AstroMonnier
@astromonnier.bsky.social
John Monnier, Professor of Astronomy, U. of Michigan
Favorite Things: Imaging Stars & Exoplanets with Interferometry
Developer: MIRC-X, MYSTIC, STARI
2014 Michelson Investigator Prize; 2019 AAS Joseph Weber Award
http://monnier.us
Opinions my own.
Favorite Things: Imaging Stars & Exoplanets with Interferometry
Developer: MIRC-X, MYSTIC, STARI
2014 Michelson Investigator Prize; 2019 AAS Joseph Weber Award
http://monnier.us
Opinions my own.
Ha. The “Urban Experience Fee” unexpectedly cost us an extra $25 extra per night during our recent stay in Chicago. But look at what amenities were included:
October 22, 2025 at 1:24 AM
Ha. The “Urban Experience Fee” unexpectedly cost us an extra $25 extra per night during our recent stay in Chicago. But look at what amenities were included:
Amazing work solving a tricky calibration problem with JWST aperture masking data! Any hope to improve ground-based systematics with this general approach?
@benjaminpope.bsky.social
arxiv.org/abs/2510.09806
@benjaminpope.bsky.social
arxiv.org/abs/2510.09806
AMIGO: a Data-Driven Calibration of the JWST Interferometer
The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) hosts a non-redundant Aperture Masking Interferometer (AMI) in its Near Infrared Imager and Slitless Spectrograph (NIRISS) instrument, providing the only dedicate...
arxiv.org
October 14, 2025 at 11:18 AM
Amazing work solving a tricky calibration problem with JWST aperture masking data! Any hope to improve ground-based systematics with this general approach?
@benjaminpope.bsky.social
arxiv.org/abs/2510.09806
@benjaminpope.bsky.social
arxiv.org/abs/2510.09806
Its much harder to help my kids with homework post-covid with no textbooks. Can’t help but wonder if the move to online resources is hurting learning across the board, but especially middle and high school.
October 7, 2025 at 12:38 AM
Its much harder to help my kids with homework post-covid with no textbooks. Can’t help but wonder if the move to online resources is hurting learning across the board, but especially middle and high school.
Thanks @planet4589.bsky.social
One ride to terminator every few years.... Check it out, @jwcutler.bsky.social !
One ride to terminator every few years.... Check it out, @jwcutler.bsky.social !
August 29, 2025 at 10:40 PM
Thanks @planet4589.bsky.social
One ride to terminator every few years.... Check it out, @jwcutler.bsky.social !
One ride to terminator every few years.... Check it out, @jwcutler.bsky.social !
🚀 Rideshare reality check: @planet4589.bsky.social — is there a good source for CubeSat drop-off orbits from the past 5 years? I’m modeling #STARI (a LEO formation-flying mission) and need to know the most common insertion orbits. Dream case is SSO terminator—but I’m told those are unicorns 🦄.
August 27, 2025 at 1:00 AM
🚀 Rideshare reality check: @planet4589.bsky.social — is there a good source for CubeSat drop-off orbits from the past 5 years? I’m modeling #STARI (a LEO formation-flying mission) and need to know the most common insertion orbits. Dream case is SSO terminator—but I’m told those are unicorns 🦄.
Really hate to see Stanford going back on its pledge to halt legacy admissions.
stanforddaily.com/2025/08/06/s...
stanforddaily.com/2025/08/06/s...
Stanford to continue legacy admissions, reinstate standardized test requirements
New admissions criteria announced a continuation of legacy consideration and a reinstatement of the standardized testing requirement for class of 2030 applicants
stanforddaily.com
August 10, 2025 at 9:32 PM
Really hate to see Stanford going back on its pledge to halt legacy admissions.
stanforddaily.com/2025/08/06/s...
stanforddaily.com/2025/08/06/s...
Bravo..
“ — making “Harvard astronomer” the scientific equivalent of “Florida man” didn’t just happen; it took long-term dedication.”
“ — making “Harvard astronomer” the scientific equivalent of “Florida man” didn’t just happen; it took long-term dedication.”
I have a complaint about Avi Loeb's latest work and I want to speak to management.
medium.com/@steve.desch...
medium.com/@steve.desch...
This is not the quality of pseudoscience infotainment to which I have grown accustomed
Teasing the public with fraudulent or self-deluded promises of aliens used to mean something. It took work. It meant slapping together…
medium.com
August 8, 2025 at 11:05 PM
Bravo..
“ — making “Harvard astronomer” the scientific equivalent of “Florida man” didn’t just happen; it took long-term dedication.”
“ — making “Harvard astronomer” the scientific equivalent of “Florida man” didn’t just happen; it took long-term dedication.”
It is cool to see a movie about local Ann Arbor History funded by kickstarter!
Congratulations to the filmakers!
www.kickstarter.com/projects/196...
