Sean Raymond (planetplanet.net)
@planetplanet.bsky.social
Building crazy planetary systems on my blog planetplanet.net. Solar System formation. Exoplanets. Free-floating planets and interstellar objects. Astronomy poem book: http://amzn.to/3muytqo He/him.
Pinned
Like dinosaurs, Saturn and Jupiter roamed
They sculpted this system that humans call home
The gas giants roared, the system unstable
An ice giant planet fell right off the table!
A whole ring of comets was launched to the stars
The planets — bombarded — still bear the scars.
They sculpted this system that humans call home
The gas giants roared, the system unstable
An ice giant planet fell right off the table!
A whole ring of comets was launched to the stars
The planets — bombarded — still bear the scars.
I just realized that a couple weeks ago was the fifth anniversary of the release of my astronomy poem book: Black Holes, Stars, Earth and Mars.
www.amazon.com/dp/B08LFZZWGZ
www.amazon.com/dp/B08LFZZWGZ
Black Holes, Stars, Earth and Mars: Astronomy poems for all ages
Black Holes, Stars, Earth and Mars: Astronomy poems for all ages [Raymond, Sean, Raymond, Owen, Tyson, Neil deGrasse] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. Black Holes, Stars, Earth and Mars: Astronomy poems for all ages
www.amazon.com
November 7, 2025 at 12:11 PM
I just realized that a couple weeks ago was the fifth anniversary of the release of my astronomy poem book: Black Holes, Stars, Earth and Mars.
www.amazon.com/dp/B08LFZZWGZ
www.amazon.com/dp/B08LFZZWGZ
Here's a new article I wrote for @nautil.us about a new result hinting that variations in the cosmic ray flux hitting the Earth, which itself varies as the Sun oscillates vertically within the Galaxy, have a strong link to the diversity of microplankton.
nautil.us/could-the-su...
nautil.us/could-the-su...
Could the Sun’s Orbit Shape Evolution?
Could the Sun’s Orbit Shape Evolution? The connection between our massive star and the tiniest microplankton.
nautil.us
October 19, 2025 at 3:00 PM
Here's a new article I wrote for @nautil.us about a new result hinting that variations in the cosmic ray flux hitting the Earth, which itself varies as the Sun oscillates vertically within the Galaxy, have a strong link to the diversity of microplankton.
nautil.us/could-the-su...
nautil.us/could-the-su...
New animation of the ultimate engineered solar system for a talk I'm giving tomorrow at a sci-fi convention in Lithuania.
It has 400 rocky planets in the habitable zone of a single Sun-like star
It's perfectly stable (I simulated it out to about a billion years)
planetplanet.net/2017/05/03/t...
It has 400 rocky planets in the habitable zone of a single Sun-like star
It's perfectly stable (I simulated it out to about a billion years)
planetplanet.net/2017/05/03/t...
October 10, 2025 at 1:51 PM
New animation of the ultimate engineered solar system for a talk I'm giving tomorrow at a sci-fi convention in Lithuania.
It has 400 rocky planets in the habitable zone of a single Sun-like star
It's perfectly stable (I simulated it out to about a billion years)
planetplanet.net/2017/05/03/t...
It has 400 rocky planets in the habitable zone of a single Sun-like star
It's perfectly stable (I simulated it out to about a billion years)
planetplanet.net/2017/05/03/t...
Reposted by Sean Raymond (planetplanet.net)
AAS members are on the Hill today to #SaveNASAScience and advocate for sustained funding for NASA, NSF, and our nation's other science agencies! Help us amplify their voices by calling and writing to your Congressional offices today: aas.org/action-alert...
October 6, 2025 at 2:10 PM
AAS members are on the Hill today to #SaveNASAScience and advocate for sustained funding for NASA, NSF, and our nation's other science agencies! Help us amplify their voices by calling and writing to your Congressional offices today: aas.org/action-alert...
In my new @nautil.us article, I use a lot of recent research to argue that rocky exoplanets on eccentric orbits are often very good candidates for life.
(At least, eccentric/inclined orbits should not be used as a negative for habitability)
nautil.us/wild-orbits-...
