James Paul Mason
@starfleetjames.bsky.social
heliophysicist + astrophysicist (solar/stellar) + aerospace engineer @jhuapl, formerly @LASPatCU and @nasa | principal investigator of @SunCETcubesat for @NASASun
Reposted by James Paul Mason
Happy National Postdoc Appreciation Week! 🧑🎓 🔭 🥳
LASP loves our postdocs! At our lab, they do everything from designing small satellites to building space instruments and analyzing data from other planets.
#nationalpostdocappreciationweek
LASP loves our postdocs! At our lab, they do everything from designing small satellites to building space instruments and analyzing data from other planets.
#nationalpostdocappreciationweek
September 19, 2025 at 9:00 PM
Happy National Postdoc Appreciation Week! 🧑🎓 🔭 🥳
LASP loves our postdocs! At our lab, they do everything from designing small satellites to building space instruments and analyzing data from other planets.
#nationalpostdocappreciationweek
LASP loves our postdocs! At our lab, they do everything from designing small satellites to building space instruments and analyzing data from other planets.
#nationalpostdocappreciationweek
@snowbikemike.bsky.social get well soon!!! So ready to see you the battlefield next couple weekends
August 7, 2025 at 1:47 AM
@snowbikemike.bsky.social get well soon!!! So ready to see you the battlefield next couple weekends
@snowbikemike.bsky.social @kindafunnyvids.bsky.social interested in your thoughts on Delta Force after the KFGD today as a fellow Battlefield fan. I haven’t given Delta Force a shot but it looks like it might tick a lot of the same boxes.
July 23, 2025 at 2:00 AM
@snowbikemike.bsky.social @kindafunnyvids.bsky.social interested in your thoughts on Delta Force after the KFGD today as a fellow Battlefield fan. I haven’t given Delta Force a shot but it looks like it might tick a lot of the same boxes.
Here's what the President's Budget Request does to the fleet of observations that has _literally taken us decades to build_ that monitors the explosive Sun and how solar storms impact Earth and other planetary bodies.
July 11, 2025 at 7:47 PM
Here's what the President's Budget Request does to the fleet of observations that has _literally taken us decades to build_ that monitors the explosive Sun and how solar storms impact Earth and other planetary bodies.
Bunch of nerds (I mean students at CU Boulder) learning from the master how to build the solar panels that will fly on @suncetcubesat.bsky.social and other upcoming #cubesats.
With each iteration of solar panels we've flown over the past decade, we've made little improvements.
☀️🧪🔭🛰️🚀
With each iteration of solar panels we've flown over the past decade, we've made little improvements.
☀️🧪🔭🛰️🚀
April 19, 2025 at 9:34 PM
Bunch of nerds (I mean students at CU Boulder) learning from the master how to build the solar panels that will fly on @suncetcubesat.bsky.social and other upcoming #cubesats.
With each iteration of solar panels we've flown over the past decade, we've made little improvements.
☀️🧪🔭🛰️🚀
With each iteration of solar panels we've flown over the past decade, we've made little improvements.
☀️🧪🔭🛰️🚀
This year's American Astronomical Society Solar Physics Division Popular Media Awards have been selected!
@aas.org.
These awards go each year to a journalist, a scientist, and a student for articles or other media focused on the sun or its effects on Earth.
☀️🧪🔭🛰️🚀
@aas.org.
These awards go each year to a journalist, a scientist, and a student for articles or other media focused on the sun or its effects on Earth.
☀️🧪🔭🛰️🚀
April 19, 2025 at 9:14 PM
This year's American Astronomical Society Solar Physics Division Popular Media Awards have been selected!
@aas.org.
These awards go each year to a journalist, a scientist, and a student for articles or other media focused on the sun or its effects on Earth.
☀️🧪🔭🛰️🚀
@aas.org.
These awards go each year to a journalist, a scientist, and a student for articles or other media focused on the sun or its effects on Earth.
☀️🧪🔭🛰️🚀
Me trying multiple browsers, multiple devices to login to Marriott wifi.
"Why the hell isn't this working?!"
🤦♂️
"Why the hell isn't this working?!"
🤦♂️
April 15, 2025 at 12:30 AM
Me trying multiple browsers, multiple devices to login to Marriott wifi.
"Why the hell isn't this working?!"
🤦♂️
"Why the hell isn't this working?!"
🤦♂️
Reposted by James Paul Mason
The problem with most machine-based random number generators is that they’re not TRULY random, so if you need genuine randomness it is sometimes necessary to link your code to an external random process like a physical noise source or the current rate of US tariffs on a given country.
April 9, 2025 at 7:15 PM
The problem with most machine-based random number generators is that they’re not TRULY random, so if you need genuine randomness it is sometimes necessary to link your code to an external random process like a physical noise source or the current rate of US tariffs on a given country.
Reposted by James Paul Mason
The cuts "would kill the much-anticipated Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, an observatory seen as on par with [Hubble & JWST] that is already fully assembled and on budget for a launch in two years." Would also apparently close NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center. Huge, HUGE loss for science.
Hey! It's bad! arstechnica.com/space/2025/0...