Congratulations to the filmakers!
www.kickstarter.com/projects/196...
August 8, 2025 at 10:43 PM
It is cool to see a movie about local Ann Arbor History funded by kickstarter!
Congratulations to the filmakers!
www.kickstarter.com/projects/196...
Congratulations to the filmakers!
www.kickstarter.com/projects/196...
For those also waiting, I just got a late NSF-ATI rejection today. The letter says only 10% success rate, notably lower than historical practice.
With MRI shutdown for next year, I suspect ATI (the only other NSF instrumentation programs) will be overwhelmed!
With MRI shutdown for next year, I suspect ATI (the only other NSF instrumentation programs) will be overwhelmed!
July 15, 2025 at 12:43 PM
For those also waiting, I just got a late NSF-ATI rejection today. The letter says only 10% success rate, notably lower than historical practice.
With MRI shutdown for next year, I suspect ATI (the only other NSF instrumentation programs) will be overwhelmed!
With MRI shutdown for next year, I suspect ATI (the only other NSF instrumentation programs) will be overwhelmed!
Ok. So NSF has officially cut funding for one of its largest instrumentation programs for next year. Hope this is temporary.
www.nsf.gov/funding/oppo...
www.nsf.gov/funding/oppo...
Changes to NSF Major Research Instrumentation Program for FY 2026
www.nsf.gov
July 15, 2025 at 2:02 AM
Ok. So NSF has officially cut funding for one of its largest instrumentation programs for next year. Hope this is temporary.
www.nsf.gov/funding/oppo...
www.nsf.gov/funding/oppo...
Spent time to visit Copernicus in old Krakow.
He worked at The Jagiellonian University in Krakow, the 4th oldest University in Europe, where they started out only teaching 3 disciplines: Law, Medicine, and Astronomy.
He worked at The Jagiellonian University in Krakow, the 4th oldest University in Europe, where they started out only teaching 3 disciplines: Law, Medicine, and Astronomy.
July 12, 2025 at 10:54 PM
Spent time to visit Copernicus in old Krakow.
He worked at The Jagiellonian University in Krakow, the 4th oldest University in Europe, where they started out only teaching 3 disciplines: Law, Medicine, and Astronomy.
He worked at The Jagiellonian University in Krakow, the 4th oldest University in Europe, where they started out only teaching 3 disciplines: Law, Medicine, and Astronomy.
I’d like to advertise the Michigan Society of Fellows, a unique opportunity for recent PhDs to carry out cutting edge research while also developing their teaching skills.
Any Interferometrists or ELT-METISians interested?
Note early deadline Sep 15.
societyoffellows.umich.edu/the-fellowsh...
Any Interferometrists or ELT-METISians interested?
Note early deadline Sep 15.
societyoffellows.umich.edu/the-fellowsh...
The Fellowship – University of Michigan Society of Fellows, Established 1970
societyoffellows.umich.edu
June 10, 2025 at 12:59 PM
I’d like to advertise the Michigan Society of Fellows, a unique opportunity for recent PhDs to carry out cutting edge research while also developing their teaching skills.
Any Interferometrists or ELT-METISians interested?
Note early deadline Sep 15.
societyoffellows.umich.edu/the-fellowsh...
Any Interferometrists or ELT-METISians interested?
Note early deadline Sep 15.
societyoffellows.umich.edu/the-fellowsh...
Fellow Astronomers:
With ApJ page charges running $3K these days, what are some alternate journals to submit to?
With ApJ page charges running $3K these days, what are some alternate journals to submit to?
June 9, 2025 at 1:17 PM
Fellow Astronomers:
With ApJ page charges running $3K these days, what are some alternate journals to submit to?
With ApJ page charges running $3K these days, what are some alternate journals to submit to?
Ive also been disappointed by the silence of our National Academy of Sciences. Perhaps if the membership of the NAS itself was being cut by 50% we would hear more complaint.
arstechnica.com/science/2025...
arstechnica.com/science/2025...
US science is being wrecked, and its leadership is fighting the last war
Facing an extreme budget, the National Academies hosted an event that ignored it.
arstechnica.com
June 5, 2025 at 1:27 PM
Ive also been disappointed by the silence of our National Academy of Sciences. Perhaps if the membership of the NAS itself was being cut by 50% we would hear more complaint.
arstechnica.com/science/2025...
arstechnica.com/science/2025...
Reasonable NSF budget cut:
* Choose to support only one Extremely Large Telescope Project
Unreasonable NSF budget cut:
* Choose to support only one of the two essential LIGO Gravitational Wave Interferometer detector sites.
* Choose to support only one Extremely Large Telescope Project
Unreasonable NSF budget cut:
* Choose to support only one of the two essential LIGO Gravitational Wave Interferometer detector sites.
