Dr. Craig DeForest ☀️
@craig.deforest.org
Dad, mountaineer, heliophysicist. I lead the PUNCH space mission and direct a team at SwRI. I like science, space, communication, humans, dogs, horses, puns. Lowering barriers and promoting open science are priorities. My personal account; my opinions.
Pinned
Dr. Craig DeForest ☀️
@craig.deforest.org
· Nov 20
I do heliophysics professionally, and geek about many subjects on my own time. Knowledge is power — it's also fun to create, have, and share. I run a #heliophysics feed on BSky. Elsewhere I lead the PUNCH mission to observe the #corona and #solarwind. Ask me anything, I'll probably have an answer.
Swiss Dawn from the 61C intercity Bern->Basel. Had a great week at ISSI, participating in the solar eclipse/middle-corona conference by day and PUNCH support by night.
November 21, 2025 at 6:58 AM
Swiss Dawn from the 61C intercity Bern->Basel. Had a great week at ISSI, participating in the solar eclipse/middle-corona conference by day and PUNCH support by night.
Now it can (finally) be told. We've been tracking Comet 3I more or less continuously with PUNCH. Everything is fine. 3I is definitely very interesting – but it is most definitely *not* an alien spaceship undergoing maneuvers, no matter what that Boston guy says. ☀️🛰️🔭🧪 #3I #comet #not_aliens
NASA’s PUNCH Spies Interstellar Comet 3I/ATLAS - NASA Science
NASA’s PUNCH (Polarimeter to Unify the Corona and Heliosphere) mission observed interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS during its passage through the
science.nasa.gov
November 19, 2025 at 9:44 PM
Now it can (finally) be told. We've been tracking Comet 3I more or less continuously with PUNCH. Everything is fine. 3I is definitely very interesting – but it is most definitely *not* an alien spaceship undergoing maneuvers, no matter what that Boston guy says. ☀️🛰️🔭🧪 #3I #comet #not_aliens
Solar data analysis has changed so, so much since the late 1900s. We're working to calibrate out orbital-dependent variable stray light in PUNCH. I pulled 5 days of L0 data to play with, in my laptop, while traveling. The dataset includes 20,000 images, in 32 GB. ☀️ (punch.space.swri.edu)
November 19, 2025 at 8:57 AM
Solar data analysis has changed so, so much since the late 1900s. We're working to calibrate out orbital-dependent variable stray light in PUNCH. I pulled 5 days of L0 data to play with, in my laptop, while traveling. The dataset includes 20,000 images, in 32 GB. ☀️ (punch.space.swri.edu)
The Proba-3/ASPIICS paper just dropped on ArXiV! If you like heliophysics, the corona, or cool mission concepts, give it a read. ASPIICS is a coronagraph comprising two spacecraft in formation: a camera and a separate occulter. They're producing amazing images. ☀️🛰️🔭🚀 arxiv.org/abs/2511.01679
November 7, 2025 at 5:42 AM
The Proba-3/ASPIICS paper just dropped on ArXiV! If you like heliophysics, the corona, or cool mission concepts, give it a read. ASPIICS is a coronagraph comprising two spacecraft in formation: a camera and a separate occulter. They're producing amazing images. ☀️🛰️🔭🚀 arxiv.org/abs/2511.01679
Kevin Marvel is leaving AAS. ☀️🧪🔭
aas.org/press/aas-an...
aas.org/press/aas-an...
AAS Announces the Resignation of Chief Executive Officer Dr. Kevin B. Marvel | American Astronomical Society
The American Astronomical Society today announced that Dr. Kevin B. Marvel, the Society’s Chief Executive Officer, will step down from his position effective 9 January 2026.
aas.org
November 5, 2025 at 12:29 AM
Kevin Marvel is leaving AAS. ☀️🧪🔭
aas.org/press/aas-an...
aas.org/press/aas-an...
