Scott Kardel aka Palomar Skies
@palomarskies.bsky.social
Associate professor of astronomy at Palomar College, user of smart telescopes. 🔭 Blog: http://visiblesuns.blogspot.com/
Pinned
1:37:11 PM on Tuesday, July 15, 2025, over the North Atlantic Ocean.
"The world is still beautiful, even with all the traffic, the injustice, the noise, the wars. The world is still beautiful. It's all we have and we should celebrate it." - Film score composer Lionel Newman
Reposted by Scott Kardel aka Palomar Skies
It's Friday, and apparently bluesky is ready for this fun revelation:
Dinosaurs lived on the other side the Galaxy.
Dinosaurs lived on the other side the Galaxy.
November 21, 2025 at 5:11 PM
It's Friday, and apparently bluesky is ready for this fun revelation:
Dinosaurs lived on the other side the Galaxy.
Dinosaurs lived on the other side the Galaxy.
Reposted by Scott Kardel aka Palomar Skies
A lot of folks, including kids, who saw my speech on Tuesday really liked it and thought it was helpful, so I thought I'd post it online - it's an overview of just how nonlinear my path to science was. Maybe it'll help you or someone you know too: medium.com/@adeene.dent...
A Planetary Scientist’s Guide to Finding Your Momentum
This essay is adapted from a speech I gave at my local high school on November 18, 2025. If you’re a kid, have a kid, or just need a…
medium.com
November 21, 2025 at 7:21 PM
A lot of folks, including kids, who saw my speech on Tuesday really liked it and thought it was helpful, so I thought I'd post it online - it's an overview of just how nonlinear my path to science was. Maybe it'll help you or someone you know too: medium.com/@adeene.dent...
Reposted by Scott Kardel aka Palomar Skies
Maths Puzzles for Conspiracy Theorists.
One of the cartoons from my new book 'Physics for Cats'. In good bookshops now and online in English, French, German and Spanish editions.
One of the cartoons from my new book 'Physics for Cats'. In good bookshops now and online in English, French, German and Spanish editions.
November 21, 2025 at 11:20 AM
Maths Puzzles for Conspiracy Theorists.
One of the cartoons from my new book 'Physics for Cats'. In good bookshops now and online in English, French, German and Spanish editions.
One of the cartoons from my new book 'Physics for Cats'. In good bookshops now and online in English, French, German and Spanish editions.
Reposted by Scott Kardel aka Palomar Skies
New video: Tolkien Reading Order & Checklist 🤓
youtu.be/m1GOYIodbiU
youtu.be/m1GOYIodbiU
Tolkien Reading Order & Checklist
YouTube video by Tea with Tolkien
youtu.be
November 20, 2025 at 10:42 PM
New video: Tolkien Reading Order & Checklist 🤓
youtu.be/m1GOYIodbiU
youtu.be/m1GOYIodbiU
Reposted by Scott Kardel aka Palomar Skies
To “my students and to anyone who might listen, I say: Don’t surrender to AI your ability to read, write and think when others once risked their lives and died for the freedom to do so.”
www.huffpost.com/entry/histor...
www.huffpost.com/entry/histor...
I Set A Trap To Catch My Students Cheating With AI. The Results Were Shocking.
"Students are not just undermining their ability to learn, but to someday lead."
www.huffpost.com
November 21, 2025 at 12:22 AM
To “my students and to anyone who might listen, I say: Don’t surrender to AI your ability to read, write and think when others once risked their lives and died for the freedom to do so.”
www.huffpost.com/entry/histor...
www.huffpost.com/entry/histor...
