Daniel Schmidt
@dfschmidt.bsky.social
Math professor. Climate researcher when time allows. ✞
PhD Mathematics-Virginia Tech.
PhD Environmental Sciences-UVA.
MSc Astrophysics-LJMU.
PhD Mathematics-Virginia Tech.
PhD Environmental Sciences-UVA.
MSc Astrophysics-LJMU.
The Euclid Space Telescope just found a particularly beautiful example of an Einstein ring (a gravitational lensing effect) around the galaxy NGC 6505.
Source: doi.org/10.1051/0004...
Source: doi.org/10.1051/0004...
February 22, 2025 at 2:44 PM
The Euclid Space Telescope just found a particularly beautiful example of an Einstein ring (a gravitational lensing effect) around the galaxy NGC 6505.
Source: doi.org/10.1051/0004...
Source: doi.org/10.1051/0004...
The moon and Mars last night.
January 14, 2025 at 8:43 PM
The moon and Mars last night.
I think that image is a little exaggerated actually. Jupiter's diameter should be about 11 times Earth's, but after fitting a circle to this curve, I get a ratio closer to 26.
The more accurate comparison is still very impressive though (image from Wikipedia):
The more accurate comparison is still very impressive though (image from Wikipedia):
January 12, 2025 at 3:17 AM
I think that image is a little exaggerated actually. Jupiter's diameter should be about 11 times Earth's, but after fitting a circle to this curve, I get a ratio closer to 26.
The more accurate comparison is still very impressive though (image from Wikipedia):
The more accurate comparison is still very impressive though (image from Wikipedia):
Two stages of the same sunset.
January 9, 2025 at 7:12 PM
Two stages of the same sunset.
Freezing rain followed by clear blue skies made a beautiful scene yesterday.
January 8, 2025 at 4:04 PM
Freezing rain followed by clear blue skies made a beautiful scene yesterday.
Happy New Year everyone!
January 1, 2025 at 2:02 PM
Happy New Year everyone!
I recently started reading this book on the philosophy of astrophysics (as far as I know, the only one ever published on the subject) and I have to say, it's been fascinating.
link.springer.com/book/10.1007...
link.springer.com/book/10.1007...
December 29, 2024 at 9:50 PM
I recently started reading this book on the philosophy of astrophysics (as far as I know, the only one ever published on the subject) and I have to say, it's been fascinating.
link.springer.com/book/10.1007...
link.springer.com/book/10.1007...
Altocumulus at sunset
December 27, 2024 at 2:56 PM
Altocumulus at sunset
Two years ago I enrolled in an online MSc program in astrophysics at Liverpool-John Moores University to pursue a longtime interest. I finished the program this semester and just got the diploma today.
December 14, 2024 at 1:31 AM
Two years ago I enrolled in an online MSc program in astrophysics at Liverpool-John Moores University to pursue a longtime interest. I finished the program this semester and just got the diploma today.
Hello! I'm a math professor and love teaching. I also have a background in climate science and astrophysics, and I am fascinated by planetary atmospheres, stellar interiors, and the parallels between them. I'll be posting here on astronomy and climate science.
December 12, 2024 at 2:34 AM
Hello! I'm a math professor and love teaching. I also have a background in climate science and astrophysics, and I am fascinated by planetary atmospheres, stellar interiors, and the parallels between them. I'll be posting here on astronomy and climate science.
Sunset last night
December 5, 2024 at 6:33 PM
Sunset last night
The Northern Hemisphere winter solstice is on December 21, but meteorological winter begins today and ends on the last day of February. This definition corresponds more closely to the coldest time of the year. Happy first day of winter everyone!
December 2, 2024 at 12:52 AM
The Northern Hemisphere winter solstice is on December 21, but meteorological winter begins today and ends on the last day of February. This definition corresponds more closely to the coldest time of the year. Happy first day of winter everyone!
With Northern Hemisphere winter approaching, sunrise times are getting later, which means it is now easier to watch a sunrise. I recommend it.
November 29, 2024 at 12:58 PM
With Northern Hemisphere winter approaching, sunrise times are getting later, which means it is now easier to watch a sunrise. I recommend it.
I love those little details that you only see of you look very closely.
November 28, 2024 at 11:43 PM
I love those little details that you only see of you look very closely.
In honor of Blue Sky, I bring you...a blue sky, with subtle wave clouds--probably atmospheric gravity waves.
November 25, 2024 at 8:44 PM
In honor of Blue Sky, I bring you...a blue sky, with subtle wave clouds--probably atmospheric gravity waves.
Every galaxy in this image could host millions of inhabited planets teeming with countless life forms of every imaginable variety... or they may all be completely sterile. The universe looks very different depending on which of those options is correct, and we really don’t know which it is.
November 23, 2024 at 3:26 PM
Every galaxy in this image could host millions of inhabited planets teeming with countless life forms of every imaginable variety... or they may all be completely sterile. The universe looks very different depending on which of those options is correct, and we really don’t know which it is.
Venus just after sunset yesterday.
November 23, 2024 at 12:40 AM
Venus just after sunset yesterday.
Sundogs and cirrostratus over central Virginia earlier this week. I suspect that many of us in the atmospheric sciences got started because we looked up at something like this and wondered what was going on up there.
November 16, 2024 at 11:00 PM
Sundogs and cirrostratus over central Virginia earlier this week. I suspect that many of us in the atmospheric sciences got started because we looked up at something like this and wondered what was going on up there.