This is exactly the reason every mission and scientist should have a wide-open data policy! PUNCH has specific science objectives (looking at the solar wind) – but in the right hands the data can reveal amazing things NOT part of our original science. Giving those hands access is best for all. ☀️🔭🧪
Interstellar comet 3I Atlas from all clear filter data from PUNCH's WFI3 satellite on October 29th. This is the combination of 134 separate images. It's again visible in single frames (moving coming next). Probably visual magnitude ~9.5ish.
October 31, 2025 at 3:50 AM
This is exactly the reason every mission and scientist should have a wide-open data policy! PUNCH has specific science objectives (looking at the solar wind) – but in the right hands the data can reveal amazing things NOT part of our original science. Giving those hands access is best for all. ☀️🔭🧪
Cluster is an amazing story: the initial flight build were all lost in the Ariane V launch – possibly from the most expensive one-line software bug ever (integer overflow in a guidance system, which caused the >$1B rocket to explode). Ultimately very successful despite that "little setback".
🔴 Live now: the premiere of 'Seas of the Sun: The story of Cluster' 🍿
Watch here 👉 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Go_rve555TQ
Got questions? Use the live chat where our scientists and engineers, as well as @spacerocksofficial.bsky.social filmmakers are ready to answer.
🔭 🧪 ☀️ #ESWW2025
Watch here 👉 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Go_rve555TQ
Got questions? Use the live chat where our scientists and engineers, as well as @spacerocksofficial.bsky.social filmmakers are ready to answer.
🔭 🧪 ☀️ #ESWW2025
Seas of the Sun: The story of Cluster (Full documentary)
What began with tragedy ended in triumph. This is the untold story of the European Space Agency’s pioneering 25-year Cluster mission to study how invisible s...
www.youtube.com
October 30, 2025 at 10:09 PM
Cluster is an amazing story: the initial flight build were all lost in the Ariane V launch – possibly from the most expensive one-line software bug ever (integer overflow in a guidance system, which caused the >$1B rocket to explode). Ultimately very successful despite that "little setback".
We will greatly miss Al Nagler, founder of Tele Vue Optics (@televueoptics.bsky.social), who left us Monday. I was honored to know him: a brilliant man with a gentle and joyful disposition. Among many other accomplishments, he designed the Wide Field Imager optics in use on the PUNCH mission. ☀️🔭
Al Nagler (1935–2025)
Albert H. Nagler, a pioneer of telescope optics, passed away at the office of his company Tele Vue Optics on Monday, October 27th.
skyandtelescope.org
October 29, 2025 at 3:33 PM
We will greatly miss Al Nagler, founder of Tele Vue Optics (@televueoptics.bsky.social), who left us Monday. I was honored to know him: a brilliant man with a gentle and joyful disposition. Among many other accomplishments, he designed the Wide Field Imager optics in use on the PUNCH mission. ☀️🔭
I'm delighted to see that @swri.org has joined us here! Southwest Research Institute does a ton of interesting things, but of course #heliophysics is one of them. The outreach/social-media team are really great, give 'em a follow! You won't be sorry. 🧪
(bsky.app/profile/swri...)
(bsky.app/profile/swri...)
October 23, 2025 at 9:26 PM
I'm delighted to see that @swri.org has joined us here! Southwest Research Institute does a ton of interesting things, but of course #heliophysics is one of them. The outreach/social-media team are really great, give 'em a follow! You won't be sorry. 🧪
(bsky.app/profile/swri...)
(bsky.app/profile/swri...)
There's been a large uptick in the amount of AI slop lately on all topics in all venues, including #heliophysics here. I've been updating the feed regexps to remove certain keywords typical of "fake news" clickbait, so hopefully the news quality will remain high. Let me know if you see any issues. ☀️
October 22, 2025 at 12:54 PM
There's been a large uptick in the amount of AI slop lately on all topics in all venues, including #heliophysics here. I've been updating the feed regexps to remove certain keywords typical of "fake news" clickbait, so hopefully the news quality will remain high. Let me know if you see any issues. ☀️
Don't ever change, Apple Photos AI. You are very helpful. No, really. Without you, I might have confused this for a picture of a golden retriever.