(At least, eccentric/inclined orbits should not be used as a negative for habitability)
nautil.us/wild-orbits-...
Wild Orbits Prime Planets for Life
Looking for habitable worlds? Check the ones with extreme swings.
nautil.us
September 9, 2025 at 7:55 AM
In my new @nautil.us article, I use a lot of recent research to argue that rocky exoplanets on eccentric orbits are often very good candidates for life.
(At least, eccentric/inclined orbits should not be used as a negative for habitability)
nautil.us/wild-orbits-...
(At least, eccentric/inclined orbits should not be used as a negative for habitability)
nautil.us/wild-orbits-...
Here's something new and weird -- eccentric rings of co-orbital planets.
They are stable indefinitely, from an orbital point of view.
Could they actually form and exist?
planetplanet.net/2025/09/02/e...
They are stable indefinitely, from an orbital point of view.
Could they actually form and exist?
planetplanet.net/2025/09/02/e...
September 2, 2025 at 9:17 PM
Here's something new and weird -- eccentric rings of co-orbital planets.
They are stable indefinitely, from an orbital point of view.
Could they actually form and exist?
planetplanet.net/2025/09/02/e...
They are stable indefinitely, from an orbital point of view.
Could they actually form and exist?
planetplanet.net/2025/09/02/e...
Flashback to 2012 when I ate the Sun
(Photo from the top of Vulcano in Sicily)
(Photo from the top of Vulcano in Sicily)
August 29, 2025 at 3:03 PM
Flashback to 2012 when I ate the Sun
(Photo from the top of Vulcano in Sicily)
(Photo from the top of Vulcano in Sicily)
Reposted by Sean Raymond (planetplanet.net)
Imagine the complicated and precious genius of the girl who made this embroidery sampler in 1811
The Solar System, sampler, unknown maker, 1811, England. Museum no. T.92-1939. Victoria and Albert Museum, London.
The Solar System, sampler, unknown maker, 1811, England. Museum no. T.92-1939. Victoria and Albert Museum, London.
August 27, 2025 at 11:01 PM
Imagine the complicated and precious genius of the girl who made this embroidery sampler in 1811
The Solar System, sampler, unknown maker, 1811, England. Museum no. T.92-1939. Victoria and Albert Museum, London.
The Solar System, sampler, unknown maker, 1811, England. Museum no. T.92-1939. Victoria and Albert Museum, London.
Reposted by Sean Raymond (planetplanet.net)
Reposted by Sean Raymond (planetplanet.net)
Still can't get over @deschscoveries.bsky.social parodying Loeb, and Loeb straight-up playing out the parody a 3 days later.
Is Desch a clairvoyant, or did Loeb read this mockery of him and think—hey, that's actually a great idea!—and just plagiarize him?!
Is Desch a clairvoyant, or did Loeb read this mockery of him and think—hey, that's actually a great idea!—and just plagiarize him?!
August 18, 2025 at 2:57 AM
Still can't get over @deschscoveries.bsky.social parodying Loeb, and Loeb straight-up playing out the parody a 3 days later.
Is Desch a clairvoyant, or did Loeb read this mockery of him and think—hey, that's actually a great idea!—and just plagiarize him?!
Is Desch a clairvoyant, or did Loeb read this mockery of him and think—hey, that's actually a great idea!—and just plagiarize him?!
Reposted by Sean Raymond (planetplanet.net)
Reposted by Sean Raymond (planetplanet.net)
Loeb’s bad science flies out faster than any one of us should have to deal with it. For a nice explanation of what’s wrong with many of his claims I have not addressed, see @hectorsocas.bsky.social ’s work here: tinieblasyestrellas.blogspot.com/2025/08/3iat...
3I/ATLAS. A cat on my balcony
(En español aquí ) S ummary Recently, a new interstellar object passing through our solar system has been discovered: 3I/ATLAS. Thi...
tinieblasyestrellas.blogspot.com
August 12, 2025 at 12:06 AM
Loeb’s bad science flies out faster than any one of us should have to deal with it. For a nice explanation of what’s wrong with many of his claims I have not addressed, see @hectorsocas.bsky.social ’s work here: tinieblasyestrellas.blogspot.com/2025/08/3iat...
