Mike Brown
@plutokiller.com
Astronomer, planet hunter, Pluto killer, bear whisperer, finger-wrapped dad. Dangerous secularist. Foot soldier in the War on Cars. He/him.
mikebrown.caltech.edu
mikebrown.caltech.edu
Reposted by Mike Brown
📣 TONIGHT! @thewaroncars.bsky.social is coming to LA! I'm joining them onstage for a live show with @streetsforall.org to promote their new book.
🌧️ WE MUST SHOW THESE NEW YORKERS THAT A LITTLE RAIN DOES NOT SCARE LA AWAY!
🎟️ Tickets are available here: www.dynastytypewriter.com/calendar-squ...
🌧️ WE MUST SHOW THESE NEW YORKERS THAT A LITTLE RAIN DOES NOT SCARE LA AWAY!
🎟️ Tickets are available here: www.dynastytypewriter.com/calendar-squ...
November 17, 2025 at 6:40 PM
📣 TONIGHT! @thewaroncars.bsky.social is coming to LA! I'm joining them onstage for a live show with @streetsforall.org to promote their new book.
🌧️ WE MUST SHOW THESE NEW YORKERS THAT A LITTLE RAIN DOES NOT SCARE LA AWAY!
🎟️ Tickets are available here: www.dynastytypewriter.com/calendar-squ...
🌧️ WE MUST SHOW THESE NEW YORKERS THAT A LITTLE RAIN DOES NOT SCARE LA AWAY!
🎟️ Tickets are available here: www.dynastytypewriter.com/calendar-squ...
@brenttoderian.bsky.social if the Dodgers lose does LA have to become part of Canada (also if the Dodgers win can we also become part of Canada? Please?)
November 1, 2025 at 12:14 AM
@brenttoderian.bsky.social if the Dodgers lose does LA have to become part of Canada (also if the Dodgers win can we also become part of Canada? Please?)
Reposted by Mike Brown
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]
Reposted by Mike Brown
Great numbers in California for Prop 50. Dems are turning OUT and people are fired up. Let’s go LA & OC, YES on 50.
October 29, 2025 at 1:19 AM
Great numbers in California for Prop 50. Dems are turning OUT and people are fired up. Let’s go LA & OC, YES on 50.
I don't watch much baseball but I watched a game last night. Are they usually like that?
October 28, 2025 at 3:12 PM
I don't watch much baseball but I watched a game last night. Are they usually like that?
Paaaaaaaaatch?
Bear Breaks Into California Zoo to Mingle With Other Bears
Bear Breaks Into California Zoo to Mingle With Other Bears
Bear Breaks Into California Zoo to Mingle With Other Bears
www.nytimes.com
October 21, 2025 at 11:49 PM
Paaaaaaaaatch?
Bear Breaks Into California Zoo to Mingle With Other Bears
Bear Breaks Into California Zoo to Mingle With Other Bears
Good news? Bad news? After opening up the toeboard there is no snake, but there is a hole.The snake found a crack in to walls of the house and is gone. Um. Where? Not quite sure what the next move here is. Wait until it gets bigger and can’t fit through cracks? Thoughts?
October 21, 2025 at 12:37 AM
Good news? Bad news? After opening up the toeboard there is no snake, but there is a hole.The snake found a crack in to walls of the house and is gone. Um. Where? Not quite sure what the next move here is. Wait until it gets bigger and can’t fit through cracks? Thoughts?
Home from work, baby rattlesnake still has not appeared on the camera I left in the bathroom. It’s either been holed up under the counter for 3 days or there is a different hole it escaped out of. Only way to find out it to remove the toeboard under the counter and have a look. Stay tuned.
Day three of baby-rattlesnake-hiding-in-the-bathroom: no snake. He is still holed up behind the toe board under the counter and was not enticed by the heating pad I left out. Or there is another hole behind the counter I don't know about? Sounding like I am going to have to remove that toe board.
Day two of the baby rattlesnake holed up in our bathroom standoff continues. We sealed the bathroom door overnight and hoped the snake would come out from the little enclosed spot it found under the counter. No luck. It has to come out some time, right? I mean, I know it's dark and cozy, but come on
October 21, 2025 at 12:16 AM
Home from work, baby rattlesnake still has not appeared on the camera I left in the bathroom. It’s either been holed up under the counter for 3 days or there is a different hole it escaped out of. Only way to find out it to remove the toeboard under the counter and have a look. Stay tuned.
Day three of baby-rattlesnake-hiding-in-the-bathroom: no snake. He is still holed up behind the toe board under the counter and was not enticed by the heating pad I left out. Or there is another hole behind the counter I don't know about? Sounding like I am going to have to remove that toe board.