October 21, 2025 at 10:07 PM
Don't ever change, Apple Photos AI. You are very helpful. No, really. Without you, I might have confused this for a picture of a golden retriever.
Sometimes we all need a little boddhi satva in our lives. Or a big one.
October 19, 2025 at 12:19 PM
Sometimes we all need a little boddhi satva in our lives. Or a big one.
Wow. It can be hard to remember: science in general and #NASA and #heliophysics in particular are still revered globally. This am in the security line in Delhi (coming home) I handed @punch-mission.bsky.social and NASA stickers to kids. They lit up so much at meeting a real live scientist. ☀️🛰️🧪
October 19, 2025 at 6:34 AM
Wow. It can be hard to remember: science in general and #NASA and #heliophysics in particular are still revered globally. This am in the security line in Delhi (coming home) I handed @punch-mission.bsky.social and NASA stickers to kids. They lit up so much at meeting a real live scientist. ☀️🛰️🧪
The Moon has a tenuous atmosphere — so tenuous that #spaceweather affects atmospheric #weather. Congratulations to ISRO and the Chandrayaan-2 team for measuring “high” pressure zones associated with CME impacts on the lunar atmosphere! ☀️🛰️🧪🆒
Chandrayaan-2 Observes Effects of the Coronal Mass Ejections from the Sun on the Lunar Exosphere
www.isro.gov.in
October 18, 2025 at 7:03 PM
The Moon has a tenuous atmosphere — so tenuous that #spaceweather affects atmospheric #weather. Congratulations to ISRO and the Chandrayaan-2 team for measuring “high” pressure zones associated with CME impacts on the lunar atmosphere! ☀️🛰️🧪🆒
It was amazingly fun to give a public lecture for the Breakthrough Science Society in Kerala, India this week. Such a vibrant and interested audience, in a beautiful place!
☀️ #SciComm
☀️ #SciComm
Making the invisible visible with PUNCH
PUNCH Space Mission by NASA aims to make solar wind visible, studying space weather for human protection.
www.thehindu.com
October 17, 2025 at 7:02 AM
It was amazingly fun to give a public lecture for the Breakthrough Science Society in Kerala, India this week. Such a vibrant and interested audience, in a beautiful place!
☀️ #SciComm
☀️ #SciComm
Are you an undergrad or grad student nearing graduation? Find your next gig!
Announcing: the AAS/SPD grad student & postdoc opportunity fair, Wed. 5-Nov. Hear about opportunities across the nation, meet potential advisors, & learn about your next career step.
🧪🔭☀️🎢⚛️
spd.aas.org/graduate-stu...
Announcing: the AAS/SPD grad student & postdoc opportunity fair, Wed. 5-Nov. Hear about opportunities across the nation, meet potential advisors, & learn about your next career step.
🧪🔭☀️🎢⚛️
spd.aas.org/graduate-stu...
October 15, 2025 at 11:56 PM
Are you an undergrad or grad student nearing graduation? Find your next gig!
Announcing: the AAS/SPD grad student & postdoc opportunity fair, Wed. 5-Nov. Hear about opportunities across the nation, meet potential advisors, & learn about your next career step.
🧪🔭☀️🎢⚛️
spd.aas.org/graduate-stu...
Announcing: the AAS/SPD grad student & postdoc opportunity fair, Wed. 5-Nov. Hear about opportunities across the nation, meet potential advisors, & learn about your next career step.
🧪🔭☀️🎢⚛️
spd.aas.org/graduate-stu...
A lot of things sort of suck right now. I was delighted to find out that, for under $40, you can now buy an instrument that will tell you, with digital precision, just how much things suck.
Provided you can attach a hose to those things.
www.amazon.com/Manometer-Pr...
Provided you can attach a hose to those things.
www.amazon.com/Manometer-Pr...
