Paul Byrne
@theplanetaryguy.bsky.social
Associate Professor of Earth, Environmental, and Planetary Science at Washington University in St. Louis • Planetary Data System Geosciences Node Director • Planetary Bastard • he/him/Sir
Pinned
Paul Byrne
@theplanetaryguy.bsky.social
· Nov 24
Open this photo up and look for the small, white dot just left of centre.
It looks like Venus, shining brightly in the twilight sky.
But it's us.
It's Earth.
From Mars.
It looks like Venus, shining brightly in the twilight sky.
But it's us.
It's Earth.
From Mars.
Reposted by Paul Byrne
Hey.
Wanna see what it looks like to fly past your home planet?
THEN LOOK AT THIS
This is the OSIRIS-APEX spacecraft's view as it swung by Earth on Tuesday, 23 September 2025 from an altitude of 3,500 km.
Look how beautiful that big blue marble is ❤️
Wanna see what it looks like to fly past your home planet?
THEN LOOK AT THIS
This is the OSIRIS-APEX spacecraft's view as it swung by Earth on Tuesday, 23 September 2025 from an altitude of 3,500 km.
Look how beautiful that big blue marble is ❤️
November 25, 2025 at 9:06 PM
Hey.
Wanna see what it looks like to fly past your home planet?
THEN LOOK AT THIS
This is the OSIRIS-APEX spacecraft's view as it swung by Earth on Tuesday, 23 September 2025 from an altitude of 3,500 km.
Look how beautiful that big blue marble is ❤️
Wanna see what it looks like to fly past your home planet?
THEN LOOK AT THIS
This is the OSIRIS-APEX spacecraft's view as it swung by Earth on Tuesday, 23 September 2025 from an altitude of 3,500 km.
Look how beautiful that big blue marble is ❤️
This is how you do it.
BREAKING Jair Bolsonaro, convicted of attempting a military coup and the violent abolition of the democratic rule of law, is ordered today to begin his 27-year sentence
www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/1...
www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/1...
Bolsonaro out of appeals; will start 27-year sentence for coup attempt
The former Brazilian president will begin his sentence in a specially prepared cell at federal police headquarters in Brasília.
www.washingtonpost.com
November 26, 2025 at 2:18 AM
This is how you do it.
Hey.
Wanna see what it looks like to fly past your home planet?
THEN LOOK AT THIS
This is the OSIRIS-APEX spacecraft's view as it swung by Earth on Tuesday, 23 September 2025 from an altitude of 3,500 km.
Look how beautiful that big blue marble is ❤️
Wanna see what it looks like to fly past your home planet?
THEN LOOK AT THIS
This is the OSIRIS-APEX spacecraft's view as it swung by Earth on Tuesday, 23 September 2025 from an altitude of 3,500 km.
Look how beautiful that big blue marble is ❤️
November 25, 2025 at 9:06 PM
Hey.
Wanna see what it looks like to fly past your home planet?
THEN LOOK AT THIS
This is the OSIRIS-APEX spacecraft's view as it swung by Earth on Tuesday, 23 September 2025 from an altitude of 3,500 km.
Look how beautiful that big blue marble is ❤️
Wanna see what it looks like to fly past your home planet?
THEN LOOK AT THIS
This is the OSIRIS-APEX spacecraft's view as it swung by Earth on Tuesday, 23 September 2025 from an altitude of 3,500 km.
Look how beautiful that big blue marble is ❤️
Reposted by Paul Byrne
Now this is cool.
These are among the first images from the newly launched NASA ESCAPADE* mission—showing the port solar array from the Gold twin spacecraft in both visible light and infrared.
*Escape and Plasma Acceleration and Dynamics Explorers
(1/2)
These are among the first images from the newly launched NASA ESCAPADE* mission—showing the port solar array from the Gold twin spacecraft in both visible light and infrared.
*Escape and Plasma Acceleration and Dynamics Explorers
(1/2)
November 25, 2025 at 2:59 AM
Now this is cool.
These are among the first images from the newly launched NASA ESCAPADE* mission—showing the port solar array from the Gold twin spacecraft in both visible light and infrared.
*Escape and Plasma Acceleration and Dynamics Explorers
(1/2)
These are among the first images from the newly launched NASA ESCAPADE* mission—showing the port solar array from the Gold twin spacecraft in both visible light and infrared.
