Bob Pappalardo
@rpappalardo.bsky.social
Planetary scientist, icy moons a specialty. Europa Clipper Project Scientist at NASA’s JPL. Opinions are my own, or my cats'.
Reposted by Bob Pappalardo
it’s SO exciting to see images from a spacecraft you work on, even if they’re just test images 🥹
this is a starfield image from europa clipper, including the planet uranus! it was taken to test clipper’s star-tracking cameras!!
this is a starfield image from europa clipper, including the planet uranus! it was taken to test clipper’s star-tracking cameras!!
November 21, 2025 at 12:51 AM
it’s SO exciting to see images from a spacecraft you work on, even if they’re just test images 🥹
this is a starfield image from europa clipper, including the planet uranus! it was taken to test clipper’s star-tracking cameras!!
this is a starfield image from europa clipper, including the planet uranus! it was taken to test clipper’s star-tracking cameras!!
Reposted by Bob Pappalardo
WOW!
An incredible discovery. The first ever image of a baby exoplanet embedded in the dust rings from which planets are forming around a star. Confirms the developing view of planet formation that we’ve never before seen in action.
🧪🔭
www.universiteitleiden.nl/en/news/2025...
An incredible discovery. The first ever image of a baby exoplanet embedded in the dust rings from which planets are forming around a star. Confirms the developing view of planet formation that we’ve never before seen in action.
🧪🔭
www.universiteitleiden.nl/en/news/2025...
November 8, 2025 at 3:20 AM
WOW!
An incredible discovery. The first ever image of a baby exoplanet embedded in the dust rings from which planets are forming around a star. Confirms the developing view of planet formation that we’ve never before seen in action.
🧪🔭
www.universiteitleiden.nl/en/news/2025...
An incredible discovery. The first ever image of a baby exoplanet embedded in the dust rings from which planets are forming around a star. Confirms the developing view of planet formation that we’ve never before seen in action.
🧪🔭
www.universiteitleiden.nl/en/news/2025...
Reposted by Bob Pappalardo
I wanted to offer some thoughts on the Gates climate memo that has been circulating this week. While I can't directly speak for others, I can say that my own response is one of dismay & deep frustration (and that this view is shared by many climate/Earth scientists). [1/n]
October 30, 2025 at 5:02 PM
I wanted to offer some thoughts on the Gates climate memo that has been circulating this week. While I can't directly speak for others, I can say that my own response is one of dismay & deep frustration (and that this view is shared by many climate/Earth scientists). [1/n]
Amazing!
Fresh JWST view of Uranus taken Oct 6 2025 with NIRCam.
Full size & more info: flic.kr/p/2rByidu 🔭🧪
Credit: NASA/ESA/CSA/STScI/Andrea Luck CC BY
Proposal PI: Varun Bajaj
Proposal ID: 8975
Filters: F150W2-F162M, F410M
Full size & more info: flic.kr/p/2rByidu 🔭🧪
Credit: NASA/ESA/CSA/STScI/Andrea Luck CC BY
Proposal PI: Varun Bajaj
Proposal ID: 8975
Filters: F150W2-F162M, F410M
October 26, 2025 at 4:53 PM
Amazing!
A dark day is coming.
NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory to lay off about 550 workers reut.rs/4302N2L
NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory to lay off about 550 workers
NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory said on Monday it will cut nearly 550 jobs as part of a restructuring, not related to the current U.S. government shutdown.
reut.rs
October 14, 2025 at 12:37 AM
A dark day is coming.
Reposted by Bob Pappalardo
Flyby success! ESA's Juice spacecraft passed Venus at 07:28 CEST on 31 August.
This photo shows our deep-space antenna in Spain in communication with Juice during the flyby.
Juice’s current location, Venus, and its destination, Jupiter, are both visible in the sky ❤️
This photo shows our deep-space antenna in Spain in communication with Juice during the flyby.
Juice’s current location, Venus, and its destination, Jupiter, are both visible in the sky ❤️
September 1, 2025 at 9:37 AM
Flyby success! ESA's Juice spacecraft passed Venus at 07:28 CEST on 31 August.
This photo shows our deep-space antenna in Spain in communication with Juice during the flyby.
Juice’s current location, Venus, and its destination, Jupiter, are both visible in the sky ❤️
This photo shows our deep-space antenna in Spain in communication with Juice during the flyby.
Juice’s current location, Venus, and its destination, Jupiter, are both visible in the sky ❤️
Reposted by Bob Pappalardo
“They’re afraid that basic knowledge will expose their false claims.” www.nytimes.com/2025/08/31/s...
Historians See Autocratic Playbook in Trump’s Attacks on Science
www.nytimes.com
August 31, 2025 at 2:32 PM
“They’re afraid that basic knowledge will expose their false claims.” www.nytimes.com/2025/08/31/s...