2/3 cut in astrophysics
2/3 cut in heliophysics
50% cut in Earth science
30% cut in planetary science
This is just such an incredible self-own, what are we doing?
2/3 cut in astrophysics
2/3 cut in heliophysics
50% cut in Earth science
30% cut in planetary science
This is just such an incredible self-own, what are we doing?
Trump White House budget proposal eviscerates science funding at NASA
“This would decimate American leadership in space.”…
arstechnica.com
April 11, 2025 at 4:13 PM
The cuts "would kill the much-anticipated Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, an observatory seen as on par with [Hubble & JWST] that is already fully assembled and on budget for a launch in two years." Would also apparently close NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center. Huge, HUGE loss for science.
Reposted by James Paul Mason
NASA is something every American can be and should be proud of. And for every dollar spent on it, it returns more on that investment to the economy.
Example: Their 2023 budget was $25B, and they added over $75B to the economy that year.
This is a horrible decision.
Example: Their 2023 budget was $25B, and they added over $75B to the economy that year.
This is a horrible decision.
The cuts "would kill the much-anticipated Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, an observatory seen as on par with [Hubble & JWST] that is already fully assembled and on budget for a launch in two years." Would also apparently close NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center. Huge, HUGE loss for science.
Hey! It's bad! arstechnica.com/space/2025/0...
2/3 cut in astrophysics
2/3 cut in heliophysics
50% cut in Earth science
30% cut in planetary science
This is just such an incredible self-own, what are we doing?
2/3 cut in astrophysics
2/3 cut in heliophysics
50% cut in Earth science
30% cut in planetary science
This is just such an incredible self-own, what are we doing?
April 11, 2025 at 4:31 PM
NASA is something every American can be and should be proud of. And for every dollar spent on it, it returns more on that investment to the economy.
Example: Their 2023 budget was $25B, and they added over $75B to the economy that year.
This is a horrible decision.
Example: Their 2023 budget was $25B, and they added over $75B to the economy that year.
This is a horrible decision.
How many spam texts/calls are our phones actually blocking? I feel like I get a ton of them but am I seeing 1% slip through or am I getting basically everything attempted? I always click the "junk" button but is that being aggregated to benefit everybody?
March 20, 2025 at 3:11 PM
How many spam texts/calls are our phones actually blocking? I feel like I get a ton of them but am I seeing 1% slip through or am I getting basically everything attempted? I always click the "junk" button but is that being aggregated to benefit everybody?
☀️ #PI_Daily incredible week for @suncetcubesat.bsky.social got our custom battery pack fit checked, telescope camera code tests started, x-band radio testing processed, solar panel Kapton tape laser cutting dialed in and started onboarding a couple of new PhD students.
March 8, 2025 at 1:28 AM
☀️ #PI_Daily incredible week for @suncetcubesat.bsky.social got our custom battery pack fit checked, telescope camera code tests started, x-band radio testing processed, solar panel Kapton tape laser cutting dialed in and started onboarding a couple of new PhD students.
☀️ #PI_Daily (from yesterday) talking to one engineer about radio stuff, two more pull me over to work on camera stuff, a PhD student working on battery beside us, and while standing in the lab talking with them all, get a call from NASA about budget transfer stuff. Exciting and scattered times!
March 6, 2025 at 3:13 PM
☀️ #PI_Daily (from yesterday) talking to one engineer about radio stuff, two more pull me over to work on camera stuff, a PhD student working on battery beside us, and while standing in the lab talking with them all, get a call from NASA about budget transfer stuff. Exciting and scattered times!
#PI_Daily it's one of those (fun!) weeks that are all over the map.
So far today: preparing to play with space cameras, cut kapton tape with lasers, build solar panels, make X-band RF measurements, FCC licensing, and filling out documents for launch.
@suncetcubesat.bsky.social ☀️ is on track!
So far today: preparing to play with space cameras, cut kapton tape with lasers, build solar panels, make X-band RF measurements, FCC licensing, and filling out documents for launch.
@suncetcubesat.bsky.social ☀️ is on track!
February 10, 2025 at 11:25 PM
#PI_Daily it's one of those (fun!) weeks that are all over the map.
So far today: preparing to play with space cameras, cut kapton tape with lasers, build solar panels, make X-band RF measurements, FCC licensing, and filling out documents for launch.
@suncetcubesat.bsky.social ☀️ is on track!
So far today: preparing to play with space cameras, cut kapton tape with lasers, build solar panels, make X-band RF measurements, FCC licensing, and filling out documents for launch.
@suncetcubesat.bsky.social ☀️ is on track!
Reposted by James Paul Mason
If you're a big fan, you can buy SunCET merch from our LandsEnd store.
In fact, several other missions and #heliophysics ☀️ related efforts also have storefronts and they're being collected here (including SunCET):
business.landsend.com/store/heliop...
In fact, several other missions and #heliophysics ☀️ related efforts also have storefronts and they're being collected here (including SunCET):
business.landsend.com/store/heliop...
Homepage
business.landsend.com
January 6, 2025 at 1:23 PM
If you're a big fan, you can buy SunCET merch from our LandsEnd store.