Day two of the baby rattlesnake holed up in our bathroom standoff continues. We sealed the bathroom door overnight and hoped the snake would come out from the little enclosed spot it found under the counter. No luck. It has to come out some time, right? I mean, I know it's dark and cozy, but come on
October 20, 2025 at 2:00 PM
Day three of baby-rattlesnake-hiding-in-the-bathroom: no snake. He is still holed up behind the toe board under the counter and was not enticed by the heating pad I left out. Or there is another hole behind the counter I don't know about? Sounding like I am going to have to remove that toe board.
I have set up a box with a heating pad next to the hole where the baby rattler is hiding. I also borrowed the bear camera from the pool and now have it pointing at the box so I can see if the snake ever wanders in. Come to the nice warm pad, little snake friend...
Day two of the baby rattlesnake holed up in our bathroom standoff continues. We sealed the bathroom door overnight and hoped the snake would come out from the little enclosed spot it found under the counter. No luck. It has to come out some time, right? I mean, I know it's dark and cozy, but come on
October 19, 2025 at 9:10 PM
I have set up a box with a heating pad next to the hole where the baby rattler is hiding. I also borrowed the bear camera from the pool and now have it pointing at the box so I can see if the snake ever wanders in. Come to the nice warm pad, little snake friend...
Day two of the baby rattlesnake holed up in our bathroom standoff continues. We sealed the bathroom door overnight and hoped the snake would come out from the little enclosed spot it found under the counter. No luck. It has to come out some time, right? I mean, I know it's dark and cozy, but come on
October 19, 2025 at 4:56 PM
Day two of the baby rattlesnake holed up in our bathroom standoff continues. We sealed the bathroom door overnight and hoped the snake would come out from the little enclosed spot it found under the counter. No luck. It has to come out some time, right? I mean, I know it's dark and cozy, but come on
Weirdly this is the second time I’ve had a rattlesnake in my house.. The first time (different house!), I tried hard to usher him out and failed. I ended up having to decapitate him. And then, feeling horrible, I ate him. With Dijon sauce. Tastes like chicken. Really.Hoping to not fail this time.
Current issue: there is a baby rattlesnake hiding in my house. An hour ago I walked down the hall to see why a cat was making a fuss and it was perched over the snake. I went and grabbed a stick and guided the snake into the bathroom (nowhere to hide! [wrong]) and locked the cat away. Got a bucket..
October 19, 2025 at 3:24 AM
Weirdly this is the second time I’ve had a rattlesnake in my house.. The first time (different house!), I tried hard to usher him out and failed. I ended up having to decapitate him. And then, feeling horrible, I ate him. With Dijon sauce. Tastes like chicken. Really.Hoping to not fail this time.
Current issue: there is a baby rattlesnake hiding in my house. An hour ago I walked down the hall to see why a cat was making a fuss and it was perched over the snake. I went and grabbed a stick and guided the snake into the bathroom (nowhere to hide! [wrong]) and locked the cat away. Got a bucket..
October 19, 2025 at 12:37 AM
Current issue: there is a baby rattlesnake hiding in my house. An hour ago I walked down the hall to see why a cat was making a fuss and it was perched over the snake. I went and grabbed a stick and guided the snake into the bathroom (nowhere to hide! [wrong]) and locked the cat away. Got a bucket..
Reposted by Mike Brown
[Exit pursued by a bear.]
October 18, 2025 at 7:05 PM
[Exit pursued by a bear.]
Reposted by Mike Brown
Grew up with Schoolhouse Rock and maybe it should be revived again. No more kings.... www.youtube.com/watch?v=3R1t...
No More Kings - Schoolhouse Rock Boston Tea Party
YouTube video by Schoolhouse Rock
www.youtube.com
October 17, 2025 at 6:57 PM
Grew up with Schoolhouse Rock and maybe it should be revived again. No more kings.... www.youtube.com/watch?v=3R1t...
Reposted by Mike Brown
BEARS
Gads my feed is all Trump this morning
How about something a to give you a break even if just for a few minutes.
How about something a to give you a break even if just for a few minutes.
October 17, 2025 at 1:51 AM
BEARS
Up pre-sunrise to get some early work done and there is a rustling in the tangerine tree outside my window. Usually that means a big deer eating my not-yet-ripe tangerines, the jerk. I turn on my feeble phone flashlight and look out and IT'S PATCH! Eat up, big bear friend! We missed you.
