Reynier Squillace
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mountreynier.bsky.social
Reynier Squillace
@mountreynier.bsky.social
PhD student in Astronomy at the University of Virginia and science reporter for ExplorersWeb. May post sporadically about mountains, opera, and circus. Likes to write.
Reposted by Reynier Squillace
I know a few researchers follow me on here, so please check out the new research grant below which funds work with the Alpine Club collections 👇
Today we are incredibly proud to launch the Audrey Salkeld Bursary.

The ASB will provide financial support to researchers, writers & other creatives to pursue projects that make use of the AC's collections, just as Audrey did.

Applications are open now & will close on 30 Dec ➡️ tinyurl.com/5asmzmrt
December 1, 2025 at 2:03 PM
Reposted by Reynier Squillace
The story of the deadly avalanche.
29 People Died in One of the Worst Mountaineering Accidents in History. What Happened?
The story of the deadly avalanche in October 2022 on India’s Draupadi Ka Danda II
bit.ly
December 1, 2025 at 2:24 PM
Reposted by Reynier Squillace
"The Many Hidden Worlds of Quantum Mechanics," my lecture series for the Great Courses (24 half-hour lectures), is still available on Prime video for a few days! Tell your family that watching football on Thanksgiving is hopelessly uncool.

www.amazon.com/gp/video/det...
November 26, 2025 at 2:14 PM
I am so happy that Walrus from Space is getting some media attention. It's the only citizen scientist project I've ever participated in as a classifier, and it gave me a real sense that I could help at a time of David Attemborough-induced walrus trauma on my part...
November 28, 2025 at 5:57 AM
As quirky as the project title is, this is actually a super neat program! Walrus depend on beaches for their haul-outs, which allow them to rest and to breed. As sea ice retreats, they can only haul-out on land. Walrus from Space uses crowdsourced power to identify new haul-out locations!
November 28, 2025 at 5:54 AM
Reposted by Reynier Squillace
Marvelous new image of interstellar Comet 3I/ATLAS, taken by photographer Satoru Murata before dawn this morning.

On the right you can also see galaxy NGC 4691. There should be a lot more pictures coming in soon. 🧪🔭

www.facebook.com/groups/22700...
November 16, 2025 at 9:20 PM
Reposted by Reynier Squillace
Modern spectrograms are awesome but there is just something so cool about older ones like this.... Liu (1985) the signal from the May 18, 1980 eruption of Mt St Helens in China!
September 17, 2025 at 9:50 AM
So fortunate to embark into the wilds of Northumbria and photograph rarely-seen, exotic British wildlife.
August 2, 2025 at 6:58 AM
I've been walking the Hadrian's Wall Path this week and a few days ago I passed by the stump of the Sycamore Gap Tree. There are saplings sprouting up from the roots all around it in a race to become the next big tree.
August 2, 2025 at 6:52 AM
Reposted by Reynier Squillace
I was speechless when I saw this appear on my camera's LCD screen last night - this is only the second time I photographed #RedSprites.
June 26, 2024 at 4:38 PM
Reposted by Reynier Squillace
Highly recommend this new film produced in association with the @alpineclub.bsky.social 👌

Everest Revisited: 1924–2024, invites viewers to look beyond the headlines to consider what Everest has come to mean, both in the past and the present.

explorersweb.com/weekend-warm...
Weekend Warmup: Everest Revisited: 1924–2024 » Explorersweb
A new film, Everest Revisited: 1924–2024, looks beyond the headlines to consider what Everest has come to mean, both in the past and the present.
explorersweb.com
July 19, 2025 at 5:43 PM
Reposted by Reynier Squillace
Unsolved Physics Problems

xkcd.com/3115/
July 16, 2025 at 4:54 AM
Reposted by Reynier Squillace
After the horror stories of recent years regarding the treatment of porters and other high altitude workers in Pakistan, it was heartening to read about an 8,000m climber who's been willing to speak out on their behalf and put money into improving their material conditions.
Breaking Boundaries: Naila Kiani is Changing Mountaineering in Pakistan » Explorersweb
Naila Kiani is on her way to becoming the first Pakistani woman to complete the 14x8,000'ers, but her impact goes beyond summits.
explorersweb.com
July 15, 2025 at 1:03 PM
Reposted by Reynier Squillace
Rubin's thousands of newly-discovered asteroids....now in your web browser!

