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.
See that larger white blob at lower left, and the smaller blob to its right?
That's Earth and the Moon.
Photographed from the orbit of Mercury.
That's Earth and the Moon.
Photographed from the orbit of Mercury.
January 15, 2026 at 2:45 AM
See that larger white blob at lower left, and the smaller blob to its right?
That's Earth and the Moon.
Photographed from the orbit of Mercury.
That's Earth and the Moon.
Photographed from the orbit of Mercury.
Reposted by Paul Byrne
It’s time to stop the influx of immigrants who take drugs, father children out of wedlock, and steal from the government.
by Elon Musk
by Elon Musk
January 15, 2026 at 2:17 AM
It’s time to stop the influx of immigrants who take drugs, father children out of wedlock, and steal from the government.
by Elon Musk
by Elon Musk
Reposted by Paul Byrne
Psst.
This is a lightning bolt.
On fucking Jupiter.
This is a lightning bolt.
On fucking Jupiter.
January 14, 2026 at 1:55 AM
Psst.
This is a lightning bolt.
On fucking Jupiter.
This is a lightning bolt.
On fucking Jupiter.
Reposted by Paul Byrne
This visibly gets to him so people should keep doing it.
WATCH: Trump shows his middle finger and appears to say "fuck you" after Ford worker yells "pedophile protector" - TMZ
January 13, 2026 at 11:01 PM
This visibly gets to him so people should keep doing it.
Psst.
This is a lightning bolt.
On fucking Jupiter.
This is a lightning bolt.
On fucking Jupiter.
January 14, 2026 at 1:55 AM
Psst.
This is a lightning bolt.
On fucking Jupiter.
This is a lightning bolt.
On fucking Jupiter.
Reposted by Paul Byrne
I really want ppl w/o Minneapolis connections to understand
You might've heard that Mpls public schools went hybrid bc so many families are in hiding. Well, a coworker just told me that today, during his kid's hybrid class, a kid's apt building was raided onscreen
*Everyone has stories like this*
You might've heard that Mpls public schools went hybrid bc so many families are in hiding. Well, a coworker just told me that today, during his kid's hybrid class, a kid's apt building was raided onscreen
*Everyone has stories like this*
January 13, 2026 at 6:06 PM
I really want ppl w/o Minneapolis connections to understand
You might've heard that Mpls public schools went hybrid bc so many families are in hiding. Well, a coworker just told me that today, during his kid's hybrid class, a kid's apt building was raided onscreen
*Everyone has stories like this*
You might've heard that Mpls public schools went hybrid bc so many families are in hiding. Well, a coworker just told me that today, during his kid's hybrid class, a kid's apt building was raided onscreen
*Everyone has stories like this*
It is time to declare the Moon an enemy planet
January 13, 2026 at 9:35 PM
It is time to declare the Moon an enemy planet
America can come back from this.
What choice is there?
But the structures that got us here have to be ripped out, root and branch.
What choice is there?
But the structures that got us here have to be ripped out, root and branch.
A teenage boy was walking home in Minneapolis yesterday when four masked men jumped out of a van & questioned him - with no parent or guardian present.
He was bundled into the van & taken away.
Bystanders heard the boy say: “Can I just go home?”
I don’t know how America comes back from all this.
He was bundled into the van & taken away.
Bystanders heard the boy say: “Can I just go home?”
I don’t know how America comes back from all this.
January 13, 2026 at 6:25 PM
America can come back from this.
What choice is there?
But the structures that got us here have to be ripped out, root and branch.
What choice is there?
But the structures that got us here have to be ripped out, root and branch.
Reposted by Paul Byrne
HAPPENING NOW: In federal court in MN, DOJ is struggling to articulate why a person following an ICE vehicle — so long as they are obeying traffic laws — can be stopped for "reasonable suspicion" of a crime.
Judge Menendez sharply questioning that contention.
Judge Menendez sharply questioning that contention.
January 13, 2026 at 4:28 PM
HAPPENING NOW: In federal court in MN, DOJ is struggling to articulate why a person following an ICE vehicle — so long as they are obeying traffic laws — can be stopped for "reasonable suspicion" of a crime.
Judge Menendez sharply questioning that contention.
Judge Menendez sharply questioning that contention.
Reposted by Paul Byrne
Where has this fight been??
"Continue to mislead Americans about what is truly at stake, and you will learn that Americans are better at finding the truth than you are at burying it."