This morning I was up before sunrise. It was surprisingly clear, so I took out my telescope to catch 3I/ATLAS. I let it thermalize, turned it on, and had just 1 one minute of observing it before it clouded up. Hopefully, I'll have better weather soon. It's the fuzzy spot at the center of the image.🔭
November 20, 2025 at 6:46 PM
This morning I was up before sunrise. It was surprisingly clear, so I took out my telescope to catch 3I/ATLAS. I let it thermalize, turned it on, and had just 1 one minute of observing it before it clouded up. Hopefully, I'll have better weather soon. It's the fuzzy spot at the center of the image.🔭
Reposted by Scott Kardel aka Palomar Skies
The view from from the windows of the Apollo 12 Lunar Module just after landing 56 years ago. Apollo 12 was a great mission although the loss of the color TV camera at the beginning of the first EVA was a blow to live network coverage. In due time we saw the color and B&W photos the crew returned.
November 20, 2025 at 10:39 AM
The view from from the windows of the Apollo 12 Lunar Module just after landing 56 years ago. Apollo 12 was a great mission although the loss of the color TV camera at the beginning of the first EVA was a blow to live network coverage. In due time we saw the color and B&W photos the crew returned.
Today is Geography/ GIS day at the college. I am here (at left) to present an opposing viewpoint.
November 19, 2025 at 9:41 PM
Today is Geography/ GIS day at the college. I am here (at left) to present an opposing viewpoint.
The globe in the classroom where I teach likes Australia so much that it names it twice.
November 19, 2025 at 4:01 AM
The globe in the classroom where I teach likes Australia so much that it names it twice.
Reposted by Scott Kardel aka Palomar Skies
Mars - Valles Marineris - Orbit 25 - Hope Mission - From Andrea Luck (andrealuck.bsky.social) - https://flic.kr/p/2mzdn25
November 17, 2025 at 10:00 PM
Mars - Valles Marineris - Orbit 25 - Hope Mission - From Andrea Luck (andrealuck.bsky.social) - https://flic.kr/p/2mzdn25
There was a nice rainbow on the to work this morning. Not quite as good by the time I parked but still an enjoyable sight.
November 18, 2025 at 5:59 PM
There was a nice rainbow on the to work this morning. Not quite as good by the time I parked but still an enjoyable sight.
Reposted by Scott Kardel aka Palomar Skies
In 1885, after traveling for over two million years, the light from an exploding star swept over caused astronomers to think the universe was way smaller than it really is.
badastronomy.beehiiv.com/p/the-irony-...
🧪 🔭
badastronomy.beehiiv.com/p/the-irony-...
🧪 🔭
The irony of Supernova 1885A
It proved the Universe was bigger than astronomers thought, but they couldn’t believe it
badastronomy.beehiiv.com
November 17, 2025 at 7:29 PM
In 1885, after traveling for over two million years, the light from an exploding star swept over caused astronomers to think the universe was way smaller than it really is.
badastronomy.beehiiv.com/p/the-irony-...
🧪 🔭
badastronomy.beehiiv.com/p/the-irony-...
🧪 🔭
Reposted by Scott Kardel aka Palomar Skies
Sunday nights tho amiright
November 17, 2025 at 2:07 AM
Sunday nights tho amiright
Round one of this storm is done and it gave us more total rain than we had in all April through October.
November 16, 2025 at 8:22 PM
Round one of this storm is done and it gave us more total rain than we had in all April through October.
Reposted by Scott Kardel aka Palomar Skies
Their findings are both exciting and humbling, highlighting the challenges of characterizing such small, distant worlds, even with our most advanced telescopes.
Learn more: www.seti.org/news/trappis...
Learn more: www.seti.org/news/trappis...
TRAPPIST‑1 e Revealed: Peering Inside an Exoplanet’s Atmosphere
www.seti.org
November 15, 2025 at 8:00 PM
Their findings are both exciting and humbling, highlighting the challenges of characterizing such small, distant worlds, even with our most advanced telescopes.
Learn more: www.seti.org/news/trappis...
Learn more: www.seti.org/news/trappis...