*Escape and Plasma Acceleration and Dynamics Explorers
(1/2)
Reposted by Paul Byrne
This is an incredible image of comet 3I/ATLAS, taken by Satoru Murata ICQ Comet Observations group on 16 November 2025 from western New Mexico.
Structure within the major dust tail from the comet is clearly visible, together with two smaller jets trailing the nucleus and maybe even an anti-tail.
Structure within the major dust tail from the comet is clearly visible, together with two smaller jets trailing the nucleus and maybe even an anti-tail.
November 24, 2025 at 11:50 PM
This is an incredible image of comet 3I/ATLAS, taken by Satoru Murata ICQ Comet Observations group on 16 November 2025 from western New Mexico.
Structure within the major dust tail from the comet is clearly visible, together with two smaller jets trailing the nucleus and maybe even an anti-tail.
Structure within the major dust tail from the comet is clearly visible, together with two smaller jets trailing the nucleus and maybe even an anti-tail.
Now this is cool.
These are among the first images from the newly launched NASA ESCAPADE* mission—showing the port solar array from the Gold twin spacecraft in both visible light and infrared.
*Escape and Plasma Acceleration and Dynamics Explorers
(1/2)
These are among the first images from the newly launched NASA ESCAPADE* mission—showing the port solar array from the Gold twin spacecraft in both visible light and infrared.
*Escape and Plasma Acceleration and Dynamics Explorers
(1/2)
November 25, 2025 at 2:59 AM
Now this is cool.
These are among the first images from the newly launched NASA ESCAPADE* mission—showing the port solar array from the Gold twin spacecraft in both visible light and infrared.
*Escape and Plasma Acceleration and Dynamics Explorers
(1/2)
These are among the first images from the newly launched NASA ESCAPADE* mission—showing the port solar array from the Gold twin spacecraft in both visible light and infrared.
*Escape and Plasma Acceleration and Dynamics Explorers
(1/2)
This is an incredible image of comet 3I/ATLAS, taken by Satoru Murata ICQ Comet Observations group on 16 November 2025 from western New Mexico.
Structure within the major dust tail from the comet is clearly visible, together with two smaller jets trailing the nucleus and maybe even an anti-tail.
Structure within the major dust tail from the comet is clearly visible, together with two smaller jets trailing the nucleus and maybe even an anti-tail.
November 24, 2025 at 11:50 PM
This is an incredible image of comet 3I/ATLAS, taken by Satoru Murata ICQ Comet Observations group on 16 November 2025 from western New Mexico.
Structure within the major dust tail from the comet is clearly visible, together with two smaller jets trailing the nucleus and maybe even an anti-tail.
Structure within the major dust tail from the comet is clearly visible, together with two smaller jets trailing the nucleus and maybe even an anti-tail.
Reposted by Paul Byrne
November 24, 2025 at 2:30 AM
Reposted by Paul Byrne
Titan.
Saturn's giant icy moon, almost ten time farther from the Sun than Earth, and the only outer Solar System body where liquid is stable on the surface.
That liquid? Methane/ethane, because the temperature there is ‒180°C, seen here glinting in the Sun in this Cassini image.
Saturn's giant icy moon, almost ten time farther from the Sun than Earth, and the only outer Solar System body where liquid is stable on the surface.
That liquid? Methane/ethane, because the temperature there is ‒180°C, seen here glinting in the Sun in this Cassini image.
November 24, 2025 at 1:03 AM
Titan.
Saturn's giant icy moon, almost ten time farther from the Sun than Earth, and the only outer Solar System body where liquid is stable on the surface.
That liquid? Methane/ethane, because the temperature there is ‒180°C, seen here glinting in the Sun in this Cassini image.
Saturn's giant icy moon, almost ten time farther from the Sun than Earth, and the only outer Solar System body where liquid is stable on the surface.
That liquid? Methane/ethane, because the temperature there is ‒180°C, seen here glinting in the Sun in this Cassini image.
November 24, 2025 at 2:30 AM
Reposted by Paul Byrne
Mars, last Wednesday.
November 23, 2025 at 8:08 PM
Mars, last Wednesday.
Titan.
