Stephen Kane
@exocytherean.bsky.social
Planetary Astrophysicist at the University of California, Riverside. I like Venus. A lot. Exoplanets are also kinda cool.
My research group members making fun of me when I have hours left before the Keck deadline ...
September 17, 2025 at 6:52 PM
My research group members making fun of me when I have hours left before the Keck deadline ...
We provided additional RVs and performed injection-recovery tests that exclude giant planets out to ~8 AU from the primary star. The improved binary orbit was used to conduct a dynamical analysis that exclude all planetary orbits down to ... you guessed it ... 8 AU!
September 17, 2025 at 1:05 AM
We provided additional RVs and performed injection-recovery tests that exclude giant planets out to ~8 AU from the primary star. The improved binary orbit was used to conduct a dynamical analysis that exclude all planetary orbits down to ... you guessed it ... 8 AU!
Eta Cassiopeiae is a bright, well-known binary system consisting of two stars in a 470 year orbit. Recent Gaia data has greatly improved the orbit or the binary, despite its long period. The system has also been monitored via precision RVs for over 30 years.
September 17, 2025 at 1:05 AM
Eta Cassiopeiae is a bright, well-known binary system consisting of two stars in a 470 year orbit. Recent Gaia data has greatly improved the orbit or the binary, despite its long period. The system has also been monitored via precision RVs for over 30 years.
In my dreams the sky is burning.
A pressure none has ever known.
Basaltic plains recall their oceans.
Whispers fossilized in stone.
Gold light shining above the land.
That once knew a gentler breeze.
Yet through the acid rain I wonder.
The untold mysteries of ancient seas.
A pressure none has ever known.
Basaltic plains recall their oceans.
Whispers fossilized in stone.
Gold light shining above the land.
That once knew a gentler breeze.
Yet through the acid rain I wonder.
The untold mysteries of ancient seas.
September 9, 2025 at 6:13 PM
In my dreams the sky is burning.
A pressure none has ever known.
Basaltic plains recall their oceans.
Whispers fossilized in stone.
Gold light shining above the land.
That once knew a gentler breeze.
Yet through the acid rain I wonder.
The untold mysteries of ancient seas.
A pressure none has ever known.
Basaltic plains recall their oceans.
Whispers fossilized in stone.
Gold light shining above the land.
That once knew a gentler breeze.
Yet through the acid rain I wonder.
The untold mysteries of ancient seas.
Would you like to see the nearest Earth-size planet? Venus is now at its highest point in the pre-dawn sky (the famous "morning star"). Our beautiful twin planet is worth the 5am viewing. And as you stare at its brilliance, remember this: we know surprisingly little about it.
August 1, 2025 at 4:31 PM
Would you like to see the nearest Earth-size planet? Venus is now at its highest point in the pre-dawn sky (the famous "morning star"). Our beautiful twin planet is worth the 5am viewing. And as you stare at its brilliance, remember this: we know surprisingly little about it.
For the past 14 years, I have been maintaining and updating the Habitable Zone Gallery (hzgallery.org), created along with @dawngelino.bsky.social. We now host HZ data and figures for 3897 systems and 5184 planets, 167 of which lie in the HZ.
July 30, 2025 at 7:14 PM
For the past 14 years, I have been maintaining and updating the Habitable Zone Gallery (hzgallery.org), created along with @dawngelino.bsky.social. We now host HZ data and figures for 3897 systems and 5184 planets, 167 of which lie in the HZ.
My mum is visiting from Australia and brought me my Garfield book I read when I was a kid. So of course I 3d printed and painted a 12 inch tall Garfield.
July 13, 2025 at 2:48 AM
My mum is visiting from Australia and brought me my Garfield book I read when I was a kid. So of course I 3d printed and painted a 12 inch tall Garfield.
The surface temperature is hot enough to melt lead, the pressure is equivalent to ~1 km ocean depth, and the atmosphere contains sulfuric acid. However, Venus may have had conditions similar to Earth and we still don't understand how it became the hellscape we see today.
June 19, 2025 at 8:14 PM
The surface temperature is hot enough to melt lead, the pressure is equivalent to ~1 km ocean depth, and the atmosphere contains sulfuric acid. However, Venus may have had conditions similar to Earth and we still don't understand how it became the hellscape we see today.
Venus research is fundamental to understanding how planets evolve through time. Although Venus is the same size as Earth and often referred to as our twin planet, the surface of Venus is considered to be the most hostile environment that exists within the solar system.
June 19, 2025 at 8:14 PM
Venus research is fundamental to understanding how planets evolve through time. Although Venus is the same size as Earth and often referred to as our twin planet, the surface of Venus is considered to be the most hostile environment that exists within the solar system.
In ~5 years, we as a species are on track to embark on an incredible era of discovery, unlocking the secrets of the planet Venus. The missions @ESA_Envision, DAVINCI, and VERITAS will reveal Venus as we have never seen her before. But why should YOU care about our sister world?