I just finished reading This Way Up - When Maps Go Wrong, a fun snarky book about maps and am now on to Chris Hadfield’s novel Final Orbit. #booksky
November 15, 2025 at 8:01 PM
I just finished reading This Way Up - When Maps Go Wrong, a fun snarky book about maps and am now on to Chris Hadfield’s novel Final Orbit. #booksky
Reposted by Scott Kardel aka Palomar Skies
Dr. Marziye Jafariyazani is a Data Scientist for NASA’s TESS (Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite) Mission at the SETI Institute, where she is part of the Science Processing Operations Center (SPOC) for the TESS mission at NASA’s Ames Research Center.
#NotJustAliens 🧪 🔭 👩🔬
#NotJustAliens 🧪 🔭 👩🔬
November 15, 2025 at 4:00 PM
Dr. Marziye Jafariyazani is a Data Scientist for NASA’s TESS (Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite) Mission at the SETI Institute, where she is part of the Science Processing Operations Center (SPOC) for the TESS mission at NASA’s Ames Research Center.
#NotJustAliens 🧪 🔭 👩🔬
#NotJustAliens 🧪 🔭 👩🔬
🖖 One of my astronomy students got me a vintage Star Trek: The Next Generation com badge pin, which makes me very happy.
November 14, 2025 at 10:33 PM
🖖 One of my astronomy students got me a vintage Star Trek: The Next Generation com badge pin, which makes me very happy.
A visitor to the homestead this morning.
November 14, 2025 at 4:55 PM
A visitor to the homestead this morning.
Reposted by Scott Kardel aka Palomar Skies
Authoritarians attack educators because they know teachers are the muscle of democracy. This piece from @shankerinst.bsky.social shows how educators from Norway to Chile to right here in the US are standing up for truth, freedom, and their students. www.shankerinstitute.org/blog/when-ed...
When Educators Confront Authoritarianism
Educators are critical to the maintenance of democratic institutions, norms, and freedoms.
www.shankerinstitute.org
November 14, 2025 at 3:49 AM
Authoritarians attack educators because they know teachers are the muscle of democracy. This piece from @shankerinst.bsky.social shows how educators from Norway to Chile to right here in the US are standing up for truth, freedom, and their students. www.shankerinstitute.org/blog/when-ed...
Lots of clouds and rain in the forecast for the foreseeable future, so here's an image from last weekend of NGC 288, a globular star cluster located nearly 30,000 light years from Earth. 🔭
November 14, 2025 at 3:15 AM
Lots of clouds and rain in the forecast for the foreseeable future, so here's an image from last weekend of NGC 288, a globular star cluster located nearly 30,000 light years from Earth. 🔭
Reposted by Scott Kardel aka Palomar Skies
Yet reopening the government isn’t enough.
We must recommit to science—with stable, long-term investment and clear guardrails that ensure every dollar strengthens public safety, fuels innovation, and builds a sustainable future.
We must recommit to science—with stable, long-term investment and clear guardrails that ensure every dollar strengthens public safety, fuels innovation, and builds a sustainable future.
November 13, 2025 at 1:45 PM
Yet reopening the government isn’t enough.
We must recommit to science—with stable, long-term investment and clear guardrails that ensure every dollar strengthens public safety, fuels innovation, and builds a sustainable future.
We must recommit to science—with stable, long-term investment and clear guardrails that ensure every dollar strengthens public safety, fuels innovation, and builds a sustainable future.
"They are throwing US science into the trash": www.npr.org/2025/11/12/n...
Goddard Space Center staff say they're 'constantly being attacked' by the White House
The Goddard Space Center is one NASA's crown jewels of science. But in recent months, staff say they've been in the White House's crosshairs, subjected to a campaign of chaos and reorganization.
www.npr.org
November 12, 2025 at 4:58 PM
"They are throwing US science into the trash": www.npr.org/2025/11/12/n...
Reposted by Scott Kardel aka Palomar Skies
My entire timeline rn.
November 12, 2025 at 1:41 AM
My entire timeline rn.
Reposted by Scott Kardel aka Palomar Skies
