jupiter system, Europa Clipper swung by Mars for a gravity assist and captured this cool image of Mars and its two tiny moons.
On its way to Jupiter, NASA’s Europa Clipper caught a glimpse of Mars and its two moons. The dark (colder) circle at the top of the planet is a polar ice cap, and the fainter circle below is the region around Elysium Mons. Details: go.nasa.gov/3Uhjylf
July 24, 2025 at 10:54 PM
Europa Clipper observes…. Mars? Yes, on its cruise to the Jupiter system, Europa Clipper swung by Mars for a gravity assist and captured this cool image of Mars and its two tiny moons.
Reposted by Cynthia Phillips, PhD
Four charts showing the extent of cuts to NASA in the FY26 budget:
- Cuts to every science division
- Smallest science funding since 1984
- 19 active, inflight missions cancelled
- Smallest NASA budget since FY 1961
- Cuts to every science division
- Smallest science funding since 1984
- 19 active, inflight missions cancelled
- Smallest NASA budget since FY 1961
May 31, 2025 at 11:45 AM
Four charts showing the extent of cuts to NASA in the FY26 budget:
- Cuts to every science division
- Smallest science funding since 1984
- 19 active, inflight missions cancelled
- Smallest NASA budget since FY 1961
- Cuts to every science division
- Smallest science funding since 1984
- 19 active, inflight missions cancelled
- Smallest NASA budget since FY 1961
Reposted by Cynthia Phillips, PhD
BREAKING: The president's budget request just hit Congress, which could usher in a dark age for NASA space science.
Congress has the final say, but you can help shape the outcome by adding your name to our global petition.
This is just the start of our fight.
Sign the petition: planet.ly/petition
Congress has the final say, but you can help shape the outcome by adding your name to our global petition.
This is just the start of our fight.
Sign the petition: planet.ly/petition
May 30, 2025 at 9:57 PM
BREAKING: The president's budget request just hit Congress, which could usher in a dark age for NASA space science.
Congress has the final say, but you can help shape the outcome by adding your name to our global petition.
This is just the start of our fight.
Sign the petition: planet.ly/petition
Congress has the final say, but you can help shape the outcome by adding your name to our global petition.
This is just the start of our fight.
Sign the petition: planet.ly/petition
Is there potential for life on Jupiter's moon Europa? Let's ask a NASA expert... oh, that's me! #planetsci 🧪🔭 www.youtube.com/watch?v=wfzm...
Is There Potential for Life on Europa? We Asked a NASA Expert
YouTube video by NASA
www.youtube.com
February 27, 2025 at 4:37 AM
Is there potential for life on Jupiter's moon Europa? Let's ask a NASA expert... oh, that's me! #planetsci 🧪🔭 www.youtube.com/watch?v=wfzm...
Next stop for Europa Clipper: Mars??? That’s right, we are doing a rare Mars gravity assist on March 1st to help pick up speed on our journey out to the Jupiter system. More info and cool animations below!
From NASA: On March 1st, Europa Clipper will perform a gravity assist flyby of Mars, using the planet's gravity to adjust its trajectory as it makes its way to Jupiter. No visible light images, sadly. Details: go.nasa.gov/4bfYfba
Ride along virtually: eyes.nasa.gov/apps/solar-s...
Ride along virtually: eyes.nasa.gov/apps/solar-s...
NASA’s Europa Clipper Uses Mars to Go the Distance - NASA
The orbiter bound for Jupiter’s moon Europa will investigate whether the moon is habitable, but it first will get the help of Mars’ gravitational force to get
go.nasa.gov
February 26, 2025 at 2:53 AM
Next stop for Europa Clipper: Mars??? That’s right, we are doing a rare Mars gravity assist on March 1st to help pick up speed on our journey out to the Jupiter system. More info and cool animations below!
Space science is for everyone!
Space Science is for Everyone
"We ask that all those in decision-making positions unequivocally condemn and act to reverse recent attacks on scientific integrity, federal grant funding for scientific research, and initiatives that broaden public participation...."
sites.google.com/view/space-s...
"We ask that all those in decision-making positions unequivocally condemn and act to reverse recent attacks on scientific integrity, federal grant funding for scientific research, and initiatives that broaden public participation...."
sites.google.com/view/space-s...
Home
Space Science is for Everyone: An Open Letter
Written February 6, 2025
sites.google.com
February 7, 2025 at 11:44 PM
Space science is for everyone!