October 13, 2025 at 12:59 PM
Up pre-sunrise to get some early work done and there is a rustling in the tangerine tree outside my window. Usually that means a big deer eating my not-yet-ripe tangerines, the jerk. I turn on my feeble phone flashlight and look out and IT'S PATCH! Eat up, big bear friend! We missed you.
Hey planetary science PhD graduaters: I know thinking about applying to postdocs this year seems daunting, so I am here to remind you that we have some REALLY GOOD prize fellowship at Caltech. Come work with me. Or Katherine. Or Heather. Or Konstantin. Or someone. Seriously. These are good. 🔭🪐
Postdoctoral Positions
From the Caltech Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences
www.gps.caltech.edu
September 29, 2025 at 9:17 PM
Hey planetary science PhD graduaters: I know thinking about applying to postdocs this year seems daunting, so I am here to remind you that we have some REALLY GOOD prize fellowship at Caltech. Come work with me. Or Katherine. Or Heather. Or Konstantin. Or someone. Seriously. These are good. 🔭🪐
There is a lot of discussion about Patch on the extended neighborhood chat group. And, apparently, in other parts of the neighborhood he is known as "Handsome Dan." I dunno, man, seems like a Patch to me. But glad to know that the whole neighborhood is concerned for him and keeping an eye out.
A little scary news. Patch is back but completely avoid stepping on his back right paw. I hope his injury is temporary. But we felt bad for him so didn’t even chase him out of the pool for chewing on hoses. Man, he loves to chew on those hoses. Sorry hoses. Get better big buddy.
September 15, 2025 at 2:24 PM
There is a lot of discussion about Patch on the extended neighborhood chat group. And, apparently, in other parts of the neighborhood he is known as "Handsome Dan." I dunno, man, seems like a Patch to me. But glad to know that the whole neighborhood is concerned for him and keeping an eye out.
A little scary news. Patch is back but completely avoid stepping on his back right paw. I hope his injury is temporary. But we felt bad for him so didn’t even chase him out of the pool for chewing on hoses. Man, he loves to chew on those hoses. Sorry hoses. Get better big buddy.
September 12, 2025 at 12:54 PM
A little scary news. Patch is back but completely avoid stepping on his back right paw. I hope his injury is temporary. But we felt bad for him so didn’t even chase him out of the pool for chewing on hoses. Man, he loves to chew on those hoses. Sorry hoses. Get better big buddy.
Currently in Helsinki and I am a traffic problem. I can’t get used to the idea that every single car will stop for a pedestrian so I stand there at a crosswalk while the (few) cars wonder why I am not yet crossing and I glance around nervously — now? It’s ok? Are we sure? (Sig alert Helsinki style)
September 10, 2025 at 3:59 PM
Currently in Helsinki and I am a traffic problem. I can’t get used to the idea that every single car will stop for a pedestrian so I stand there at a crosswalk while the (few) cars wonder why I am not yet crossing and I glance around nervously — now? It’s ok? Are we sure? (Sig alert Helsinki style)
Currently in Berlin remembering what a place where fascism was defeated feels like
September 1, 2025 at 4:09 PM
Currently in Berlin remembering what a place where fascism was defeated feels like
Hey if you're in LA tomorrow evening and looking to escape (some of) the heat, come on up to Mt. Wilson and listen to me tell stories about the search for Planet Nine then stay late and look through the telescopes to do a little searching yourself.
www.mtwilson.edu/events/talk0...
www.mtwilson.edu/events/talk0...
Mount Wilson Observatory | Talks & Telescopes: Dr. Mike Brown
www.mtwilson.edu
August 8, 2025 at 6:56 PM
Hey if you're in LA tomorrow evening and looking to escape (some of) the heat, come on up to Mt. Wilson and listen to me tell stories about the search for Planet Nine then stay late and look through the telescopes to do a little searching yourself.
www.mtwilson.edu/events/talk0...
www.mtwilson.edu/events/talk0...
My father died a couple of months after his 60 birthday. This was 26 years ago. I’ve thought about today’s date, August 5th, 2025, for these past 26 years. Today, I am the same number of days old he was on the day he died. Every day I live past today is a day he didn’t have. (1/5)
August 5, 2025 at 9:18 PM
My father died a couple of months after his 60 birthday. This was 26 years ago. I’ve thought about today’s date, August 5th, 2025, for these past 26 years. Today, I am the same number of days old he was on the day he died. Every day I live past today is a day he didn’t have. (1/5)
Patch is here. He is forgetting about his worries and his strife (yeah man)
August 5, 2025 at 8:50 PM
Patch is here. He is forgetting about his worries and his strife (yeah man)