June 19, 2025 at 8:14 PM
In ~5 years, we as a species are on track to embark on an incredible era of discovery, unlocking the secrets of the planet Venus. The missions @ESA_Envision, DAVINCI, and VERITAS will reveal Venus as we have never seen her before. But why should YOU care about our sister world?
Possibly the most common type of exoplanet: the twin of Earth's twin.
June 12, 2025 at 11:24 PM
Possibly the most common type of exoplanet: the twin of Earth's twin.
Robocop has moved to his rightful place in my office, where he guards my model of the Palomar 200 inch Hale telescope.
May 21, 2025 at 6:28 PM
Robocop has moved to his rightful place in my office, where he guards my model of the Palomar 200 inch Hale telescope.
My latest project is complete! A 3D printed and painted Robocop at 300% scale from the original Gambody files, and is almost 30 inches tall. Banana for scale.
May 19, 2025 at 7:11 PM
My latest project is complete! A 3D printed and painted Robocop at 300% scale from the original Gambody files, and is almost 30 inches tall. Banana for scale.
And I thought there were no kangaroos in Austria.
April 29, 2025 at 4:06 PM
And I thought there were no kangaroos in Austria.
My first Imperial Fists tank. I was nervous about using the yellow aesthetic on such a large vehicle, but the weathering turned out rather well. #Warhammer40K #Warhammer #WarhammerCommunity
April 22, 2025 at 4:34 PM
My first Imperial Fists tank. I was nervous about using the yellow aesthetic on such a large vehicle, but the weathering turned out rather well. #Warhammer40K #Warhammer #WarhammerCommunity
I have completed my third large spaceship project: The Liberator from Blake's 7. It was a pleasure to build and paint, and is an absolutely gorgeous ship design. The model is almost 20 inches in length.
March 24, 2025 at 2:17 AM
I have completed my third large spaceship project: The Liberator from Blake's 7. It was a pleasure to build and paint, and is an absolutely gorgeous ship design. The model is almost 20 inches in length.
One of the wonderful students in my Planets in Science Fiction class asked me my favorite fictional planet, and I told her Cadia from the Warhammer 40K universe. At the end of the class, she gave me a beautiful framed picture of Cadia that she drew. I absolutely love my students!
March 21, 2025 at 7:33 PM
One of the wonderful students in my Planets in Science Fiction class asked me my favorite fictional planet, and I told her Cadia from the Warhammer 40K universe. At the end of the class, she gave me a beautiful framed picture of Cadia that she drew. I absolutely love my students!
I'm enjoying re-watching the classic British sci-fi, Blake's 7. Although the FX are objectively awful, the writing is amazing. The hilarious part is the amount of objects they try to cram into every space scene. The below example has exceeded the planet quota for sure!
March 21, 2025 at 3:06 PM
I'm enjoying re-watching the classic British sci-fi, Blake's 7. Although the FX are objectively awful, the writing is amazing. The hilarious part is the amount of objects they try to cram into every space scene. The below example has exceeded the planet quota for sure!
I am very proud to announce that yesterday Michelle Hill successfully defended her thesis and is now Doctor Michelle Hill! Her work on exoplanet observations and studying the planetary habitability of sub-Earth planets highlights both her brilliance and her diverse skills.
March 19, 2025 at 5:45 PM
I am very proud to announce that yesterday Michelle Hill successfully defended her thesis and is now Doctor Michelle Hill! Her work on exoplanet observations and studying the planetary habitability of sub-Earth planets highlights both her brilliance and her diverse skills.
Gotta love the Aussies!
March 16, 2025 at 11:04 PM
Gotta love the Aussies!
It's so wonderful to be back with friends at LPSC. With everything happening right now, it is good to have solidarity within our amazing planetary science community.
March 10, 2025 at 4:06 PM
It's so wonderful to be back with friends at LPSC. With everything happening right now, it is good to have solidarity within our amazing planetary science community.
The Invictus Warsuit, Imperial Fists style! #warhammer40k
February 24, 2025 at 3:01 PM
The Invictus Warsuit, Imperial Fists style! #warhammer40k
I finally figured out a recipe for painting Imperial Fists. That yellow is very unforgiving, but heavily diluting Agrax Earthshade with Lahmian Medium works like magic! #warhammer40k
February 19, 2025 at 7:49 PM
I finally figured out a recipe for painting Imperial Fists. That yellow is very unforgiving, but heavily diluting Agrax Earthshade with Lahmian Medium works like magic! #warhammer40k
True. In the cartoon, he's fairly mellow and mostly hangs out on Cybertron as Megatron's lackey. In the comics, Shockwave is a complete psychopath that drives a lot of the narrative.
February 16, 2025 at 4:30 PM
True. In the cartoon, he's fairly mellow and mostly hangs out on Cybertron as Megatron's lackey. In the comics, Shockwave is a complete psychopath that drives a lot of the narrative.
Soundwave (without his cassette minions) vs Shockwave. Who would win?
February 16, 2025 at 8:08 AM
Soundwave (without his cassette minions) vs Shockwave. Who would win?