Ken Carpenter
@kenastro.bsky.social
Astrophysicist at NASA/GSFC. Fan of Exploration of the Universe in which we live, MD RenFest, and all things Trek & Disney. Posts are my own.
Selfies with some warm and friendly stars, at @shoreleavecon 2025. With Melissa Navia , Adrianne Palicki, J Lee, James Frain, and Dina Meyer!
July 13, 2025 at 9:18 PM
Selfies with some warm and friendly stars, at @shoreleavecon 2025. With Melissa Navia , Adrianne Palicki, J Lee, James Frain, and Dina Meyer!
Right back at ya, with another!
July 5, 2025 at 2:52 AM
Right back at ya, with another!
All 4 #NASA #science divisions are decimated in the President's Proposed #FY26 Budget, with #Astrophysics, for example, down an astounding ~67%. This would destroy our scientific capabilities in these arenas for years to come. We are facing a new Dark Age if this war on science is not stopped.
May 31, 2025 at 6:15 PM
All 4 #NASA #science divisions are decimated in the President's Proposed #FY26 Budget, with #Astrophysics, for example, down an astounding ~67%. This would destroy our scientific capabilities in these arenas for years to come. We are facing a new Dark Age if this war on science is not stopped.
#Luminous: The Symphony of Us - #Epcot, 13 May 2025. In Luminous, we finally have a worthy successor to #Iluminations - Reflections of Earth - beautifully done, with a story as inspiring as that of its predecessor.
May 26, 2025 at 6:53 PM
#Luminous: The Symphony of Us - #Epcot, 13 May 2025. In Luminous, we finally have a worthy successor to #Iluminations - Reflections of Earth - beautifully done, with a story as inspiring as that of its predecessor.
"Walt the Dreamer" - statue at Epcot, WDW - 13 May 2025.
"...always be in a state of becoming."
"Dedicated to all who dream of a better tomorrow."
#wdw #epcot #waltthedreamer #waltdisney
"...always be in a state of becoming."
"Dedicated to all who dream of a better tomorrow."
#wdw #epcot #waltthedreamer #waltdisney
May 17, 2025 at 4:17 PM
"Walt the Dreamer" - statue at Epcot, WDW - 13 May 2025.
"...always be in a state of becoming."
"Dedicated to all who dream of a better tomorrow."
#wdw #epcot #waltthedreamer #waltdisney
"...always be in a state of becoming."
"Dedicated to all who dream of a better tomorrow."
#wdw #epcot #waltthedreamer #waltdisney
Never have I been able to get actual reservations for either the lounge or the main "Space 220" restaurant at Epcot - but on a lark, I tried for walk-in seating at the bar - and after a bit of a wait, bingo, finally got in! The food was superb, though expensive as promised. :)
May 17, 2025 at 12:45 AM
Never have I been able to get actual reservations for either the lounge or the main "Space 220" restaurant at Epcot - but on a lark, I tried for walk-in seating at the bar - and after a bit of a wait, bingo, finally got in! The food was superb, though expensive as promised. :)
"The Way of Water" - Epcot, World of Nature. 13 May 2025.
May 15, 2025 at 7:39 PM
"The Way of Water" - Epcot, World of Nature. 13 May 2025.
The NASA GSFC SSDIF clean room in which the Roman Space Telescope (RST) is being put together. This is one of the few times you can see all of the different parts of the telescope together in the same room prior to full assembly. The Spacecraft, Telescope, & Instruments are all in the rear stack.
March 14, 2025 at 8:03 PM
The NASA GSFC SSDIF clean room in which the Roman Space Telescope (RST) is being put together. This is one of the few times you can see all of the different parts of the telescope together in the same room prior to full assembly. The Spacecraft, Telescope, & Instruments are all in the rear stack.
On behalf of the AeSI Team (second photo), I just submitted the Final Report of our year-long NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC) Phase I Study. In this study, we explored the feasibility and high-level design of a lunar surface-based, sparse aperture telescope (a.k.a., an Interferometer).
