Brian O'Halloran
@playingwithdust.bsky.social
Die hard Cruyffian. Ex astrophysicist. QPR devotee, for my multiple sins. Single parent.
Pinned
Time for a (re) introduction for my new followers! I'm Brian, a fallen astrophysicist living on the Copper Coast in Waterford, Ireland. Most of my feed will be photos of this gorgeous part of the world, plus my astrophotography.
Oh, plus terrible football takes.
Oh, plus terrible football takes.
January 19, 2026 at 11:34 PM
Reposted by Brian O'Halloran
As crazy as it sounds, in terms of Dst this is only the 6th strongest geomagnetic storm of solar cycle 25 so far (min -169 nT currently, might go down a bit more). Although it was the fastest and strongest in terms of solar wind magnetic field, the field orientation Bz >0 was actually not favorable!
January 19, 2026 at 10:55 PM
As crazy as it sounds, in terms of Dst this is only the 6th strongest geomagnetic storm of solar cycle 25 so far (min -169 nT currently, might go down a bit more). Although it was the fastest and strongest in terms of solar wind magnetic field, the field orientation Bz >0 was actually not favorable!
Bright enough to illuminate the road #northernlights #speirgorm
January 19, 2026 at 10:43 PM
Bright enough to illuminate the road #northernlights #speirgorm
January 19, 2026 at 8:38 PM
Reposted by Brian O'Halloran
#solarstorm update - a strong shock (likely flank hit) has arrived at Earth around 7 PM UT 💥 Real-time solar wind data for plasma temperature/speed at L1 is currently unrealiable, but modeling suggests an arrival speed of about 1000 km/s. Bt is currently around 30 nT, Bz is intermittently negative.
January 19, 2026 at 8:20 PM
#solarstorm update - a strong shock (likely flank hit) has arrived at Earth around 7 PM UT 💥 Real-time solar wind data for plasma temperature/speed at L1 is currently unrealiable, but modeling suggests an arrival speed of about 1000 km/s. Bt is currently around 30 nT, Bz is intermittently negative.
Reposted by Brian O'Halloran
Some faint Northern Lights spotted over Ireland using drone but fog moving in is going to cause issues for some trying to view them. #NorthernLights #Aurora
January 19, 2026 at 8:12 PM
Some faint Northern Lights spotted over Ireland using drone but fog moving in is going to cause issues for some trying to view them. #NorthernLights #Aurora
Reposted by Brian O'Halloran
G4/SEVERE geomagnetic storm conditions have just been observed according to NOAA SWPC.
January 19, 2026 at 7:48 PM
G4/SEVERE geomagnetic storm conditions have just been observed according to NOAA SWPC.
I think we're going to have a big northern lights storm tonight...
January 19, 2026 at 7:36 PM
Reposted by Brian O'Halloran
The impact from the CME has reached Earth, GOES Mag suddenly finds itself in the magnetosheath as Earth's magnetosphere becomes compressed by the energy of this solar storm. This spike does not indicate a substorm since the satellites are on Earth's dayside now.
January 19, 2026 at 7:25 PM
The impact from the CME has reached Earth, GOES Mag suddenly finds itself in the magnetosheath as Earth's magnetosphere becomes compressed by the energy of this solar storm. This spike does not indicate a substorm since the satellites are on Earth's dayside now.
I think we're going to have a big northern lights storm tonight...
January 19, 2026 at 7:19 PM
I think we're going to have a big northern lights storm tonight...
Reposted by Brian O'Halloran
One of the strongest Bt readings of the satellite era > 90 nT... quite the CME impact just now at our upstream satellites! This may just be the start of a long day of geomagnetic storming... get ready!
January 19, 2026 at 7:08 PM
One of the strongest Bt readings of the satellite era > 90 nT... quite the CME impact just now at our upstream satellites! This may just be the start of a long day of geomagnetic storming... get ready!
Reposted by Brian O'Halloran
COW TOOLS COW TOOLS COW TOOLS
Back-scratching bovine leads scientists to reassess intelligence of cows
Brown Swiss in Austria has been discovered using tools in multiple ways – something only ever seen in humans and chimpanzees
www.theguardian.com
January 19, 2026 at 4:06 PM
COW TOOLS COW TOOLS COW TOOLS
Reposted by Brian O'Halloran
Just for the record, and it’s insane that the mad king made me look this up, there is documentation of the US giving up all claim to Greenland to Denmark when we bought the Virgin Islands from them in 1916.
history.state.gov/historicaldo...
history.state.gov/historicaldo...
![DECLARATION
In proceeding this day to the signature of the Convention respecting the cession of the Danish West-Indian Islands to the United States of America, the undersigned Secretary of State of the United States of America, duly authorized by his Government, has the honor to declare that the Government of the United States of America will not object to the Danish Government extending their political and economic interests to the whole of Greenland.
ROBERT LANSING
New YorK, August 4, 1916.
