John Blackwell
banner
jablackwell.bsky.social
John Blackwell
@jablackwell.bsky.social
Teacher, Observatory Director, Astronomer, Model Builder, Photographer, Cook, Spouse, Parent, and I play a lot of music with a lot of instruments. regulusastro.com
Monster sunspot group today (at 16:25UT). It's actually three groups in a row: 4298, 4294 and 4296.
#nikonphotography #Televue #baader #EduSky #astrophotography
December 3, 2025 at 4:34 PM
Aurora from Exeter, NH, USA Nov 11/12, 2025
Strong geomagnetic storm in progress with high probability of more aurora tonight. #EduSky #astrophotography #astronomy
November 12, 2025 at 1:30 PM
Today's Sun: putting on a good sunspot show.

#Nikon #TeleVie #Baader solar wedge.
#EduSky #astrophotography #astronomy
August 30, 2025 at 4:43 PM
Wondering about AI and how it will go over the next decade or two? .... maybe check this out. It is a thinker, for sure. Yes, making such predictions is a challenge. These folk are smart and know their stuff. It is a potential scenario, and not a good one for humanity. ai-2027.com
AI 2027
A research-backed AI scenario forecast.
ai-2027.com
August 22, 2025 at 12:26 PM
A splendid moment on this day in 2017: Casper, Wyoming, perfect weather, the whole family and totality.

#astronomy
#astrophotography #Nikon
#EduSky
August 21, 2025 at 7:48 PM
A little bit of relaxation as the summer slowly comes to a close. #kayaking
August 16, 2025 at 12:50 PM
Excellent seeing conditions today, and the Sun is sharing some excellent sunspot groups as well. There is a forest fire smoke layer above us, but very steady conditions prevail.

#astronomy #sunspots #baader #TV85 #edusky #astrophotography
August 3, 2025 at 4:46 PM
Sunspots today: the Sun is very active still as we make our way through solar maximum. Good seeing conditions, so I though I would share.

#tv80 #baader solar wedge #nikonphotography #edusky #astronomy
July 15, 2025 at 9:25 PM
The hummingbirds arrived yesterday. That makes me happy. It was raining, so here are two wet-bird photos from the backyard. #Nikon
May 4, 2025 at 1:03 PM
Marching onwards: huge sunspot groups continues to impress. #sunspot #astronomy #edusky #astrophotography #nikon TV85 Baader solar wedge
May 3, 2025 at 3:50 PM
Monstrous sunspot has come into full view... and we have a clear-sky moment! This with TV85 and Baader solar wedge. #Nikon. #EduSky #Astrophotography #Astronomy
May 2, 2025 at 9:01 PM
Nice views of the lunar eclipe last night. Had some visitors to the observatory: all good, just a little frosty by the end of the night ;-) These through a 500mm tripod mounted Z9 with 500mm lens. #astronomy #astrophotography #moon #eclipse #astrosky #astrophotography #edusky
March 14, 2025 at 4:45 PM
Tonight's Earthshine and stars.

#Moon #nikon #edusky #astronomy
March 2, 2025 at 11:59 PM
Reposted by John Blackwell
Yea! Another episode of The Super Massive Podcast from the @royalastrosoc.bsky.social is out!

Sample Returns!!

Hosts: Izzie Clarke, @drbecky.bsky.social and @robertmassey.bsky.social
🔭
Sample return - what could possibly go wrong? - The Supermassive Podcast
This is The Supermassive Podcast from the Royal Astronomical Society. Every month, science journalist Izzie Clarke and astrophysicist Dr Becky Smethurst take you through the universe with the latest r...
pca.st
March 1, 2025 at 1:28 PM
Reposted by John Blackwell
Thanks to @statnews.com for featuring #standupforscience2025! www.statnews.com/2025/02/13/r...

We’re Standing Up for Science because we believe science is for everyone and benefits everyone. It’s time to advocate for science, funding, and education. Join us on March 7th in DC and Nationwide!
Young researchers mobilize to protest Trump administration’s science policies
Stunned by attacks on the scientific research system, early career scientists plan a D.C. demonstration and a national ‘Stand Up for Science’ event.
www.statnews.com
February 13, 2025 at 1:25 PM
It's nice to wake up to a fresh layer of snow... and it is still snowing! The perfect opportunity(!) I say to myself, grabbing camera, and macro lens while still in my pajamas! Here are some of the better ones. The flakes are quite ornate and delicate this time.
#Nikon #Z9
February 9, 2025 at 2:11 PM
Results of the latest development tank. This is Ilford Delta 3200 exposed and developed at 1600iso. This is also a first run with the Leica M6 and a newly acquired Zeiss Sonnar 50mm f/1.5. Chemistry was Ilford Microphen. I am liking the results.
February 3, 2025 at 12:13 PM
Some flakes from yesterday's snowfall. It remained cold with larger flakes this time around, making for a better session. Funny that I was exercising (stationary bike), so must have looked pretty darned funny to the neighbors running out with camera in bike shorts and a t-shirt to grab these.
February 2, 2025 at 1:53 PM
Venus and Moon (with Earthshine).... nice view tonight.
February 1, 2025 at 10:55 PM
All, looking for a spectacular way to get involved in astronomy education using real data and methods? You have to check out NITARP: Just do it! You and your students will love it. #astronomy #education #STEM

www.ipac.caltech.edu/news/high-sc...
High school teachers and students continue doing real astronomy research
It’s time! At the winter meeting of the American Astronomical Society (AAS), running from January 12 through January 16 in National Harbor, MD, 14 astronomy educators and 14 of their students from the...
www.ipac.caltech.edu
January 24, 2025 at 11:20 PM
Wishing everyone a happy and peaceful December solstice. 🙏🐧🌴❄️🌧⛷🏂🏄‍♀️🏄

Happy start of Summer for those in the southern hemisphere, and happy Winter for those up north.
December 21, 2024 at 2:23 PM
...and one fun image taken on Monday night of B33, the Horsehead Nebula, in Orion. This one with a 0.3m f/8 Maksutov at Las Campanas, Chile. 40 minutes in Lum binned 2x2. They have the best seeing conditions of any observatory I have known. Amazing. #astrophotography #science #EduSky
November 27, 2024 at 4:54 PM
Wrapping up the fall term: three days remaining to get everything done, comments written and then a short break for Thanksgiving before the start of Winter Term... then two weeks before the holiday break. Winter: 2 Sections of Selected Topics in Astronomy, 1 of Intro physics, and 1 Intro Astro.
November 20, 2024 at 2:50 PM
It looks more and more like the US Govt is going to be led by daytime television personalities. Let's see: Lost in Space? F-Troop, Gilligan's Island? Were are we off to next?

<disgusted>
November 20, 2024 at 1:06 PM