May 31, 2025 at 3:12 PM
Reasonable NSF budget cut:
* Choose to support only one Extremely Large Telescope Project
Unreasonable NSF budget cut:
* Choose to support only one of the two essential LIGO Gravitational Wave Interferometer detector sites.
* Choose to support only one Extremely Large Telescope Project
Unreasonable NSF budget cut:
* Choose to support only one of the two essential LIGO Gravitational Wave Interferometer detector sites.
Space science is probably the only area in technology that the USA is the undisputed world leader. Squandered.
Under Trump’s budget, NASA would face its lowest funding in over a decade, and its most ambitious science missions would be canceled. Davinci+, Veritas, Mars Sample Return? Gone.
If Trump gets his way, the future of U.S. space science will die on the launchpad.
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
If Trump gets his way, the future of U.S. space science will die on the launchpad.
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
Universe’s mysteries may never be solved because of Trump’s Nasa cuts, experts say
‘Extinction-level cuts’ to space agency’s spending means labs will close and deep-space missions will be abandoned
www.theguardian.com
May 31, 2025 at 1:08 AM
Space science is probably the only area in technology that the USA is the undisputed world leader. Squandered.
Maybe this has been written before, but one of explanations for the increased and more widespread administrative mayhem of the new govt compared to last must be chatgpt.
May 30, 2025 at 1:26 AM
Maybe this has been written before, but one of explanations for the increased and more widespread administrative mayhem of the new govt compared to last must be chatgpt.
I could not disagree more with revoking student visas based on nationality. As the PhD advisor of multiple international students over past 20years, there is no doubt our Country is stronger and more prosperous with their contributions.
May 29, 2025 at 7:51 PM
I could not disagree more with revoking student visas based on nationality. As the PhD advisor of multiple international students over past 20years, there is no doubt our Country is stronger and more prosperous with their contributions.
Potentially legit reasons to withdraw tax-exempt status for Universities:
* increasing student tuition faster than inflation
* paying U Presidents >$1M/yr
Not legitimate reasons:
* defending student and faculty academic freedom
* pursuing DEI activities legally allowed by state and federal laws
* increasing student tuition faster than inflation
* paying U Presidents >$1M/yr
Not legitimate reasons:
* defending student and faculty academic freedom
* pursuing DEI activities legally allowed by state and federal laws
May 25, 2025 at 9:52 PM
Potentially legit reasons to withdraw tax-exempt status for Universities:
* increasing student tuition faster than inflation
* paying U Presidents >$1M/yr
Not legitimate reasons:
* defending student and faculty academic freedom
* pursuing DEI activities legally allowed by state and federal laws
* increasing student tuition faster than inflation
* paying U Presidents >$1M/yr
Not legitimate reasons:
* defending student and faculty academic freedom
* pursuing DEI activities legally allowed by state and federal laws
Will US news outlets please verify and shine a spotlight on these abuses? Does not MAGA.
www.news.com.au/travel/trave...
www.news.com.au/travel/trave...
Ex-cop jailed and deported during holiday to US
A former NSW police officer has described the terrifying ordeal she faced after she was detained, jailed overnight and deported from the United States – despite travelling there legally on a tourist visa to visit her US military husband.
www.news.com.au
May 24, 2025 at 4:59 PM
Will US news outlets please verify and shine a spotlight on these abuses? Does not MAGA.
www.news.com.au/travel/trave...
www.news.com.au/travel/trave...
Great seeing these dust shells. Im finishing an update paper on WR112.
Now do mysterious WR98a !
Now do mysterious WR98a !
Some beautiful JWST images of Wolf-Rayet colliding wind binary nebulae on arXiv today!
arxiv.org/abs/2505.11616
arxiv.org/abs/2505.11616
May 20, 2025 at 11:49 AM
Great seeing these dust shells. Im finishing an update paper on WR112.
Now do mysterious WR98a !
Now do mysterious WR98a !
The politicization of basic government functions must not stand. Thanks for the reporting and spreading this news.
They're trying to make people fearful of speaking out.
Liberal Commentator Alarmingly Grilled By Customs Over His Views On Trump While Returning From France
This doesn't bode well at all.
www.comicsands.com
May 15, 2025 at 8:10 PM
The politicization of basic government functions must not stand. Thanks for the reporting and spreading this news.
Nice article summarizing some unexpected radial velocity results!
Good news for a change: It looks like WR 104, the potential source of a mind-vaporizingly powerful gamma-ray burst death ray, is not pointed exactly at Earth.
badastronomy.beehiiv.com/p/is-the-wr-...
🔭🧪
badastronomy.beehiiv.com/p/is-the-wr-...
🔭🧪
Is the WR 104 system pointing a gamma-ray burst at Earth? Probably not.
New observations indicate it’s aimed away from us
badastronomy.beehiiv.com
May 6, 2025 at 12:45 AM
Nice article summarizing some unexpected radial velocity results!