Reposted by Bob Pappalardo
SPHEREx Discovers Extended Carbon Dioxide Coma in Interstellar Object 3I-ATLAS
spherex.caltech.edu/news/3i-atla... #SPHEREx #3IATLAS 🧪🔭
spherex.caltech.edu/news/3i-atla... #SPHEREx #3IATLAS 🧪🔭
August 23, 2025 at 8:49 PM
SPHEREx Discovers Extended Carbon Dioxide Coma in Interstellar Object 3I-ATLAS
spherex.caltech.edu/news/3i-atla... #SPHEREx #3IATLAS 🧪🔭
spherex.caltech.edu/news/3i-atla... #SPHEREx #3IATLAS 🧪🔭
Reposted by Bob Pappalardo
Maryame El Moutamid and colleagues have discovered a new moon orbiting Uranus. The JWST observations show a 10km moon orbiting 56,000km from Uranus's center. This moon adds to the complex puzzle that is the Uranian ring and moon system.
#planetsci 🧪
science.nasa.gov/blogs/webb/2...
#planetsci 🧪
science.nasa.gov/blogs/webb/2...
New Moon Discovered Orbiting Uranus Using NASA’s Webb Telescope - NASA Science
Using NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope, a team led by the Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) has identified a previously unknown moon orbiting Uranus,
science.nasa.gov
August 19, 2025 at 4:41 PM
Maryame El Moutamid and colleagues have discovered a new moon orbiting Uranus. The JWST observations show a 10km moon orbiting 56,000km from Uranus's center. This moon adds to the complex puzzle that is the Uranian ring and moon system.
#planetsci 🧪
science.nasa.gov/blogs/webb/2...
#planetsci 🧪
science.nasa.gov/blogs/webb/2...
Reposted by Bob Pappalardo
I have a complaint about Avi Loeb's latest work and I want to speak to management.
medium.com/@steve.desch...
medium.com/@steve.desch...
This is not the quality of pseudoscience infotainment to which I have grown accustomed
Teasing the public with fraudulent or self-deluded promises of aliens used to mean something. It took work. It meant slapping together…
medium.com
August 8, 2025 at 6:24 PM
I have a complaint about Avi Loeb's latest work and I want to speak to management.
medium.com/@steve.desch...
medium.com/@steve.desch...
Reposted by Bob Pappalardo
The REASON Ice Penetrating Radar produced good test data when we flew by Mars! All looking good for seeing inside #Europa in a few years. www.nasa.gov/missions/eur...
NASA’s Europa Clipper Radar Instrument Proves Itself at Mars - NASA
The agency’s largest interplanetary probe tested its radar during a Mars flyby. The results include a detailed image and bode well for the mission at
www.nasa.gov
August 1, 2025 at 8:00 PM
The REASON Ice Penetrating Radar produced good test data when we flew by Mars! All looking good for seeing inside #Europa in a few years. www.nasa.gov/missions/eur...
Reposted by Bob Pappalardo
The first time Charlie Chaplin used his voice in a film, he wielded it to forcefully condemn the rising forces of fascism around the globe.
Will we listen to his words today?
Will we listen to his words today?
July 10, 2025 at 5:02 PM
The first time Charlie Chaplin used his voice in a film, he wielded it to forcefully condemn the rising forces of fascism around the globe.
Will we listen to his words today?
Will we listen to his words today?
Fear! Panic!
Europa Clipper Captures Mars, Phobos, and Deimos
photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA2...
#EuropaClipper
Catalog Page for PIA26567
photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov
July 24, 2025 at 11:53 PM
Fear! Panic!
Europa Clipper Captures Mars, Phobos, and Deimos
photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA2...
#EuropaClipper
Reposted by Bob Pappalardo
Under the proposed White House budget, the NASA Space Grant program would be eliminated.
I was a NASA Space Grant recipient during my Masters—it funded my research on water on Mars.
I then went on to work in science & mission ops on multiple NASA Mars missions immediately after graduation. (1/2)
I was a NASA Space Grant recipient during my Masters—it funded my research on water on Mars.
I then went on to work in science & mission ops on multiple NASA Mars missions immediately after graduation. (1/2)
June 12, 2025 at 5:28 PM
Under the proposed White House budget, the NASA Space Grant program would be eliminated.
I was a NASA Space Grant recipient during my Masters—it funded my research on water on Mars.
I then went on to work in science & mission ops on multiple NASA Mars missions immediately after graduation. (1/2)
I was a NASA Space Grant recipient during my Masters—it funded my research on water on Mars.
I then went on to work in science & mission ops on multiple NASA Mars missions immediately after graduation. (1/2)
Reposted by Bob Pappalardo
Happy pride month! I worked with some LA-based scientists and engineers, and we have a kickstarter for space pride t-shirts! Consider backing!
🛰️🏳️⚧️🚀🏳️🌈🪐
www.kickstarter.com/projects/spa...
🛰️🏳️⚧️🚀🏳️🌈🪐
www.kickstarter.com/projects/spa...
June 6, 2025 at 7:47 PM
Happy pride month! I worked with some LA-based scientists and engineers, and we have a kickstarter for space pride t-shirts! Consider backing!
🛰️🏳️⚧️🚀🏳️🌈🪐
www.kickstarter.com/projects/spa...
🛰️🏳️⚧️🚀🏳️🌈🪐
www.kickstarter.com/projects/spa...