Reposted by Sean Raymond (planetplanet.net)
Today, *every* living prior leader of NASA's science directorate have released a joint letter condemning the proposed cuts to NASA science. These individuals every administration from Reagan to Biden, and all believe these cuts are insanely destructive: www.planetary.org/press-releas...
Every living NASA science chief unites in opposition to unprecedented…
The entire past leadership of NASA’s science activities have released a joint statement condemning the proposed 47% cuts proposed to the agency’s science…
www.planetary.org
July 7, 2025 at 9:11 PM
Today, *every* living prior leader of NASA's science directorate have released a joint letter condemning the proposed cuts to NASA science. These individuals every administration from Reagan to Biden, and all believe these cuts are insanely destructive: www.planetary.org/press-releas...
Reposted by Sean Raymond (planetplanet.net)
Folks need to remember that public funding of science drives economic growth and human quality of life decades into the future.
This is about more than saving jobs on the line now. It's about your future health, and the future of health and well-being for the next several generations.
This is about more than saving jobs on the line now. It's about your future health, and the future of health and well-being for the next several generations.
Are you from one of these states? Then we need your help to save American science!
The Senate Appropriations Committee will be marking up the President's Budget Request for science on Wednesday. People have been saying the proposed cuts "decimated" US science, but that's wrong: they are apocalyptic
The Senate Appropriations Committee will be marking up the President's Budget Request for science on Wednesday. People have been saying the proposed cuts "decimated" US science, but that's wrong: they are apocalyptic
July 7, 2025 at 7:19 PM
Folks need to remember that public funding of science drives economic growth and human quality of life decades into the future.
This is about more than saving jobs on the line now. It's about your future health, and the future of health and well-being for the next several generations.
This is about more than saving jobs on the line now. It's about your future health, and the future of health and well-being for the next several generations.
Reposted by Sean Raymond (planetplanet.net)
The details are not yet finalized, but the budget bill would devastate NASA science and the future of US exploration in space and astronomy. Among many other things. 🔭🧪
www.planetary.org/articles/nas...
www.planetary.org/articles/nas...
June 30, 2025 at 12:35 PM
The details are not yet finalized, but the budget bill would devastate NASA science and the future of US exploration in space and astronomy. Among many other things. 🔭🧪
www.planetary.org/articles/nas...
www.planetary.org/articles/nas...
Reposted by Sean Raymond (planetplanet.net)
Oh hey I didn't know you were here! I wrote about it too. 😄
www.scientificamerican.com/article/coul...
www.scientificamerican.com/article/coul...
Could the Solar System Lose a Planet to a Passing Star?
Close stellar encounters could change the structure of our planetary system, potentially dooming Earth or other worlds to oblivion
www.scientificamerican.com
June 29, 2025 at 10:03 PM
Oh hey I didn't know you were here! I wrote about it too. 😄
www.scientificamerican.com/article/coul...
www.scientificamerican.com/article/coul...
@nytimes.com article about Nate Kaib's and my recent paper on the future stability of the Solar System when passing stars are accounted for.
www.nytimes.com/2025/06/28/s...
www.nytimes.com/2025/06/28/s...
This Is Not the Way We Usually Imagine the World Will End
www.nytimes.com
June 29, 2025 at 8:51 PM
@nytimes.com article about Nate Kaib's and my recent paper on the future stability of the Solar System when passing stars are accounted for.
www.nytimes.com/2025/06/28/s...
www.nytimes.com/2025/06/28/s...
Like dinosaurs, Saturn and Jupiter roamed
They sculpted this system that humans call home
The gas giants roared, the system unstable
An ice giant planet fell right off the table!
A whole ring of comets was launched to the stars
The planets — bombarded — still bear the scars.
They sculpted this system that humans call home
The gas giants roared, the system unstable
An ice giant planet fell right off the table!
A whole ring of comets was launched to the stars
The planets — bombarded — still bear the scars.
