Diffraction Spikes
@diffractionspikes.bsky.social
Astronomer, but I would rather be playing (or maybe watching) volleyball.
Love teaching astronomy to anyone, anywhere, at anytime, but can mostly be found doing so at Penn State University.
Love teaching astronomy to anyone, anywhere, at anytime, but can mostly be found doing so at Penn State University.
Getting sent pics of aurora visible in PA and from friends in VA, but clouds rolled in here and we can’t see it. Boooooooooo.
November 12, 2025 at 1:53 AM
Getting sent pics of aurora visible in PA and from friends in VA, but clouds rolled in here and we can’t see it. Boooooooooo.
I'm new to the high school kid dropoff line, but is it normal for the parent behind you to freak out and road rage at you through their windshield? My apparent crime was waiting for the crossing guard and all the kids to finish crossing in front of me. I guess running over students is encouraged?
September 26, 2025 at 12:51 PM
I'm new to the high school kid dropoff line, but is it normal for the parent behind you to freak out and road rage at you through their windshield? My apparent crime was waiting for the crossing guard and all the kids to finish crossing in front of me. I guess running over students is encouraged?
Reposted by Diffraction Spikes
This is the first NPR/PBS station I've seen that's going out of business as a result of the federal rescission:
radio.wpsu.org/2025-09-11/p...
radio.wpsu.org/2025-09-11/p...
Penn State plans to 'wind down' WPSU after board committee rejects plan to transfer it to WHYY
WPSU, which recently celebrated its 60th anniversary of bringing public media to Pennsylvania, is slated to close soon, after a Penn State board of trustees committee voted Thursday against a proposal...
radio.wpsu.org
September 12, 2025 at 12:17 AM
This is the first NPR/PBS station I've seen that's going out of business as a result of the federal rescission:
radio.wpsu.org/2025-09-11/p...
radio.wpsu.org/2025-09-11/p...
This site is a treasure trove and one of my favorite teaching tools.
🔭 APOD is 30 Years Old Today
Image Credit: Pixelization of Van Gogh's The Starry Night by Dario Giannobile
apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap25061...
Image Credit: Pixelization of Van Gogh's The Starry Night by Dario Giannobile
apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap25061...
June 16, 2025 at 1:56 PM
This site is a treasure trove and one of my favorite teaching tools.
Not sure how Blue Sky decided to serve me up stories about this besides mindreading. Anyway, if anyone wants to hear a fun story about our local 2024 and 2025 civics bee, I'm happy to oblige. Turns out this guy isn't the only 60+ year old PA legislator who thinks the Civics Bee is a hit on Fox News.
In Pennsylvania today, State Senator Argall, in a attendance at a school civics bee, asked a 12 yr old girl this ?
"Do you think it's appropriate to give pornographic magazines kindergarten students?"
He then proceeded to explain to her what pornographic meant.
www.skooknews.com/2025/04/sena...
"Do you think it's appropriate to give pornographic magazines kindergarten students?"
He then proceeded to explain to her what pornographic meant.
www.skooknews.com/2025/04/sena...
Senator Argall Apologizes After Controversial Question at Schuylkill County Civics Bee
Pennsylvania State Senator David G. Argall is apologizing following an inappropriate question he posed during the Schuylkill County Civics Bee.
www.skooknews.com
April 18, 2025 at 3:56 PM
Not sure how Blue Sky decided to serve me up stories about this besides mindreading. Anyway, if anyone wants to hear a fun story about our local 2024 and 2025 civics bee, I'm happy to oblige. Turns out this guy isn't the only 60+ year old PA legislator who thinks the Civics Bee is a hit on Fox News.
Have to use this account the same way I used my now defunct Twitter account. State College, it has been a long run of dreary, grey skies, and tonight it is clear as a bell and the Moon looks beautiful next to Jupiter. Go outside, take some deep breaths of the night air, and look up. It is wonderful.
April 2, 2025 at 12:23 AM
Have to use this account the same way I used my now defunct Twitter account. State College, it has been a long run of dreary, grey skies, and tonight it is clear as a bell and the Moon looks beautiful next to Jupiter. Go outside, take some deep breaths of the night air, and look up. It is wonderful.
Soo... I created this, found a bunch of folks, posted a bit, and then got distracted by life, the universe, and everything. But folks keep telling me this is the place to be, so I'm back. Going to do some more follows / follow backs, and try to reengage with everyone here.
February 24, 2025 at 6:09 PM
Soo... I created this, found a bunch of folks, posted a bit, and then got distracted by life, the universe, and everything. But folks keep telling me this is the place to be, so I'm back. Going to do some more follows / follow backs, and try to reengage with everyone here.
This summer, Penn State Astronomy will be hosting a workshop for high school science teachers with a theme of Black Holes: sites.psu.edu/psiwa/. If you know of any teachers looking for a summer workshop in astronomy, please share! #EduSky
In-Service Workshops in Astronomy | PSIWA Summer Workshops
sites.psu.edu
March 5, 2024 at 5:45 PM
This summer, Penn State Astronomy will be hosting a workshop for high school science teachers with a theme of Black Holes: sites.psu.edu/psiwa/. If you know of any teachers looking for a summer workshop in astronomy, please share! #EduSky
Reposted by Diffraction Spikes
Sing it with us 🎤: “Total Eclipse of April 2024!” 🧪 🔭
Join us on Tuesday as NASA’s Michael Kirk will describe how this eclipse is more than just an awe-inspiring celestial occurrence: youtube.com/live/MafbgwR...