[Page 701]](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:5gy3v7opwo3bfoa7dojkfhvp/bafkreiewpixr76dlhiusmbgl2mzgwqjcpqnujzwwb7bgevdf4wjdnuz6ae@jpeg)
January 19, 2026 at 4:17 PM
Just for the record, and it’s insane that the mad king made me look this up, there is documentation of the US giving up all claim to Greenland to Denmark when we bought the Virgin Islands from them in 1916.
history.state.gov/historicaldo...
history.state.gov/historicaldo...
Reposted by Brian O'Halloran
We'rre gonna see a lot of MAGA chud masks slipping over this. www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...
US reportedly considers granting asylum to Jewish people from UK
Trump lawyer Robert Garson told the Telegraph he discussed refuge for those leaving UK over antisemitism
www.theguardian.com
January 19, 2026 at 7:15 AM
We'rre gonna see a lot of MAGA chud masks slipping over this. www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...
Reposted by Brian O'Halloran
It’s truly a special kind of unhinged psychotic who will come up with “You didn’t give me the Nobel Peace Prize so I’m going to start World War 3.”
January 19, 2026 at 5:46 AM
It’s truly a special kind of unhinged psychotic who will come up with “You didn’t give me the Nobel Peace Prize so I’m going to start World War 3.”
Reposted by Brian O'Halloran
The UK Met Office prediction for the X1.9 CME is out, and it looks promising. Impact is in agreeance with NASA's prediction--around Jan 20 at 4 UT. This is Monday night and an optimal arrival time for North American chasers, but all models have uncertainty.
January 19, 2026 at 5:13 AM
The UK Met Office prediction for the X1.9 CME is out, and it looks promising. Impact is in agreeance with NASA's prediction--around Jan 20 at 4 UT. This is Monday night and an optimal arrival time for North American chasers, but all models have uncertainty.
Reposted by Brian O'Halloran
If you are in Seattle, please go patronize this store because this is amazing content/promo 😂 (laughing to keep from crying, and I do kind of low-key want that orange spider plant I have never seen that before)
Source: www.instagram.com/reel/DTQrTqZ...
Source: www.instagram.com/reel/DTQrTqZ...
January 17, 2026 at 1:33 AM
If you are in Seattle, please go patronize this store because this is amazing content/promo 😂 (laughing to keep from crying, and I do kind of low-key want that orange spider plant I have never seen that before)
Source: www.instagram.com/reel/DTQrTqZ...
Source: www.instagram.com/reel/DTQrTqZ...
Reposted by Brian O'Halloran
January 18, 2026 at 5:26 PM
Reposted by Brian O'Halloran
2026 is seeing that the U.S. Army is mobilizing a unit specialized for winter conditions, but not knowing if the intended mission is violent repression of an American city or stealing territory from a U.S. treaty ally.
January 18, 2026 at 3:29 PM
2026 is seeing that the U.S. Army is mobilizing a unit specialized for winter conditions, but not knowing if the intended mission is violent repression of an American city or stealing territory from a U.S. treaty ally.
Reposted by Brian O'Halloran
If you want to get rid of AI Overview on Google, installing AdGuard seems to have worked for me.
January 18, 2026 at 12:52 PM
If you want to get rid of AI Overview on Google, installing AdGuard seems to have worked for me.
Reposted by Brian O'Halloran
January 18, 2026 at 9:54 AM
Reposted by Brian O'Halloran
Rest well, king.
January 17, 2026 at 8:28 PM
Rest well, king.
Reposted by Brian O'Halloran
Life tip: If you miss going to video libraries and borrowing videos or dvds, I'm delighted to tell you that *actual* libraries have dvds, *and* you can reserve films to borrow (whether they're new or old).
*Additionally* they have loads of films that aren't on streaming.
*Additionally* they have loads of films that aren't on streaming.
a blockbuster store with a man walking in front of it
Alt: a blockbuster store with a man walking in front of it
media.tenor.com
January 18, 2026 at 8:23 AM
Life tip: If you miss going to video libraries and borrowing videos or dvds, I'm delighted to tell you that *actual* libraries have dvds, *and* you can reserve films to borrow (whether they're new or old).
*Additionally* they have loads of films that aren't on streaming.
*Additionally* they have loads of films that aren't on streaming.
Reposted by Brian O'Halloran
Let's remember the Finnish politician who was asked recently what would happen if Russia moved to invade.
"1 million Finns running to the border with petrol bombs"
"1 million Finns running to the border with petrol bombs"
If the US invade Greenland causing the collapse of NATO that removes article 5 then Russia just wade into Finland, is that the plan, Twittler? Is that what Daddy told you to do? Then again after years of pushing troops through the meat grinder in Ukraine I doubt Russian have the assets to mount that
January 18, 2026 at 8:41 AM
Let's remember the Finnish politician who was asked recently what would happen if Russia moved to invade.
"1 million Finns running to the border with petrol bombs"
"1 million Finns running to the border with petrol bombs"