October 7, 2025 at 11:22 PM
A lot of things sort of suck right now. I was delighted to find out that, for under $40, you can now buy an instrument that will tell you, with digital precision, just how much things suck.
Provided you can attach a hose to those things.
www.amazon.com/Manometer-Pr...
Provided you can attach a hose to those things.
www.amazon.com/Manometer-Pr...
What's all this fuss about solving for eigenmodes of mechanical systems? Gaussian elimination has been a solved problem since 1835. #math #dadjoke #illseemyselfoutnow
October 6, 2025 at 10:40 PM
What's all this fuss about solving for eigenmodes of mechanical systems? Gaussian elimination has been a solved problem since 1835. #math #dadjoke #illseemyselfoutnow
Quick update on the #heliophysics feed. We've had issues with AI spam coming from many related accounts, to prevent blocklisting. Fortunately, regexps work fine. I'm fixin' to transition us back from Skyfeed to the Graze servers. It should be pretty seamless. I'll post when it happens, though. ☀️
October 5, 2025 at 4:00 AM
Quick update on the #heliophysics feed. We've had issues with AI spam coming from many related accounts, to prevent blocklisting. Fortunately, regexps work fine. I'm fixin' to transition us back from Skyfeed to the Graze servers. It should be pretty seamless. I'll post when it happens, though. ☀️
Great milestone from the PUNCH SOC team this week -- as we continue refining our data, we've rolled out preliminary Level 3 data, with most of the solar F corona removed. Current data are "v0g"; expect version "v0h" in about two weeks. We'll reprocess everything when we reach v1. ☀️
October 4, 2025 at 3:47 PM
Great milestone from the PUNCH SOC team this week -- as we continue refining our data, we've rolled out preliminary Level 3 data, with most of the solar F corona removed. Current data are "v0g"; expect version "v0h" in about two weeks. We'll reprocess everything when we reach v1. ☀️
Reposting this with #spaceweather tag so the #heliophysics feed will pick it up.
Next #SETILive: Space Weather Alert
Tuesday, 7 October 2025, 2:30 pm PDT
Heliophysicist Dr. Becca Robinson joins host Simon Steel to explain what coronal holes are, how they form, and what their impacts mean for both our technology and our understanding of the Sun. 🧪 🔭
WATCH LIVE: buff.ly/P9Xk2M4
Tuesday, 7 October 2025, 2:30 pm PDT
Heliophysicist Dr. Becca Robinson joins host Simon Steel to explain what coronal holes are, how they form, and what their impacts mean for both our technology and our understanding of the Sun. 🧪 🔭
WATCH LIVE: buff.ly/P9Xk2M4
October 2, 2025 at 11:34 PM
Reposting this with #spaceweather tag so the #heliophysics feed will pick it up.
David Hathaway and Lisa Upton just released an updated solar cycle prediction. In their words, it's "virtually unchanged since early 2022", an indicator that they're more or less getting it right with empirical prediction. Looks like we're *just* past maximum in the current cycle. ☀️🔭🧪🚀
October 2, 2025 at 10:03 PM
David Hathaway and Lisa Upton just released an updated solar cycle prediction. In their words, it's "virtually unchanged since early 2022", an indicator that they're more or less getting it right with empirical prediction. Looks like we're *just* past maximum in the current cycle. ☀️🔭🧪🚀
PUNCH has tracked Comet 2025/SWAN continuously at 4 minute cadence since early Aug, and 3I/Atlas continuously since 21-Sep. With the U.S. govt. shut down, I've been asked not to publish PUNCH imagery of 3I/Atlas. Instead, here's a tracked image from just before it entered our FOV. ☀️🔭🛰️🚀
October 1, 2025 at 3:40 PM
PUNCH has tracked Comet 2025/SWAN continuously at 4 minute cadence since early Aug, and 3I/Atlas continuously since 21-Sep. With the U.S. govt. shut down, I've been asked not to publish PUNCH imagery of 3I/Atlas. Instead, here's a tracked image from just before it entered our FOV. ☀️🔭🛰️🚀