"Continue to mislead Americans about what is truly at stake, and you will learn that Americans are better at finding the truth than you are at burying it."
January 13, 2026 at 5:39 PM
Where has this fight been??
"Continue to mislead Americans about what is truly at stake, and you will learn that Americans are better at finding the truth than you are at burying it."
"Continue to mislead Americans about what is truly at stake, and you will learn that Americans are better at finding the truth than you are at burying it."
First day of class.
Eduroam still fucking sucks.
Eduroam still fucking sucks.
January 13, 2026 at 4:01 PM
First day of class.
Eduroam still fucking sucks.
Eduroam still fucking sucks.
Reposted by Paul Byrne
Saturn and its rings.
January 13, 2026 at 3:35 AM
Saturn and its rings.
Saturn and its rings.
January 13, 2026 at 3:35 AM
Saturn and its rings.
If you wanted to illustrate how elections have consequences, you could start here.
12 months after the 2024 election:
National Science Foundation lost 29% of its staff.
NOAA lost 20%.
NASA lost 6%.
Source: www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
National Science Foundation lost 29% of its staff.
NOAA lost 20%.
NASA lost 6%.
Source: www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
220,000 Fewer Workers: How Trump’s Cuts Affected Every Federal Agency
New data offers the first clear view of the impact of the buyouts and firings.
www.nytimes.com
January 12, 2026 at 11:12 PM
If you wanted to illustrate how elections have consequences, you could start here.
Reposted by Paul Byrne
Video message from Federal Reserve Chair Jerome H. Powell:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=KckG...
www.federalreserve.gov/newsevents/s...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=KckG...
www.federalreserve.gov/newsevents/s...
Statement by Federal Reserve Chair Jerome H. Powell
YouTube video by Federal Reserve
www.youtube.com
January 12, 2026 at 12:35 AM
Video message from Federal Reserve Chair Jerome H. Powell:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=KckG...
www.federalreserve.gov/newsevents/s...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=KckG...
www.federalreserve.gov/newsevents/s...
Reposted by Paul Byrne
Here's some ice I can get behind.
The southern polar cap of Mars, imaged by ESA's Mars Express spacecraft in December 2012.
Much of this ice is frozen CO₂, with some portion of conventional (to us) water ice, too.
The southern polar cap of Mars, imaged by ESA's Mars Express spacecraft in December 2012.
Much of this ice is frozen CO₂, with some portion of conventional (to us) water ice, too.
January 10, 2026 at 11:33 PM
Here's some ice I can get behind.
The southern polar cap of Mars, imaged by ESA's Mars Express spacecraft in December 2012.
Much of this ice is frozen CO₂, with some portion of conventional (to us) water ice, too.
The southern polar cap of Mars, imaged by ESA's Mars Express spacecraft in December 2012.
Much of this ice is frozen CO₂, with some portion of conventional (to us) water ice, too.
Here's some ice I can get behind.
The southern polar cap of Mars, imaged by ESA's Mars Express spacecraft in December 2012.
Much of this ice is frozen CO₂, with some portion of conventional (to us) water ice, too.
The southern polar cap of Mars, imaged by ESA's Mars Express spacecraft in December 2012.
Much of this ice is frozen CO₂, with some portion of conventional (to us) water ice, too.
January 10, 2026 at 11:33 PM
Here's some ice I can get behind.
The southern polar cap of Mars, imaged by ESA's Mars Express spacecraft in December 2012.
Much of this ice is frozen CO₂, with some portion of conventional (to us) water ice, too.
The southern polar cap of Mars, imaged by ESA's Mars Express spacecraft in December 2012.
Much of this ice is frozen CO₂, with some portion of conventional (to us) water ice, too.
Reposted by Paul Byrne
The same amount of time has now elapsed between when Raiders of the Lost Ark was released (1981) and when it was set (1936) as when it was released and today (45 years).
I find this... offensive.
I find this... offensive.
January 10, 2026 at 2:52 AM
The same amount of time has now elapsed between when Raiders of the Lost Ark was released (1981) and when it was set (1936) as when it was released and today (45 years).
I find this... offensive.
I find this... offensive.
The same amount of time has now elapsed between when Raiders of the Lost Ark was released (1981) and when it was set (1936) as when it was released and today (45 years).
I find this... offensive.
I find this... offensive.