June 28, 2025 at 10:56 PM
Like dinosaurs, Saturn and Jupiter roamed
They sculpted this system that humans call home
The gas giants roared, the system unstable
An ice giant planet fell right off the table!
A whole ring of comets was launched to the stars
The planets — bombarded — still bear the scars.
They sculpted this system that humans call home
The gas giants roared, the system unstable
An ice giant planet fell right off the table!
A whole ring of comets was launched to the stars
The planets — bombarded — still bear the scars.
I was the scientific advisor for the latest video by Balade Mentale about "World-Killer Planets: The Chaotic History of Planetary Systems" (in French)
youtu.be/_6J9axX3r08?...
youtu.be/_6J9axX3r08?...
Les planètes tueuses de monde: L’histoire chaotique des systèmes planétaires
YouTube video by Balade Mentale
youtu.be
June 12, 2025 at 8:13 AM
I was the scientific advisor for the latest video by Balade Mentale about "World-Killer Planets: The Chaotic History of Planetary Systems" (in French)
youtu.be/_6J9axX3r08?...
youtu.be/_6J9axX3r08?...
The Lindy Effect and the stability of planetary systems.
Here's one way of thinking about why planetary systems go unstable, and when.
planetplanet.net/2025/06/11/t...
Here's one way of thinking about why planetary systems go unstable, and when.
planetplanet.net/2025/06/11/t...
The Lindy effect and the stability of planetary systems – planetplanetExpandFacebookTwitterInstagramSearchToggle MenuPreviousContinueContinueContinueContinueContinueContinueExpandToggle Menu CloseSear...
planetplanet.net
June 12, 2025 at 8:09 AM
The Lindy Effect and the stability of planetary systems.
Here's one way of thinking about why planetary systems go unstable, and when.
planetplanet.net/2025/06/11/t...
Here's one way of thinking about why planetary systems go unstable, and when.
planetplanet.net/2025/06/11/t...
A quick update about co-orbital rings of planets.
This setup -- with 42 planets (each the same mass as Earth) sharing an orbit that is the same average distance as Earth (1 au) but super-eccentric -- is stable for at least 5 million years. (I'm running it out to a billion years to test)
This setup -- with 42 planets (each the same mass as Earth) sharing an orbit that is the same average distance as Earth (1 au) but super-eccentric -- is stable for at least 5 million years. (I'm running it out to a billion years to test)
June 5, 2025 at 3:53 PM
A quick update about co-orbital rings of planets.
This setup -- with 42 planets (each the same mass as Earth) sharing an orbit that is the same average distance as Earth (1 au) but super-eccentric -- is stable for at least 5 million years. (I'm running it out to a billion years to test)
This setup -- with 42 planets (each the same mass as Earth) sharing an orbit that is the same average distance as Earth (1 au) but super-eccentric -- is stable for at least 5 million years. (I'm running it out to a billion years to test)
Need a quick book to read in the bath or at the beach?
Even better -- a fun book of astronomy poems to read with your kids to get them interested in science and space?
I humbly offer up my book, illustrated by my son Owen (back when he was 12).
www.amazon.com/dp/B08LFZZWGZ
Even better -- a fun book of astronomy poems to read with your kids to get them interested in science and space?
I humbly offer up my book, illustrated by my son Owen (back when he was 12).
www.amazon.com/dp/B08LFZZWGZ
Black Holes, Stars, Earth and Mars: Astronomy poems for all ages
Black Holes, Stars, Earth and Mars: Astronomy poems for all ages [Raymond, Sean, Raymond, Owen, Tyson, Neil deGrasse] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. Black Holes, Stars, Earth and Mars: Astronomy poems for all ages
www.amazon.com
June 5, 2025 at 9:10 AM
Need a quick book to read in the bath or at the beach?
Even better -- a fun book of astronomy poems to read with your kids to get them interested in science and space?
I humbly offer up my book, illustrated by my son Owen (back when he was 12).
www.amazon.com/dp/B08LFZZWGZ
Even better -- a fun book of astronomy poems to read with your kids to get them interested in science and space?
I humbly offer up my book, illustrated by my son Owen (back when he was 12).
www.amazon.com/dp/B08LFZZWGZ