In fact, several other missions and #heliophysics ☀️ related efforts also have storefronts and they're being collected here (including SunCET):
business.landsend.com/store/heliop...
In fact, several other missions and #heliophysics ☀️ related efforts also have storefronts and they're being collected here (including SunCET):
business.landsend.com/store/heliop...
Made a new SunCET logo reveal animation. First time ever doing it from scratch. Apple Motion is really intuitive!
☀️ @suncetcubesat.bsky.social
☀️ @suncetcubesat.bsky.social
December 19, 2024 at 6:57 PM
Made a new SunCET logo reveal animation. First time ever doing it from scratch. Apple Motion is really intuitive!
☀️ @suncetcubesat.bsky.social
☀️ @suncetcubesat.bsky.social
The @suncetcubesat.bsky.social telescope is signed, sealed, and delivered (all literally)! 🧪🔭⚛️☀️
youtu.be/wjbzWYDI1fE
youtu.be/wjbzWYDI1fE
SunCET Telescope Delivered
YouTube video by James Mason
youtu.be
December 11, 2024 at 5:50 PM
The @suncetcubesat.bsky.social telescope is signed, sealed, and delivered (all literally)! 🧪🔭⚛️☀️
youtu.be/wjbzWYDI1fE
youtu.be/wjbzWYDI1fE
Reposted by James Paul Mason
Discover how SunCET is revolutionizing solar observation by capturing unprecedented images of coronal mass ejections. Led by LASP at @colorado.edu & @jhuapl.bsky.social, this breakthrough helps predict space weather, safeguarding satellites & power grids. @agu.org #AGU24 youtu.be/6uV5dkf4rJg
The Never-Before-Seen Sun – Sun Coronal Ejection Tracker (SunCET)
YouTube video by WebsEdge Science
youtu.be
December 10, 2024 at 4:34 PM
Discover how SunCET is revolutionizing solar observation by capturing unprecedented images of coronal mass ejections. Led by LASP at @colorado.edu & @jhuapl.bsky.social, this breakthrough helps predict space weather, safeguarding satellites & power grids. @agu.org #AGU24 youtu.be/6uV5dkf4rJg
Reposted by James Paul Mason
Congratulations to my colleagues James Mason, Dan Seaton, Cristina Kay, Amal Chandran, and Aaron Magner on a phenomenal video on the phenomenal #CubeSat mission #SunCET! Very nice bit of science outreach at #AGU2024! ☀️🧪🛰️🔭🎢
The Never-Before-Seen Sun – Sun Coronal Ejection Tracker (SunCET)
YouTube video by WebsEdge Science
www.youtube.com
December 10, 2024 at 3:26 AM
@SunCETcubesat is all about understanding how the most energetic explosions in the solar ☀️ system get accelerated. The joint @JHUAPL @LASPatCU project is beautifully depicted here, including footage of the telescope/spacecraft coming together in our labs
youtu.be/6uV5dkf4rJg?...
youtu.be/6uV5dkf4rJg?...
The Never-Before-Seen Sun – Sun Coronal Ejection Tracker (SunCET)
YouTube video by WebsEdge Science
youtu.be
December 10, 2024 at 3:45 PM
@SunCETcubesat is all about understanding how the most energetic explosions in the solar ☀️ system get accelerated. The joint @JHUAPL @LASPatCU project is beautifully depicted here, including footage of the telescope/spacecraft coming together in our labs
youtu.be/6uV5dkf4rJg?...
youtu.be/6uV5dkf4rJg?...
#HelioDecadal ☀️ is here! I've run it through my word cloud generator (I'd also run the white papers through a couple years ago).
Some funny stop words I had to add "rights reserved" and "editorial correction"
@nationalacademies.org #Heliophysics
Some funny stop words I had to add "rights reserved" and "editorial correction"
@nationalacademies.org #Heliophysics
December 5, 2024 at 3:23 PM
#HelioDecadal ☀️ is here! I've run it through my word cloud generator (I'd also run the white papers through a couple years ago).
Some funny stop words I had to add "rights reserved" and "editorial correction"
@nationalacademies.org #Heliophysics
Some funny stop words I had to add "rights reserved" and "editorial correction"
@nationalacademies.org #Heliophysics
Reposted by James Paul Mason
I've put together a starter pack of accounts related to solar physics, space weather, and space climate.🔭🧪
If you know anyone else who should be included, please let me know, and I'll add them.
go.bsky.app/KKV5kUu
If you know anyone else who should be included, please let me know, and I'll add them.
go.bsky.app/KKV5kUu
November 13, 2024 at 3:48 PM
I've put together a starter pack of accounts related to solar physics, space weather, and space climate.🔭🧪
If you know anyone else who should be included, please let me know, and I'll add them.
go.bsky.app/KKV5kUu
If you know anyone else who should be included, please let me know, and I'll add them.
go.bsky.app/KKV5kUu
Made this poster for the SunCET NASA mission
December 20, 2023 at 12:04 PM
Made this poster for the SunCET NASA mission