Duncan Waldron
@ozalba.bsky.social
Planetarium astronomer • Feckless dillettante • Scot-ish • Signatory to the Subject-Verb Agreement • Book: http://blurb.com/b/2211254-from… • Skinflint, First Class • Eukaryote • Slightly above just below average
Oh, you lucky thing. I would if I could.
November 11, 2025 at 1:14 PM
Oh, you lucky thing. I would if I could.
Ever so slightly. Might have been a fingerprint on the lens.
November 11, 2025 at 1:10 PM
Ever so slightly. Might have been a fingerprint on the lens.
I was in the driver's seat when I took this self-portrait. I'll let the jury decide 🤪
November 11, 2025 at 10:49 AM
I was in the driver's seat when I took this self-portrait. I'll let the jury decide 🤪
Did Sharon Begley cover the first one? bsky.app/profile/brit...
A Sharon Begley byline, almost 5 years after her death.
Upon hearing the news James Watson had died, a STAT reporter said in our Slack, "I wish I could read what Sharon would have written."
Incredible news: Sharon in fact did pre-write a Watson obit. And it is masterful and excoriating.
🧪🧬🧫
Upon hearing the news James Watson had died, a STAT reporter said in our Slack, "I wish I could read what Sharon would have written."
Incredible news: Sharon in fact did pre-write a Watson obit. And it is masterful and excoriating.
🧪🧬🧫
James Watson, dead at 97, was a scientific legend and a pariah among his peers
James Watson, the co-discoverer of the structure of DNA who died Thursday at 97, was a scientific legend and a pariah among his peers.
www.statnews.com
November 9, 2025 at 8:48 AM
Did Sharon Begley cover the first one? bsky.app/profile/brit...
...was blazing away in the south. Probably this one, from 8-9 November 1991. Shooting film, of course, but I don't remember which one; the colours seemed frustratingly muted compared to normal.
November 6, 2025 at 6:55 AM
...was blazing away in the south. Probably this one, from 8-9 November 1991. Shooting film, of course, but I don't remember which one; the colours seemed frustratingly muted compared to normal.
Sadly, I'm in the southern subtropics, so no aurora for me, but I used to catch it in Scotland. Ron Livesey, then BAA Auroral Section Director, operated a jam-jar magnetometer which went nuts one night. He walked north from his home to a nearby park, but saw nothing. Turned to go home, and it.../
November 6, 2025 at 6:38 AM
Sadly, I'm in the southern subtropics, so no aurora for me, but I used to catch it in Scotland. Ron Livesey, then BAA Auroral Section Director, operated a jam-jar magnetometer which went nuts one night. He walked north from his home to a nearby park, but saw nothing. Turned to go home, and it.../
That's not how "skating on the thinnest of ice" is spelt.
November 4, 2025 at 10:27 PM
That's not how "skating on the thinnest of ice" is spelt.
...were possible for part of the night. What else would a keen amateur do, but look at the sights? I remember thinking the Saturn view comparable to the classic* Mt Wilson 60-inch colour photo.
I badly miss the McEwan 6-inch Cooke on Calton Hill. Would love to use that here.
* For a person my age
I badly miss the McEwan 6-inch Cooke on Calton Hill. Would love to use that here.
* For a person my age
October 29, 2025 at 8:53 AM
...were possible for part of the night. What else would a keen amateur do, but look at the sights? I remember thinking the Saturn view comparable to the classic* Mt Wilson 60-inch colour photo.
I badly miss the McEwan 6-inch Cooke on Calton Hill. Would love to use that here.
* For a person my age
I badly miss the McEwan 6-inch Cooke on Calton Hill. Would love to use that here.
* For a person my age
Catherine, you lucky thing. Don't think I ever looked through the Mills Cooke (it's a 9-inch, isn't it?), but seeing Saturn, Jupiter, & Galilean moons through the UKST 10-inch guide scope, at 800x (IIRC), was incredible. The galactic plane was up, and objective prism on, so no routine observations/
October 29, 2025 at 8:40 AM
Catherine, you lucky thing. Don't think I ever looked through the Mills Cooke (it's a 9-inch, isn't it?), but seeing Saturn, Jupiter, & Galilean moons through the UKST 10-inch guide scope, at 800x (IIRC), was incredible. The galactic plane was up, and objective prism on, so no routine observations/
Of course, the lunar Sea of Clouds isn't visible in this image, the Sun not having risen over it yet.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mare_Nu...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mare_Nu...
Mare Nubium - Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org
October 29, 2025 at 8:29 AM
Of course, the lunar Sea of Clouds isn't visible in this image, the Sun not having risen over it yet.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mare_Nu...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mare_Nu...
Work within its limitations (or not...), and great photos can result. I think this Brownie SIX-20 C pic is passable. From a Brownie challenge some years ago on Twitter.
October 28, 2025 at 10:15 AM
Work within its limitations (or not...), and great photos can result. I think this Brownie SIX-20 C pic is passable. From a Brownie challenge some years ago on Twitter.
Yes... shoeless trampolining: to be avoided at all times. Unless you're on a ... *checks notes* ... ah, yes: trampoline.
October 27, 2025 at 11:34 AM
Yes... shoeless trampolining: to be avoided at all times. Unless you're on a ... *checks notes* ... ah, yes: trampoline.
Now look what you've done.
October 27, 2025 at 10:01 AM
Now look what you've done.
*scribbling noises* "... not ... coconut ... cream." OK, got that. I'll let the school kids know tomorrow. "Once thought to be coconut cream (or possibly mint cream), Mercury's interior has now been shown to be..." 😆
October 27, 2025 at 10:00 AM
*scribbling noises* "... not ... coconut ... cream." OK, got that. I'll let the school kids know tomorrow. "Once thought to be coconut cream (or possibly mint cream), Mercury's interior has now been shown to be..." 😆
Ta very muckle, Jimmie.
October 27, 2025 at 9:45 AM
Ta very muckle, Jimmie.
I dunno, but it's been perpetuated in the 'double wedding ring' quilt design: quiltmissouritutorials.com/the-double-w...
The Double Wedding Ring Quilt Pattern - Quilt Missouri Tutorials
The Double Wedding Ring Quilt is a classic and elegant design that has stood the test of time, revered for its symbolic representation.
quiltmissouritutorials.com
October 27, 2025 at 9:45 AM
I dunno, but it's been perpetuated in the 'double wedding ring' quilt design: quiltmissouritutorials.com/the-double-w...
Nice one, Stiggy-boy 👍
October 27, 2025 at 9:30 AM
Nice one, Stiggy-boy 👍