Riding With Robots
@ridingrobots.bsky.social
Robotic solar system exploration, night sky photography, exasperating earnestness. My day job is impersonating some of your favorite planets and spacecraft on social media for one of your favorite government agencies. Opinions here are my own.
The Moon and Jupiter on Jan. 30
February 18, 2026 at 3:29 AM
The Moon and Jupiter on Jan. 30
Reposted by Riding With Robots
This is quite literally the closest that Curiosity could get to discovering life: proving that no *known* non-biological processes could produce what was found in a sample from about a year ago.
NASA Mars rover finds new clues pointing to past life on Mars
Scientists may be one step closer in their hunt for signs of past life on Mars after the Curiosity rover's latest find.
www.usatoday.com
February 18, 2026 at 1:55 AM
This is quite literally the closest that Curiosity could get to discovering life: proving that no *known* non-biological processes could produce what was found in a sample from about a year ago.
Reposted by Riding With Robots
We can't let large language models take the em dash from us — it's too important
February 18, 2026 at 1:52 AM
We can't let large language models take the em dash from us — it's too important
Reposted by Riding With Robots
Math problem. I have three apples and am traveling towards you at 17mph. It's not really a problem, more of a warning. Apple time, bitches.
November 22, 2024 at 5:09 AM
Math problem. I have three apples and am traveling towards you at 17mph. It's not really a problem, more of a warning. Apple time, bitches.
Reposted by Riding With Robots
HiPOD: Complicated Layers at the North Pole of Mars
At the North Pole of Mars there’s an ice sheet with hundreds (maybe thousands) of layers, and we can see some of these layers in windows where the ice cap has been eroded.
More: https://uahirise.org/hipod/ESP_089277_2595
#Mars #science #NASA
At the North Pole of Mars there’s an ice sheet with hundreds (maybe thousands) of layers, and we can see some of these layers in windows where the ice cap has been eroded.
More: https://uahirise.org/hipod/ESP_089277_2595
#Mars #science #NASA
February 17, 2026 at 3:01 PM
HiPOD: Complicated Layers at the North Pole of Mars
At the North Pole of Mars there’s an ice sheet with hundreds (maybe thousands) of layers, and we can see some of these layers in windows where the ice cap has been eroded.
More: https://uahirise.org/hipod/ESP_089277_2595
#Mars #science #NASA
At the North Pole of Mars there’s an ice sheet with hundreds (maybe thousands) of layers, and we can see some of these layers in windows where the ice cap has been eroded.
More: https://uahirise.org/hipod/ESP_089277_2595
#Mars #science #NASA
Is this not just the perfect analogy for the entire Trump era? A decade-plus lost to solving "problems" such as vaccines, immigrants, science, and empathy while creating or enflaming real ones...
The AI bubble RAM crisis is caused for non-existent problems by non-existent money for a non-existent infrastructure to meet non-existent demand to make non-existent business and will utterly destroy real business based on real demand and real infrastructure built with real money for real problems.
I understand framing the AI bubble RAM supply crisis in terms of stuff like video game consoles because nerds can conceptualize that but the framing does really undersell the sheer magnitude of how it's going to fuck up everything that even touches a computer.
February 18, 2026 at 12:47 AM
Is this not just the perfect analogy for the entire Trump era? A decade-plus lost to solving "problems" such as vaccines, immigrants, science, and empathy while creating or enflaming real ones...
Reposted by Riding With Robots
Shut down the concentration camp for babies
We are all deeply concerned that Juan and his mom will be deported and that Juan’s health will continue to deteriorate. His life is in danger because of ICE’s monstrous cruelty. I will continue to provide updates and we will keep fighting to protect them.
February 17, 2026 at 9:46 PM
Shut down the concentration camp for babies
Reposted by Riding With Robots
Everyone who worked at this camp should go to prison.
“I don’t want to be in this place I want to go to my school.”
- 7 year old imprisoned by ICE for 70 days in a concentration camp in Texas.
Today, after @propublica.org published this story, the camp was raided to confiscate letters from the children.
www.propublica.org/article/ice-...
- 7 year old imprisoned by ICE for 70 days in a concentration camp in Texas.
Today, after @propublica.org published this story, the camp was raided to confiscate letters from the children.
www.propublica.org/article/ice-...
February 17, 2026 at 7:40 PM
Everyone who worked at this camp should go to prison.