March 1, 2025 at 7:06 PM
On behalf of the AeSI Team (second photo), I just submitted the Final Report of our year-long NASA Innovative Advanced Concepts (NIAC) Phase I Study. In this study, we explored the feasibility and high-level design of a lunar surface-based, sparse aperture telescope (a.k.a., an Interferometer).
But here are two reasons it is hard to remain optimistic.
February 15, 2025 at 5:36 PM
But here are two reasons it is hard to remain optimistic.
Hard to stay optimistic nowadays, but here are some wise words from LOTR.
February 15, 2025 at 5:32 PM
Hard to stay optimistic nowadays, but here are some wise words from LOTR.
I got a chance to return to some old stomping grounds in Tucson last week to talk about my "Artemis-enabled Stellar Imager (AeSI)" NIAC Study to a Steward Observatory and NOIRLab Joint Colloquium. Lots of good side conversations on space interferometry and astrophysics from the Moon as well.
December 9, 2024 at 5:06 PM
I got a chance to return to some old stomping grounds in Tucson last week to talk about my "Artemis-enabled Stellar Imager (AeSI)" NIAC Study to a Steward Observatory and NOIRLab Joint Colloquium. Lots of good side conversations on space interferometry and astrophysics from the Moon as well.
Interesting morning clouds over Carolina Beach, NC, Nov. 28, 2024.
December 3, 2024 at 12:02 AM
Interesting morning clouds over Carolina Beach, NC, Nov. 28, 2024.
And there was this "skier" coming off a ski jump in the sky last night as well. :)
November 25, 2024 at 11:17 PM
And there was this "skier" coming off a ski jump in the sky last night as well. :)
Some dramatic blue skies last night over Maryland!!!
November 25, 2024 at 11:10 PM
Some dramatic blue skies last night over Maryland!!!
November 18, 2024 at 2:45 AM
November 18, 2024 at 2:38 AM
@topsyturvyshow doing one of their amazing acrobalance routines at the @mdrenfest on Oct. 5, 2024. With @labellian.lily and Amanda Renaud.
November 10, 2024 at 5:55 PM
@topsyturvyshow doing one of their amazing acrobalance routines at the @mdrenfest on Oct. 5, 2024. With @labellian.lily and Amanda Renaud.
In early September, I gave a talk and did a Q&A session at the 2024 NASA Innovative Advanced Concept (NIAC) Symposium in Pasadena, CA on our in-progress Phase 1 study of the "Artemis-enabled Stellar Imager (AeSI) lunar-based interferometer concept.
November 10, 2024 at 5:51 PM
In early September, I gave a talk and did a Q&A session at the 2024 NASA Innovative Advanced Concept (NIAC) Symposium in Pasadena, CA on our in-progress Phase 1 study of the "Artemis-enabled Stellar Imager (AeSI) lunar-based interferometer concept.
A view to north-northwest from the road approaching the mountain top #CerroNoroeste, near #PineMountainClub, CA.
September 5, 2024 at 2:40 PM
A view to north-northwest from the road approaching the mountain top #CerroNoroeste, near #PineMountainClub, CA.
With Robin Curtis at #ShoreLeave 2024.
August 9, 2024 at 11:40 PM
With Robin Curtis at #ShoreLeave 2024.
July 13, 2024 at 8:17 PM
Something more serious than usual: a search for a Living (partial #liver #transplant) Donor for my son David. Here's a a link to the #UPENN site on #LivingDonations: www.pennmedicine.org/for-patients... In advance, thanks for anything you can do to spread the word - much appreciated!
July 7, 2024 at 5:00 PM
Something more serious than usual: a search for a Living (partial #liver #transplant) Donor for my son David. Here's a a link to the #UPENN site on #LivingDonations: www.pennmedicine.org/for-patients... In advance, thanks for anything you can do to spread the word - much appreciated!
A beautiful new #stainedglass #Jackalope from #RockcrestGlassStudio, hanging in the dining room windows in late afternoon sunlight.
July 7, 2024 at 4:48 PM
A beautiful new #stainedglass #Jackalope from #RockcrestGlassStudio, hanging in the dining room windows in late afternoon sunlight.