Join us on Tuesday as NASA’s Michael Kirk will describe how this eclipse is more than just an awe-inspiring celestial occurrence: youtube.com/live/MafbgwR...
The Total Solar Eclipse of April 2024
Speakers: Michael Kirk (NASA Goddard Space Flight Center) and John Maple (Space Telescope Science Institute)On Monday, April 8, 2024, a total solar eclipse w...
youtube.com
March 1, 2024 at 3:55 PM
Sing it with us 🎤: “Total Eclipse of April 2024!” 🧪 🔭
Join us on Tuesday as NASA’s Michael Kirk will describe how this eclipse is more than just an awe-inspiring celestial occurrence: youtube.com/live/MafbgwR...
Join us on Tuesday as NASA’s Michael Kirk will describe how this eclipse is more than just an awe-inspiring celestial occurrence: youtube.com/live/MafbgwR...
For those interested in Penn State and sustainability - our college has created a crowdfunding site to raise money to pay for decarbonization efforts to offset e.g., student travel for education abroad trips. The idea came from our study abroad coordinator. give.communityfunded.com/o/annual-giv...
February 28, 2024 at 3:15 PM
For those interested in Penn State and sustainability - our college has created a crowdfunding site to raise money to pay for decarbonization efforts to offset e.g., student travel for education abroad trips. The idea came from our study abroad coordinator. give.communityfunded.com/o/annual-giv...
Super interesting to read this article about the return to Rec game our basketball team just played against Illinois: onwardstate.com/2024/02/23/a...
A Cathedral Is Useless If You Never Hold Mass: Penn State Basketball Should Permanently Return To Rec Hall
Rec Hall is an intimidating place to play basketball and the Bryce Jordan Center simply is not. Why not make the switch?
onwardstate.com
February 23, 2024 at 8:14 PM
Super interesting to read this article about the return to Rec game our basketball team just played against Illinois: onwardstate.com/2024/02/23/a...
Want to relate a fun story of students going above and beyond that relates to one of my favorite things to spend time on -- PSU astronomy history. First off, in many pictures of Old Main, the armillary sphere that was the class gift of 1966 is featured.
February 22, 2024 at 8:56 PM
Want to relate a fun story of students going above and beyond that relates to one of my favorite things to spend time on -- PSU astronomy history. First off, in many pictures of Old Main, the armillary sphere that was the class gift of 1966 is featured.
I haven’t found too many of my State College folks on here yet, but if you live close by, there is a beautiful young Moon with lots of Earthshine right now.
February 12, 2024 at 12:27 AM
I haven’t found too many of my State College folks on here yet, but if you live close by, there is a beautiful young Moon with lots of Earthshine right now.
Got lunch yesterday and paid with square, and the screen indicated I was “Order 66”. I almost couldn’t go through with paying. Never expected Dave Filoni to impact my daily life in this way.
February 9, 2024 at 4:18 PM
Got lunch yesterday and paid with square, and the screen indicated I was “Order 66”. I almost couldn’t go through with paying. Never expected Dave Filoni to impact my daily life in this way.
Happy Faculty Activity Report Eve to those who celebrate! Is it coincidence that this happens to be so close to Groundhog Day?
January 31, 2024 at 8:31 PM
Happy Faculty Activity Report Eve to those who celebrate! Is it coincidence that this happens to be so close to Groundhog Day?
I have a question for #astronomy folks - Hubble's website had a wonderful resource (made in Flash) called "Telescopes from the Ground Up". I never wrote my own notes on telescopes because I just used that resource. Now it is gone like all Flash content. Anyone know of something as good?
January 19, 2024 at 8:08 PM
I have a question for #astronomy folks - Hubble's website had a wonderful resource (made in Flash) called "Telescopes from the Ground Up". I never wrote my own notes on telescopes because I just used that resource. Now it is gone like all Flash content. Anyone know of something as good?
I'm the advisor for the Eberly College of Science Student Council, and they are fundraising for Penn State's THON fundraiser for childhood cancer. If you plan to donate and are looking for a great student org that is participating, please consider using this link: donate.thon.org?fuseaction=d...
January 18, 2024 at 1:13 AM
I'm the advisor for the Eberly College of Science Student Council, and they are fundraising for Penn State's THON fundraiser for childhood cancer. If you plan to donate and are looking for a great student org that is participating, please consider using this link: donate.thon.org?fuseaction=d...
I guess as another intro style post, I can explain my choice of handle (don't think I ever did that before, but maybe?)
January 18, 2024 at 12:18 AM
I guess as another intro style post, I can explain my choice of handle (don't think I ever did that before, but maybe?)
Whoa! There are a ton of folks here I used to follow at the other place. I tried looking when I first signed up and failed, not sure why my searches didn't work previously. Anyway, looking forward to starting over here.
January 18, 2024 at 12:12 AM
Whoa! There are a ton of folks here I used to follow at the other place. I tried looking when I first signed up and failed, not sure why my searches didn't work previously. Anyway, looking forward to starting over here.
Hello, world!
January 12, 2024 at 2:55 PM
Hello, world!