Reposted by Riding With Robots
another creature edit before commission work time, blue spotted poison dart frogs at the Como Zoo 🐸
#photography
#photography
February 16, 2026 at 10:26 PM
another creature edit before commission work time, blue spotted poison dart frogs at the Como Zoo 🐸
#photography
#photography
Reposted by Riding With Robots
Jupiter bonanza scheduled for JWST starting this Friday 🔭 - woo hoo! The teams are calling on amateur astronomers to assist with context imaging of the Solar System's largest planet.
Starting this Friday, four separate #JWST programmes will be exploring physical processes in Jupiter's atmosphere and ionosphere. We're asking amateur astronomers to help provide context imaging over the next few weeks to understand how the atmosphere is changing with time. #planetaryscience
February 17, 2026 at 6:19 PM
Jupiter bonanza scheduled for JWST starting this Friday 🔭 - woo hoo! The teams are calling on amateur astronomers to assist with context imaging of the Solar System's largest planet.
Reposted by Riding With Robots
Starting this Friday, four separate #JWST programmes will be exploring physical processes in Jupiter's atmosphere and ionosphere. We're asking amateur astronomers to help provide context imaging over the next few weeks to understand how the atmosphere is changing with time. #planetaryscience
February 17, 2026 at 6:12 PM
Starting this Friday, four separate #JWST programmes will be exploring physical processes in Jupiter's atmosphere and ionosphere. We're asking amateur astronomers to help provide context imaging over the next few weeks to understand how the atmosphere is changing with time. #planetaryscience
Trying to reduce the number of negative posts, but I have to point out that the administration is trying to circumvent Congress and not fund NASA’s two planned Venus missions, its first in decades.
Venus has lava tubes! That's so cool!
Or hot. Venus is a sucky place to live, but is super amazing for science.
badastronomy.beehiiv.com/p/venus-has-...
🔭 🧪
Or hot. Venus is a sucky place to live, but is super amazing for science.
badastronomy.beehiiv.com/p/venus-has-...
🔭 🧪
Venus has lava tubes!
A long undersurface tunnel discovered in old NASA data
badastronomy.beehiiv.com
February 17, 2026 at 4:53 PM
Trying to reduce the number of negative posts, but I have to point out that the administration is trying to circumvent Congress and not fund NASA’s two planned Venus missions, its first in decades.
Reposted by Riding With Robots
A bit of #Jupiter (NASA / JPL-Caltech / SwRI / MSSS / @emmywalimaki.bsky.social)
February 17, 2026 at 4:00 PM
A bit of #Jupiter (NASA / JPL-Caltech / SwRI / MSSS / @emmywalimaki.bsky.social)
Reposted by Riding With Robots
The contempt these people have for the country, those who serve it, and the people who live here oozes out of every news story like toxic sludge. They are all completely irredeemable.
How is it possible that Kristi Noem still has this job. Imagine if you’re a family member or a shipmate of this guardsman.
www.nbcnews.com/politics/imm...
www.nbcnews.com/politics/imm...
February 17, 2026 at 3:57 PM
The contempt these people have for the country, those who serve it, and the people who live here oozes out of every news story like toxic sludge. They are all completely irredeemable.
The water planet
12:03:42 AM on Thursday, February 12, 2026, over the South Pacific Ocean.
February 17, 2026 at 3:47 PM
The water planet
Reposted by Riding With Robots
A Butterfly's View of Saturn - From Judy Schmidt (geckzilla.bsky.social) - https://flic.kr/p/25dHcTT
February 17, 2026 at 1:00 PM
A Butterfly's View of Saturn - From Judy Schmidt (geckzilla.bsky.social) - https://flic.kr/p/25dHcTT
Reposted by Riding With Robots
This is the interview Donald Trump didn’t want you to see.
His FCC refused to air my interview with Stephen Colbert.
Trump is worried we’re about to flip Texas.
His FCC refused to air my interview with Stephen Colbert.
Trump is worried we’re about to flip Texas.
February 17, 2026 at 7:27 AM
This is the interview Donald Trump didn’t want you to see.
His FCC refused to air my interview with Stephen Colbert.
Trump is worried we’re about to flip Texas.
His FCC refused to air my interview with Stephen Colbert.
Trump is worried we’re about to flip Texas.
