Mark Hammergren
@markhammergren.bsky.social
Father, husband, science communicator, planetary scientist, astronomer, rockhound.
The problem is, these aren't even real circus monkeys.
October 28, 2025 at 4:06 PM
The problem is, these aren't even real circus monkeys.
I was thinking of designing an interceptor spacecraft using Kerbal Space Program, and writing a paper about that equally "plausible" mission.
July 30, 2025 at 9:16 PM
I was thinking of designing an interceptor spacecraft using Kerbal Space Program, and writing a paper about that equally "plausible" mission.
"Care and precision" in communication are only positive qualities when the author adheres to professional ethics.
July 28, 2025 at 5:31 AM
"Care and precision" in communication are only positive qualities when the author adheres to professional ethics.
Now that the truly hard work has been done, all we have left is to produce a working, sustained fusion reactor, and separate thousands of kilograms of mercury-198 from all the other mercury isotopes.
July 23, 2025 at 4:11 AM
Now that the truly hard work has been done, all we have left is to produce a working, sustained fusion reactor, and separate thousands of kilograms of mercury-198 from all the other mercury isotopes.
If members of a "Heaven's Gate 2" religious group commit suicide in order to rendezvous with Loeb's alien spacecraft, what degree of moral and ethical responsibility does Loeb bear for continuing to advertise his easily-rebutted claims regarding 3I/ATLAS, knowing their impact on some people?
July 21, 2025 at 9:47 PM
If members of a "Heaven's Gate 2" religious group commit suicide in order to rendezvous with Loeb's alien spacecraft, what degree of moral and ethical responsibility does Loeb bear for continuing to advertise his easily-rebutted claims regarding 3I/ATLAS, knowing their impact on some people?
What a coincidence! I was just going to post to arXiv my new article, "Is Avi Loeb Three Raccoons in a Trench Coat?"
July 17, 2025 at 4:44 AM
What a coincidence! I was just going to post to arXiv my new article, "Is Avi Loeb Three Raccoons in a Trench Coat?"
Looking at the author list, it's clear this is a problem with their institutional culture. Such a lack of professional ethics and decency.
July 11, 2025 at 3:50 PM
Looking at the author list, it's clear this is a problem with their institutional culture. Such a lack of professional ethics and decency.
If it looks like a duck, moves like a duck, and quacks like a duck, it's probably a duck and not an alien disguised as a duck.
July 3, 2025 at 6:07 PM
If it looks like a duck, moves like a duck, and quacks like a duck, it's probably a duck and not an alien disguised as a duck.
That seems entirely reasonable. I also hadn't paid attention to quite how far it still has to go to perihelion and potentially increase in activity.
July 2, 2025 at 6:07 AM
That seems entirely reasonable. I also hadn't paid attention to quite how far it still has to go to perihelion and potentially increase in activity.
Decently big sucker, too. An absolute magnitude of ~11.7 implies a diameter somewhere between 10 - 30 km, depending on its albedo.
July 2, 2025 at 3:07 AM
Decently big sucker, too. An absolute magnitude of ~11.7 implies a diameter somewhere between 10 - 30 km, depending on its albedo.
No no no, you've got to rub your eyes with diced onions.
June 25, 2025 at 3:43 PM
No no no, you've got to rub your eyes with diced onions.
Introducing them to certain regulations is one thing; continuously reminding them, another. For me, it was ITAR. "I don't care if the object is small and built by college interns, ITAR still applies."
June 23, 2025 at 6:16 PM
Introducing them to certain regulations is one thing; continuously reminding them, another. For me, it was ITAR. "I don't care if the object is small and built by college interns, ITAR still applies."
The authority for making such determinations rests with the head of the agency that granted the clearance, and that is derived in turn from the President. So we know how that goes.
May 30, 2025 at 10:17 PM
The authority for making such determinations rests with the head of the agency that granted the clearance, and that is derived in turn from the President. So we know how that goes.
Many meteorite collectors have eaten minute portions of meteorites, particularly those from the Moon and Mars! I tried tiny bits of both -- too small to taste, but enough to sense as grit between my teeth.
May 29, 2025 at 4:50 PM
Many meteorite collectors have eaten minute portions of meteorites, particularly those from the Moon and Mars! I tried tiny bits of both -- too small to taste, but enough to sense as grit between my teeth.
Some flights prep for international travel in Fargo for the quick turnaround.
May 12, 2025 at 2:25 AM
Some flights prep for international travel in Fargo for the quick turnaround.
Congrats, Mark! Thank you for your inspired leadership in planetary science -- both the Institute and the field!
May 6, 2025 at 5:41 PM
Congrats, Mark! Thank you for your inspired leadership in planetary science -- both the Institute and the field!
Mix it up a bit with a Brad Dourif from Dune.
May 2, 2025 at 11:44 PM
Mix it up a bit with a Brad Dourif from Dune.
It's just a guy outside shaking sheet metal.
April 29, 2025 at 5:24 PM
It's just a guy outside shaking sheet metal.
I once gave a talk at an International Space Development Conference that could be summarized as ACADEMICS REALLY SHOULD WORRY MORE ABOUT ITAR.
April 29, 2025 at 12:21 AM
I once gave a talk at an International Space Development Conference that could be summarized as ACADEMICS REALLY SHOULD WORRY MORE ABOUT ITAR.
Right? And here I am, worried about ITAR for student-built CubeSats.
April 29, 2025 at 12:06 AM
Right? And here I am, worried about ITAR for student-built CubeSats.
Very nice! Another dogbone like 216 Kleopatra. Maybe due to YORP spinup / fission / reaccretion? You can see some evidence for slope failure in the neck region. You can also get moons with this history. Have any been noted?
April 21, 2025 at 7:23 PM
Very nice! Another dogbone like 216 Kleopatra. Maybe due to YORP spinup / fission / reaccretion? You can see some evidence for slope failure in the neck region. You can also get moons with this history. Have any been noted?
Along with the cancellations, I think we can expect orders for the management of the surviving missions to be moved from Goddard to red state NASA centers.
April 11, 2025 at 4:47 PM
Along with the cancellations, I think we can expect orders for the management of the surviving missions to be moved from Goddard to red state NASA centers.