Mathew Owens
@mathewjowens.bsky.social
Space physicist doing a poor impersonation of a meteorologist at the University of Reading.
https://mathewjowens.github.io/
https://mathewjowens.github.io/
Most forecast centres (including us!) got that first CME arrival bang on. The big differences are for the subsequent CMEs.
SPWC predict >1400 km/s at Earth. HUXt around 850-950 km/s. It must be different assessments of the CME initial speeds; the models themselves aren't that different.
SPWC predict >1400 km/s at Earth. HUXt around 850-950 km/s. It must be different assessments of the CME initial speeds; the models themselves aren't that different.
November 12, 2025 at 8:42 AM
Most forecast centres (including us!) got that first CME arrival bang on. The big differences are for the subsequent CMEs.
SPWC predict >1400 km/s at Earth. HUXt around 850-950 km/s. It must be different assessments of the CME initial speeds; the models themselves aren't that different.
SPWC predict >1400 km/s at Earth. HUXt around 850-950 km/s. It must be different assessments of the CME initial speeds; the models themselves aren't that different.
All aboard the CME train.
November 11, 2025 at 7:39 PM
All aboard the CME train.
Stopped on my run home across @uniofreading.bsky.social campus to chat to this little fella. First hedgehog I've seen for at least a decade. What a beauty.
November 11, 2025 at 5:56 PM
Stopped on my run home across @uniofreading.bsky.social campus to chat to this little fella. First hedgehog I've seen for at least a decade. What a beauty.
Giveaways that you're in an applied physics department.
October 30, 2025 at 10:15 AM
Giveaways that you're in an applied physics department.
Apparently, my name is not on the list. They say they've never even heard of me.
October 8, 2025 at 8:31 AM
Apparently, my name is not on the list. They say they've never even heard of me.
Looking good for Observe The Moon night at @uniofreading.bsky.social
October 4, 2025 at 6:01 PM
Looking good for Observe The Moon night at @uniofreading.bsky.social
What even is the point of Astronomy & Astrophysics online display of articles?
Below is article view. Inside the red circle is the figure. (Honest, it is there.) You either have to click on every single figure and open them individually in new windows, or go to the PDF. It's 2025, people!
Below is article view. Inside the red circle is the figure. (Honest, it is there.) You either have to click on every single figure and open them individually in new windows, or go to the PDF. It's 2025, people!
September 25, 2025 at 9:57 AM
What even is the point of Astronomy & Astrophysics online display of articles?
Below is article view. Inside the red circle is the figure. (Honest, it is there.) You either have to click on every single figure and open them individually in new windows, or go to the PDF. It's 2025, people!
Below is article view. Inside the red circle is the figure. (Honest, it is there.) You either have to click on every single figure and open them individually in new windows, or go to the PDF. It's 2025, people!
You're managing to find reviewers?
September 19, 2025 at 2:36 PM
You're managing to find reviewers?
The solar situation is similar to Oct 2003, when two major flares and CMEs occurred a few days apart. The 1st, when the active region was disc-centre, triggered a huge geomagnetic storm. But unlike 1938, the 2nd -- when the active region was on the limb -- did nothing.
September 12, 2025 at 2:13 PM
The solar situation is similar to Oct 2003, when two major flares and CMEs occurred a few days apart. The 1st, when the active region was disc-centre, triggered a huge geomagnetic storm. But unlike 1938, the 2nd -- when the active region was on the limb -- did nothing.
Jan 1938 saw two major geomagnetic storms, 3 days apart. The 1st had a whopping sunspot close to the centre of the solar disc, as expected. The 2nd occurred when there were no major sunspots.
We can't assume that a clear Sun means no space weather!
agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1029/...
We can't assume that a clear Sun means no space weather!
agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1029/...
September 12, 2025 at 2:03 PM
Jan 1938 saw two major geomagnetic storms, 3 days apart. The 1st had a whopping sunspot close to the centre of the solar disc, as expected. The 2nd occurred when there were no major sunspots.
We can't assume that a clear Sun means no space weather!
agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1029/...
We can't assume that a clear Sun means no space weather!
agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1029/...
Submitted for consideration: the (old) Orléans take on poutine. Blue cheese sauce with onion marmalade. Tres bien!
August 31, 2025 at 7:18 AM
Submitted for consideration: the (old) Orléans take on poutine. Blue cheese sauce with onion marmalade. Tres bien!
I've never been able to remember which are stalagmites and which are stalactites. But in French they're pronounced "stalag-meat" (those pointing up) and "stalac-teats" (those hanging down). And suddenly it's stuck.
No idea why.
No idea why.
August 27, 2025 at 2:20 PM
I've never been able to remember which are stalagmites and which are stalactites. But in French they're pronounced "stalag-meat" (those pointing up) and "stalac-teats" (those hanging down). And suddenly it's stuck.
No idea why.
No idea why.
Found it! It's smaller than claimed. But what's three-and-a-bit orders of magnitude between friends?
August 26, 2025 at 6:27 AM
Found it! It's smaller than claimed. But what's three-and-a-bit orders of magnitude between friends?
Every day I think I'm going to relax on the beach with my book. But I just can't resist the allure of a rock pool.
August 21, 2025 at 9:44 AM
Every day I think I'm going to relax on the beach with my book. But I just can't resist the allure of a rock pool.
Wow, that thing is absolutely massive.
August 20, 2025 at 8:04 AM
Wow, that thing is absolutely massive.
Today we'll be learning about inertia and friction. Which are enabling some welcome thermal convection.
August 13, 2025 at 8:58 AM
Today we'll be learning about inertia and friction. Which are enabling some welcome thermal convection.
It's 40 years since I first saw Wrexham play. Today is the first time ever in the second tier.
Up the town!
Up the town!
August 9, 2025 at 10:59 AM
It's 40 years since I first saw Wrexham play. Today is the first time ever in the second tier.
Up the town!
Up the town!
Another Met Dept interloper. We formed a cross-institute rescue team* to rewild him/her. Anyone identify?
*I lobbed it out of window from Terry Jones (of @metoffice.gov.uk)'s office.
*I lobbed it out of window from Terry Jones (of @metoffice.gov.uk)'s office.
July 31, 2025 at 8:50 AM
Another Met Dept interloper. We formed a cross-institute rescue team* to rewild him/her. Anyone identify?
*I lobbed it out of window from Terry Jones (of @metoffice.gov.uk)'s office.
*I lobbed it out of window from Terry Jones (of @metoffice.gov.uk)'s office.
Can't provide any barnacle insight. But enjoyed the Bluesky coincidence:
July 28, 2025 at 10:52 AM
Can't provide any barnacle insight. But enjoyed the Bluesky coincidence:
Department of Meteorology invader. Anyone recognise it?
July 14, 2025 at 11:09 AM
Department of Meteorology invader. Anyone recognise it?
Damn. That beats me. I still use Corel Xara! 2.0 for most of my schematics, but that *only* dates back to 1998.
June 25, 2025 at 9:53 AM
Damn. That beats me. I still use Corel Xara! 2.0 for most of my schematics, but that *only* dates back to 1998.
Tis a lovely solstice evening.
June 21, 2025 at 8:10 PM
Tis a lovely solstice evening.
I just looked at my work calendar and tomorrow I have... no meetings?! I'm totally going to science.
June 19, 2025 at 9:14 AM
I just looked at my work calendar and tomorrow I have... no meetings?! I'm totally going to science.