Reposted by Riding With Robots
Day 1328 of #IansDailyPhotoChallenge and even the ladybugs are now having meetings, asking how long it is until spring 🤗🐞🐞🐞❤️ #inspiringnature #wildlife #naturephotography #MentalHealthMatters
#365DaysWild
#365DaysWild
February 17, 2026 at 11:28 AM
Day 1328 of #IansDailyPhotoChallenge and even the ladybugs are now having meetings, asking how long it is until spring 🤗🐞🐞🐞❤️ #inspiringnature #wildlife #naturephotography #MentalHealthMatters
#365DaysWild
#365DaysWild
Reposted by Riding With Robots
I don’t know who needs to hear Jesse Jackson leading the kids on Sesame Street in this beautiful call-and-response reminding them that every child is somebody, but here it is
February 17, 2026 at 11:41 AM
I don’t know who needs to hear Jesse Jackson leading the kids on Sesame Street in this beautiful call-and-response reminding them that every child is somebody, but here it is
Reposted by Riding With Robots
Someone captured my colleagues an I servicing the cameras during Kīlauea’s episode 42. We stopped to discuss what we were seeing, but because I talk with my hands it looks like I’m fixing to push someone in…
Credit: Volcano Hideaways
Credit: Volcano Hideaways
February 16, 2026 at 10:49 PM
Someone captured my colleagues an I servicing the cameras during Kīlauea’s episode 42. We stopped to discuss what we were seeing, but because I talk with my hands it looks like I’m fixing to push someone in…
Credit: Volcano Hideaways
Credit: Volcano Hideaways
Reposted by Riding With Robots
The good news is the astronauts have arrived safely, the bad news is that no one on Earth has any record of sending them and when the other astronauts on the station try to talk to them or read the patches on their oddly-designed suits, they're striken with visions of the unending void.
Four new astronauts arrive at the International Space Station to replace NASA’s evacuated crew
The International Space Station returned to full strength with Saturday’s arrival of four new astronauts to replace colleagues who bailed early because of health concerns.
www.ctvnews.ca
February 17, 2026 at 2:13 AM
The good news is the astronauts have arrived safely, the bad news is that no one on Earth has any record of sending them and when the other astronauts on the station try to talk to them or read the patches on their oddly-designed suits, they're striken with visions of the unending void.
Just watched it again a couple of weeks ago. Same chills. 1942 -- that's the key fact. 1942!
I've not been able to get this scene from "Casablanca" out of my mind since someone else posted it here over the weekend. This movie was made in 1942. No one knew then how the war would end. I feel their desperate defiance in my soul.
youtu.be/6P6kVocz_Uc?...
youtu.be/6P6kVocz_Uc?...
CASABLANCA (1942) La Marseillaise | Epic Rendition of French National Anthem | Morocco in Film (HD)
YouTube video by Morocco Insider
youtu.be
February 17, 2026 at 2:07 AM
Just watched it again a couple of weeks ago. Same chills. 1942 -- that's the key fact. 1942!
Reposted by Riding With Robots
The Pentagon just failed its 8th consecutive audit and still got approved for a $1 TRILLION budget without blinking so I'm gonna need every corrupt hypocritical politician complaining about made up food stamp fraud and forcing drug tests and work requirements on poor people to shut up forever. Thx.
February 17, 2026 at 1:40 AM
The Pentagon just failed its 8th consecutive audit and still got approved for a $1 TRILLION budget without blinking so I'm gonna need every corrupt hypocritical politician complaining about made up food stamp fraud and forcing drug tests and work requirements on poor people to shut up forever. Thx.
I honestly don't know if it's right, but I do sometimes engage with the flat-earthers, etc. based on this theory.
agree with this (hah) but also think a particular mistake the left made for a long time online, and still makes to an extent, is failing to understand that the person whose mind you may actually change is the one reading the argument you're having, not the one you're arguing with
The secret to engaging in social media debate is knowing you will never win anyone over. The best you can hope for is to have people who already agree with tell you you're awesome. You might great a dopamine thrill from the righteousness of your anger! Fine benefits, all. But you will never win.
February 17, 2026 at 2:00 AM
I honestly don't know if it's right, but I do sometimes engage with the flat-earthers, etc. based on this theory.
Good call-out. What's implicit should be more explicit sometimes. Even in the face of evil so overwhelming that it seems to go without saying. I'm glad these crimes are beginning to be uncovered, and astonished at the way so many are willing to continue to support those who committed them.
Is it too much to ask that each and every man publicly denounce the actions of Epstein et al? Or is that truly too much to ask to have men say out loud they are against violence against women and children? Seriously—why is everyone silent?
February 17, 2026 at 1:55 AM
Good call-out. What's implicit should be more explicit sometimes. Even in the face of evil so overwhelming that it seems to go without saying. I'm glad these crimes are beginning to be uncovered, and astonished at the way so many are willing to continue to support those who committed them.