Saturn's giant icy moon, almost ten time farther from the Sun than Earth, and the only outer Solar System body where liquid is stable on the surface.
That liquid? Methane/ethane, because the temperature there is ‒180°C, seen here glinting in the Sun in this Cassini image.
Saturn's giant icy moon, almost ten time farther from the Sun than Earth, and the only outer Solar System body where liquid is stable on the surface.
That liquid? Methane/ethane, because the temperature there is ‒180°C, seen here glinting in the Sun in this Cassini image.
November 24, 2025 at 1:03 AM
Titan.
Saturn's giant icy moon, almost ten time farther from the Sun than Earth, and the only outer Solar System body where liquid is stable on the surface.
That liquid? Methane/ethane, because the temperature there is ‒180°C, seen here glinting in the Sun in this Cassini image.
Saturn's giant icy moon, almost ten time farther from the Sun than Earth, and the only outer Solar System body where liquid is stable on the surface.
That liquid? Methane/ethane, because the temperature there is ‒180°C, seen here glinting in the Sun in this Cassini image.
Mars, last Wednesday.
November 23, 2025 at 8:08 PM
Mars, last Wednesday.
You better lose yourself in the music
The moment, you own it, you better never let it go (go)
You only get one shot, do not miss your chance to blow
This opportunity comes once in a lifetime, yo
You better lose yourself in the music
The moment, you own it, you better never let it go (go)
You only—
The moment, you own it, you better never let it go (go)
You only get one shot, do not miss your chance to blow
This opportunity comes once in a lifetime, yo
You better lose yourself in the music
The moment, you own it, you better never let it go (go)
You only—
Brandy you're a fine girl
What a good wife you would be
But my life my love and my lady
Is the See
What a good wife you would be
But my life my love and my lady
Is the See
November 23, 2025 at 4:20 AM
You better lose yourself in the music
The moment, you own it, you better never let it go (go)
You only get one shot, do not miss your chance to blow
This opportunity comes once in a lifetime, yo
You better lose yourself in the music
The moment, you own it, you better never let it go (go)
You only—
The moment, you own it, you better never let it go (go)
You only get one shot, do not miss your chance to blow
This opportunity comes once in a lifetime, yo
You better lose yourself in the music
The moment, you own it, you better never let it go (go)
You only—
Most of us have no business in space tbf
Said the phrase 'I'm over the moon!' to a Polish man and he was a little confused and asked what I meant so I explained and when I finished he just shook his head and said 'You're happy but you have no business in space.'
November 22, 2025 at 7:13 PM
Most of us have no business in space tbf
Reposted by Paul Byrne
I find this image remarkable.
It's of the nucleus of comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko, photographed by the ESA Rosetta spacecraft.
That bright white plume is a jet of dust and water ice blasting from the nucleus—helping form the comet's long, dusty tail as it approaches the Sun.
It's of the nucleus of comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko, photographed by the ESA Rosetta spacecraft.
That bright white plume is a jet of dust and water ice blasting from the nucleus—helping form the comet's long, dusty tail as it approaches the Sun.
November 22, 2025 at 1:51 AM
I find this image remarkable.
It's of the nucleus of comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko, photographed by the ESA Rosetta spacecraft.
That bright white plume is a jet of dust and water ice blasting from the nucleus—helping form the comet's long, dusty tail as it approaches the Sun.
It's of the nucleus of comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko, photographed by the ESA Rosetta spacecraft.
That bright white plume is a jet of dust and water ice blasting from the nucleus—helping form the comet's long, dusty tail as it approaches the Sun.
I find this image remarkable.
It's of the nucleus of comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko, photographed by the ESA Rosetta spacecraft.
That bright white plume is a jet of dust and water ice blasting from the nucleus—helping form the comet's long, dusty tail as it approaches the Sun.
It's of the nucleus of comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko, photographed by the ESA Rosetta spacecraft.
That bright white plume is a jet of dust and water ice blasting from the nucleus—helping form the comet's long, dusty tail as it approaches the Sun.
November 22, 2025 at 1:51 AM
I find this image remarkable.
It's of the nucleus of comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko, photographed by the ESA Rosetta spacecraft.