Reposted by Bob Pappalardo
Neat! NASA just released a thermal image of Mars taken by the Jupiter-bound Europa Clipper spacecraft. Their story is here; I'll provide some context in following posts.
www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/nasas-e...
www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/nasas-e...
May 12, 2025 at 6:40 PM
Neat! NASA just released a thermal image of Mars taken by the Jupiter-bound Europa Clipper spacecraft. Their story is here; I'll provide some context in following posts.
www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/nasas-e...
www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/nasas-e...
Reposted by Bob Pappalardo
it's tough out there for federal workers right now. People working on space missions have always been "paid" partly in the satisfaction and thrill of exploring where no one has been before, followed by the excitement of sharing those discoveries with the public. When morale drops, that pay drops.
May 12, 2025 at 7:37 PM
it's tough out there for federal workers right now. People working on space missions have always been "paid" partly in the satisfaction and thrill of exploring where no one has been before, followed by the excitement of sharing those discoveries with the public. When morale drops, that pay drops.
Reposted by Bob Pappalardo
#EuropaClipper
NASA’s Europa Clipper Captures Mars in Infrared
Headed for Jupiter’s moon Europa, the spacecraft did some sightseeing, using a flyby of Mars to calibrate its infrared imaging instrument.
www.nasa.gov/missions/eur... #Mars 🧪🔭
NASA’s Europa Clipper Captures Mars in Infrared
Headed for Jupiter’s moon Europa, the spacecraft did some sightseeing, using a flyby of Mars to calibrate its infrared imaging instrument.
www.nasa.gov/missions/eur... #Mars 🧪🔭
May 12, 2025 at 6:59 PM
#EuropaClipper
NASA’s Europa Clipper Captures Mars in Infrared
Headed for Jupiter’s moon Europa, the spacecraft did some sightseeing, using a flyby of Mars to calibrate its infrared imaging instrument.
www.nasa.gov/missions/eur... #Mars 🧪🔭
NASA’s Europa Clipper Captures Mars in Infrared
Headed for Jupiter’s moon Europa, the spacecraft did some sightseeing, using a flyby of Mars to calibrate its infrared imaging instrument.
www.nasa.gov/missions/eur... #Mars 🧪🔭
Europa Clipper captures Mars in the thermal infrared!
"On its recent swing by Mars, NASA’s Europa Clipper took the opportunity to capture infrared images of the Red Planet. The data will help mission scientists calibrate the spacecraft’s thermal imaging instrument."
www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/nasas-e...
"On its recent swing by Mars, NASA’s Europa Clipper took the opportunity to capture infrared images of the Red Planet. The data will help mission scientists calibrate the spacecraft’s thermal imaging instrument."
www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/nasas-e...
NASA’s Europa Clipper Captures Mars in Infrared
Headed for Jupiter’s moon Europa, the spacecraft did some sightseeing, using a flyby of Mars to calibrate its infrared imaging instrument.
www.jpl.nasa.gov
May 12, 2025 at 5:56 PM
Europa Clipper captures Mars in the thermal infrared!
"On its recent swing by Mars, NASA’s Europa Clipper took the opportunity to capture infrared images of the Red Planet. The data will help mission scientists calibrate the spacecraft’s thermal imaging instrument."
www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/nasas-e...
"On its recent swing by Mars, NASA’s Europa Clipper took the opportunity to capture infrared images of the Red Planet. The data will help mission scientists calibrate the spacecraft’s thermal imaging instrument."
www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/nasas-e...
From Io to Europa to Earth’s Moon: a fascinating tale of tidal heating! www.quantamagazine.org/whats-going-...
What’s Going On Inside Io, Jupiter’s Volcanic Moon? | Quanta Magazine
Recent flybys of the fiery world refute a leading theory of its inner structure — and reveal how little is understood about geologically active moons.
www.quantamagazine.org
April 28, 2025 at 1:54 AM
From Io to Europa to Earth’s Moon: a fascinating tale of tidal heating! www.quantamagazine.org/whats-going-...
Reposted by Bob Pappalardo
BREAKING: 36k people showed up in LA for Bernie and AOC’s rally. In the off year.
Americans are pissed — and anyone ignoring that is making a big mistake.
Americans are pissed — and anyone ignoring that is making a big mistake.
April 12, 2025 at 10:11 PM
BREAKING: 36k people showed up in LA for Bernie and AOC’s rally. In the off year.
Americans are pissed — and anyone ignoring that is making a big mistake.
Americans are pissed — and anyone ignoring that is making a big mistake.
And to celebrate the occasion, AI brings us the hit song: 5 Years to JOI !
suno.com/song/cec6a57...
suno.com/song/cec6a57...
April 12, 2025 at 5:07 AM
And to celebrate the occasion, AI brings us the hit song: 5 Years to JOI !
suno.com/song/cec6a57...
suno.com/song/cec6a57...
Reposted by Bob Pappalardo
Psst…5 years from today is Jupiter Orbit Insertion for Europa Clipper. Everyone should mark their calendars.
April 12, 2025 at 1:54 AM
Psst…5 years from today is Jupiter Orbit Insertion for Europa Clipper. Everyone should mark their calendars.