It was a great pleasure to participate in this video about Europa for Crayola's Creativity Week, up today! The video features myself, Astrobiologist David Grinspoon, @drfunkyspoon.bsky.social, US Poet Laureate Ada Limon, and illustrator Peter Sis! creativity-week.squarespace.com/events-calen...
Day 5: Flows Like Water — Crayola Creativity Week
Next: Day 6: Bee-lieve in Your Future February 1> Friday, January 31, 2025
creativity-week.squarespace.com
January 30, 2025 at 11:32 PM
It was a great pleasure to participate in this video about Europa for Crayola's Creativity Week, up today! The video features myself, Astrobiologist David Grinspoon, @drfunkyspoon.bsky.social, US Poet Laureate Ada Limon, and illustrator Peter Sis! creativity-week.squarespace.com/events-calen...
Want one of those amazing rainbow NASA pins you've seen the cool kids wearing? Here's your chance! Contribute to help get pins made for distribution at conferences, or to get your own bag of pins (choose which design) to distribute as you wish.
January 24, 2025 at 6:23 AM
Want one of those amazing rainbow NASA pins you've seen the cool kids wearing? Here's your chance! Contribute to help get pins made for distribution at conferences, or to get your own bag of pins (choose which design) to distribute as you wish.
Can’t we please live in precedented times for awhile? Evacuated from the latest LA fire yesterday, back home safe now but this is ridiculous. Picture taken by my neighbor yesterday…
January 23, 2025 at 9:20 PM
Can’t we please live in precedented times for awhile? Evacuated from the latest LA fire yesterday, back home safe now but this is ridiculous. Picture taken by my neighbor yesterday…
Interested in a paid summer internship working with a member of the Europa Clipper science team? Applications open for undergrads to apply to the Europa ICONS program. Internships available at locations around the US, includes stipend plus housing & travel. Visit science.nasa.gov/planetary-sc...
Europa Clipper ICONS Internships - NASA Science
Europa ICONS The new Inspiring Clipper: Opportunities for Next-generation Scientists (ICONS) internships will bring members of the Europa Clipper science team together with undergraduate students for ...
science.nasa.gov
January 3, 2025 at 10:44 PM
Interested in a paid summer internship working with a member of the Europa Clipper science team? Applications open for undergrads to apply to the Europa ICONS program. Internships available at locations around the US, includes stipend plus housing & travel. Visit science.nasa.gov/planetary-sc...
I gave a talk last week at the @agu.org conference on a fun project I've been working on with some colleagues, including amazing grad student Leah Sacks. We found a dark albedo feature on Saturn's moon Enceladus that we can show is changing over time! Check it out: www.space.com/space-explor...
There's a weird, disappearing dark spot on Saturn's moon Enceladus
"After staring at dozens and dozens of image pairs, she found something interesting."
www.space.com
December 19, 2024 at 12:12 AM
I gave a talk last week at the @agu.org conference on a fun project I've been working on with some colleagues, including amazing grad student Leah Sacks. We found a dark albedo feature on Saturn's moon Enceladus that we can show is changing over time! Check it out: www.space.com/space-explor...
Awesome news from Europa Clipper, which launched on October 14th. It's already traveled 13 million miles (!), and has successfully deployed its magnetometer boom and radar antennas. Next stop is a Mars flyby on March 1st! www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/nasas-e...
NASA’s Europa Clipper: Millions of Miles Down, Instruments Deploying
Headed to Jupiter’s moon Europa, the spacecraft is operating without a hitch and will reach Mars in just three months for a gravity assist.
www.jpl.nasa.gov
November 26, 2024 at 3:39 AM
Awesome news from Europa Clipper, which launched on October 14th. It's already traveled 13 million miles (!), and has successfully deployed its magnetometer boom and radar antennas. Next stop is a Mars flyby on March 1st! www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/nasas-e...
Heading over here from everywhere else. And hey, check out my most recent book Astrophysics for Dummies! www.amazon.com/Astrophysics...
Astrophysics For Dummies: Phillips, Cynthia, Priwer, Shana: 9781394235049: Amazon.com: Books
Buy Astrophysics For Dummies on Amazon.com ✓ FREE SHIPPING on qualified orders
www.amazon.com
November 12, 2024 at 3:18 AM
Heading over here from everywhere else. And hey, check out my most recent book Astrophysics for Dummies! www.amazon.com/Astrophysics...