That bright white plume is a jet of dust and water ice blasting from the nucleus—helping form the comet's long, dusty tail as it approaches the Sun.
It's of the nucleus of comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko, photographed by the ESA Rosetta spacecraft.
That bright white plume is a jet of dust and water ice blasting from the nucleus—helping form the comet's long, dusty tail as it approaches the Sun.
Reposted by Paul Byrne
The organisers of the world's biggest planetary science conference are outlawing any DEI-related submissions because their lawyers are afraid they'll lose federal support.
They're losing the support of the planetary science community fucking fast.
www.science.org/content/arti...
They're losing the support of the planetary science community fucking fast.
www.science.org/content/arti...
‘This is censorship.’ Conference requires abstracts to comply with Trump anti-DEI order
NASA-funded planetary science institute previously scrubbed hundreds of records from its archive
www.science.org
November 21, 2025 at 12:30 AM
The organisers of the world's biggest planetary science conference are outlawing any DEI-related submissions because their lawyers are afraid they'll lose federal support.
They're losing the support of the planetary science community fucking fast.
www.science.org/content/arti...
They're losing the support of the planetary science community fucking fast.
www.science.org/content/arti...
Reposted by Paul Byrne
This is part of our universe.
An area of sky about the size of a grain of sand held at arm's length.
The spiked features are stars in the Milky Way.
EVERYTHING ELSE IS A GALAXY.
An area of sky about the size of a grain of sand held at arm's length.
The spiked features are stars in the Milky Way.
EVERYTHING ELSE IS A GALAXY.
November 20, 2025 at 6:04 PM
This is part of our universe.
An area of sky about the size of a grain of sand held at arm's length.
The spiked features are stars in the Milky Way.
EVERYTHING ELSE IS A GALAXY.
An area of sky about the size of a grain of sand held at arm's length.
The spiked features are stars in the Milky Way.
EVERYTHING ELSE IS A GALAXY.
The organisers of the world's biggest planetary science conference are outlawing any DEI-related submissions because their lawyers are afraid they'll lose federal support.
They're losing the support of the planetary science community fucking fast.
www.science.org/content/arti...
They're losing the support of the planetary science community fucking fast.
www.science.org/content/arti...
‘This is censorship.’ Conference requires abstracts to comply with Trump anti-DEI order
NASA-funded planetary science institute previously scrubbed hundreds of records from its archive
www.science.org
November 21, 2025 at 12:30 AM
The organisers of the world's biggest planetary science conference are outlawing any DEI-related submissions because their lawyers are afraid they'll lose federal support.
They're losing the support of the planetary science community fucking fast.
www.science.org/content/arti...
They're losing the support of the planetary science community fucking fast.
www.science.org/content/arti...
Oh well that's very fucking nice of him
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters that President Trump does not want to execute members of Congress who urged the military not to follow unlawful orders, but that he wants to see them “held accountable.”
thehill.com
November 20, 2025 at 7:34 PM
Oh well that's very fucking nice of him
This is part of our universe.
An area of sky about the size of a grain of sand held at arm's length.
The spiked features are stars in the Milky Way.
EVERYTHING ELSE IS A GALAXY.
An area of sky about the size of a grain of sand held at arm's length.
The spiked features are stars in the Milky Way.
EVERYTHING ELSE IS A GALAXY.
November 20, 2025 at 6:04 PM
This is part of our universe.
An area of sky about the size of a grain of sand held at arm's length.
The spiked features are stars in the Milky Way.
EVERYTHING ELSE IS A GALAXY.
An area of sky about the size of a grain of sand held at arm's length.
The spiked features are stars in the Milky Way.
EVERYTHING ELSE IS A GALAXY.
Reposted by Paul Byrne
Reposted by Paul Byrne
A comet!
Photographed by a spacecraft orbiting Mars!
The comet is from a different planetary system!
This comet could be older than our own Solar System!
Photographed by a spacecraft orbiting Mars!
The comet is from a different planetary system!
This comet could be older than our own Solar System!
November 19, 2025 at 9:14 PM
A comet!
Photographed by a spacecraft orbiting Mars!
The comet is from a different planetary system!
This comet could be older than our own Solar System!
Photographed by a spacecraft orbiting Mars!
The comet is from a different planetary system!
This comet could be older than our own Solar System!