Introducing NSF–DOE Rubin Observatory's 3D Orbitviewer ☄️🪐

Follow along as Rubin discovers millions more asteroids in our Solar System in the coming years at orbitviewer.app 🔭🧪
July 10, 2025 at 9:58 PM
Reposted by Reynier Squillace
Happy National Cow Appreciation Day! 🐄

📍 Very Large Array (VLA), New Mexico
📸 Credit: Kurt Liestenfeltz, 2025 VLA Star Party
July 8, 2025 at 3:22 PM
Reposted by Reynier Squillace
Information Statement on Mt. Rainier from the U.S. Geological Survey Cascades Volcano Observatory.

Short version: A lot of earthquakes, but no current signs that it is leading to an eruption. See the official statement here for details: t.co/S28x4ijMkf
https://bit.ly/44BxJGu
t.co
July 8, 2025 at 4:50 PM
Reposted by Reynier Squillace
Today, *every* living prior leader of NASA's science directorate have released a joint letter condemning the proposed cuts to NASA science. These individuals every administration from Reagan to Biden, and all believe these cuts are insanely destructive: www.planetary.org/press-releas...
Every living NASA science chief unites in opposition to unprecedented…
The entire past leadership of NASA’s science activities have released a joint statement condemning the proposed 47% cuts proposed to the agency’s science…
www.planetary.org
July 7, 2025 at 9:11 PM
The GBT is unparalleled in a lot of obscure astronomy subfields like astrochemistry and pulsars! If you want to support the nerds even nerds think are niche, help save the GBT!!!
Hey #science and #astronomy cats! This will start happening all over, but if www.gogreenbankobservatory.org strikes your fancy this is a great opportunity to help the world know more with direct impact.

If you can call, call. But if you can and want to give, GIVE.
Go Green Bank Observatory – #KeepGreenBankFullyFunded
www.gogreenbankobservatory.org
July 6, 2025 at 5:50 PM
Green Bank Observatory, one of the most powerful telescopes in the world, is facing an apocalyptic budget cut request (-70%, and the NSF recommends shutting it down). Here's how you can help save this miracle of science and engineering: www.gogreenbankobservatory.org/take-action/
Take Action – Go Green Bank Observatory
www.gogreenbankobservatory.org
July 5, 2025 at 11:53 PM
Reposted by Reynier Squillace
Graphic showing theorized water in an outflow channel in Hypanis Valles, Mars. Rendered using @uahirise.bsky.social DTM data.

flic.kr/p/2jV6hHE
flic.kr/p/2jV6hjU
July 5, 2025 at 6:32 PM
Reposted by Reynier Squillace
This ridge leads down into Valles Marineris, the largest canyon in the Solar System.
Low Albedo Slopes along Coprates Chasma Ridge - From Kevin M. Gill (kevinmgill.bsky.social) - https://flic.kr/p/CApTiF
July 4, 2025 at 10:37 PM
Reposted by Reynier Squillace
Planetary exploration has produced so many treasures. Like this exquisite view of Phobos over the limb of Mars.

ESA/Mars Express.
🧪
May 9, 2025 at 1:11 PM
Reposted by Reynier Squillace
#MSH45 | Before and After
Mount St. Helens from the northwest, ten years apart.
In 1970, snow and timber.
By September 1980, crater and ash.
June 28, 2025 at 1:23 AM
Reposted by Reynier Squillace
A moment I still remember from undergad classes: in a discussion section for first quarter QM, another student complained that she was tired of the harmonic oscillator. The TA said, "I have some bad news," and then turned and wrote on the board:

Everything is a harmonic oscillator
Free, unsolicited advice for physics students: many things will go more smoothly for you if you can derive and explain the simple harmonic oscillator in your sleep
June 27, 2025 at 1:33 AM