astrafoxen
@astrafoxen.bsky.social
20 - any pronouns
Astrophysics undergrad student in California (grad '27), aspiring planetary scientist. I do astronomy research on asteroids, comets and TNOs!
pfp by EchaSkqech
banner by Ian Regan
Astrophysics undergrad student in California (grad '27), aspiring planetary scientist. I do astronomy research on asteroids, comets and TNOs!
pfp by EchaSkqech
banner by Ian Regan
More attention, views, & clicks = more ego and money (ad revenue i guess?)
I only look for astro news from places that I know are reliable (phys.org, arxiv, anton petrov, space.com, etc.), so idk what weird stuff ppl are saying elsewhere. From experience, reddit and tiktok are absolute garbage lmao
I only look for astro news from places that I know are reliable (phys.org, arxiv, anton petrov, space.com, etc.), so idk what weird stuff ppl are saying elsewhere. From experience, reddit and tiktok are absolute garbage lmao
September 28, 2025 at 5:26 AM
yeah... genuinely sad that there's actual fearmongering. Personally I find 3I/ATLAS super fricking awesome!
(tho not as weird as the nitrogen & carbon monoxide-rich blue comet C/2016 R2 and the explodey comet 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann... I've been hyperfixating on these two and THEYRE SO WEIRDDD)
(tho not as weird as the nitrogen & carbon monoxide-rich blue comet C/2016 R2 and the explodey comet 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann... I've been hyperfixating on these two and THEYRE SO WEIRDDD)
September 28, 2025 at 4:59 AM
yeah... genuinely sad that there's actual fearmongering. Personally I find 3I/ATLAS super fricking awesome!
(tho not as weird as the nitrogen & carbon monoxide-rich blue comet C/2016 R2 and the explodey comet 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann... I've been hyperfixating on these two and THEYRE SO WEIRDDD)
(tho not as weird as the nitrogen & carbon monoxide-rich blue comet C/2016 R2 and the explodey comet 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann... I've been hyperfixating on these two and THEYRE SO WEIRDDD)
As one of the people (who had been) actively updating the 3I/ATLAS Wikipedia article, thanks! :D
September 28, 2025 at 3:31 AM
As one of the people (who had been) actively updating the 3I/ATLAS Wikipedia article, thanks! :D
The IAU announced official names for Donaldjohanson's surface & shape features 2 weeks ago, but nobody has mentioned the news. They're all named after archeological sites and hominin fossils, which is fun and awesome haha
(Afar Lobus = small lobe, Olduvai Lobus = big lobe, Windover Collum = neck)
(Afar Lobus = small lobe, Olduvai Lobus = big lobe, Windover Collum = neck)
September 9, 2025 at 7:11 AM
The IAU announced official names for Donaldjohanson's surface & shape features 2 weeks ago, but nobody has mentioned the news. They're all named after archeological sites and hominin fossils, which is fun and awesome haha
(Afar Lobus = small lobe, Olduvai Lobus = big lobe, Windover Collum = neck)
(Afar Lobus = small lobe, Olduvai Lobus = big lobe, Windover Collum = neck)
bwehh i haven't gotten to reading it yet lol
September 9, 2025 at 3:01 AM
bwehh i haven't gotten to reading it yet lol
ikr holy crap, the Makemake papers are insane (though I already knew about the Makemake moon orbit beforehand, I've been talking with the author about this)
September 9, 2025 at 2:58 AM
ikr holy crap, the Makemake papers are insane (though I already knew about the Makemake moon orbit beforehand, I've been talking with the author about this)
this is a continuation of this btw bsky.app/profile/astr...
Quick aside, I'm really happy that more big TNOs/dwarf planet candidates got official names this year, 2 decades after their discovery :D
2005 RN43 → "Ritona" today
2003 AZ84 → "Achlys" on June 30
2002 AW197 → "Aya" on June 30
2002 MS4 → "Máni" on June 9
(size comparison by Lunathesilly on wiki)
2005 RN43 → "Ritona" today
2003 AZ84 → "Achlys" on June 30
2002 AW197 → "Aya" on June 30
2002 MS4 → "Máni" on June 9
(size comparison by Lunathesilly on wiki)
September 1, 2025 at 6:23 PM
this is a continuation of this btw bsky.app/profile/astr...
(also how long will it take before someone makes a chimichanga joke lol)
September 1, 2025 at 6:22 PM
(also how long will it take before someone makes a chimichanga joke lol)
(Name announcement in link)
There's an interesting pattern where the new name initials (except Chimini) match the letters of their designation (e.g. Rumina = RM43); IAU says it's intentional.
So this leaves 2017 OF201 and 2021 DR15 as the biggest unnamed Solar System objects at ~700 km diameter...
There's an interesting pattern where the new name initials (except Chimini) match the letters of their designation (e.g. Rumina = RM43); IAU says it's intentional.
So this leaves 2017 OF201 and 2021 DR15 as the biggest unnamed Solar System objects at ~700 km diameter...
www.wgsbn-iau.org
September 1, 2025 at 6:22 PM
(Name announcement in link)
There's an interesting pattern where the new name initials (except Chimini) match the letters of their designation (e.g. Rumina = RM43); IAU says it's intentional.
So this leaves 2017 OF201 and 2021 DR15 as the biggest unnamed Solar System objects at ~700 km diameter...
There's an interesting pattern where the new name initials (except Chimini) match the letters of their designation (e.g. Rumina = RM43); IAU says it's intentional.
So this leaves 2017 OF201 and 2021 DR15 as the biggest unnamed Solar System objects at ~700 km diameter...
Oh awesome! I look forward to it! :)
September 1, 2025 at 4:39 PM
Oh awesome! I look forward to it! :)