January 10, 2026 at 2:52 AM
The same amount of time has now elapsed between when Raiders of the Lost Ark was released (1981) and when it was set (1936) as when it was released and today (45 years).
I find this... offensive.
I find this... offensive.
Reposted by Paul Byrne
Planetary friends!
Don't want to go to Houston in March, or support an institute that's bending the knee?
Then join us for the very first Planetary Science Community Workshop in Louisville, KY on April 14–16, 2026.
It's our community. Fight for it!
Details at the link:
planetaryworkshop.org
Don't want to go to Houston in March, or support an institute that's bending the knee?
Then join us for the very first Planetary Science Community Workshop in Louisville, KY on April 14–16, 2026.
It's our community. Fight for it!
Details at the link:
planetaryworkshop.org
PSCW 2026
planetaryworkshop.org
January 9, 2026 at 1:27 AM
Planetary friends!
Don't want to go to Houston in March, or support an institute that's bending the knee?
Then join us for the very first Planetary Science Community Workshop in Louisville, KY on April 14–16, 2026.
It's our community. Fight for it!
Details at the link:
planetaryworkshop.org
Don't want to go to Houston in March, or support an institute that's bending the knee?
Then join us for the very first Planetary Science Community Workshop in Louisville, KY on April 14–16, 2026.
It's our community. Fight for it!
Details at the link:
planetaryworkshop.org
Reposted by Paul Byrne
I submitted an abstract to LPSC 2026.
I wanted to see how many abstracts were submitted this year. Mine went in at 11:58 pm Central, so is among the last to go in. It will be rejected, but for the student rate ($35) it was worth the experiment.
(1/2)
I wanted to see how many abstracts were submitted this year. Mine went in at 11:58 pm Central, so is among the last to go in. It will be rejected, but for the student rate ($35) it was worth the experiment.
(1/2)
January 9, 2026 at 6:03 AM
I submitted an abstract to LPSC 2026.
I wanted to see how many abstracts were submitted this year. Mine went in at 11:58 pm Central, so is among the last to go in. It will be rejected, but for the student rate ($35) it was worth the experiment.
(1/2)
I wanted to see how many abstracts were submitted this year. Mine went in at 11:58 pm Central, so is among the last to go in. It will be rejected, but for the student rate ($35) it was worth the experiment.
(1/2)
I submitted an abstract to LPSC 2026.
I wanted to see how many abstracts were submitted this year. Mine went in at 11:58 pm Central, so is among the last to go in. It will be rejected, but for the student rate ($35) it was worth the experiment.
(1/2)
I wanted to see how many abstracts were submitted this year. Mine went in at 11:58 pm Central, so is among the last to go in. It will be rejected, but for the student rate ($35) it was worth the experiment.
(1/2)
January 9, 2026 at 6:03 AM
I submitted an abstract to LPSC 2026.
I wanted to see how many abstracts were submitted this year. Mine went in at 11:58 pm Central, so is among the last to go in. It will be rejected, but for the student rate ($35) it was worth the experiment.
(1/2)
I wanted to see how many abstracts were submitted this year. Mine went in at 11:58 pm Central, so is among the last to go in. It will be rejected, but for the student rate ($35) it was worth the experiment.
(1/2)
Reposted by Paul Byrne
I invite all Americans to join Minnesota in a day of unity tomorrow.
January 9, 2026 at 12:15 AM
I invite all Americans to join Minnesota in a day of unity tomorrow.
Planetary friends!
Don't want to go to Houston in March, or support an institute that's bending the knee?
Then join us for the very first Planetary Science Community Workshop in Louisville, KY on April 14–16, 2026.
It's our community. Fight for it!
Details at the link:
planetaryworkshop.org
Don't want to go to Houston in March, or support an institute that's bending the knee?
Then join us for the very first Planetary Science Community Workshop in Louisville, KY on April 14–16, 2026.
It's our community. Fight for it!
Details at the link:
planetaryworkshop.org
PSCW 2026
planetaryworkshop.org
January 9, 2026 at 1:27 AM
Planetary friends!
Don't want to go to Houston in March, or support an institute that's bending the knee?
Then join us for the very first Planetary Science Community Workshop in Louisville, KY on April 14–16, 2026.
It's our community. Fight for it!
Details at the link:
planetaryworkshop.org
Don't want to go to Houston in March, or support an institute that's bending the knee?
Then join us for the very first Planetary Science Community Workshop in Louisville, KY on April 14–16, 2026.
It's our community. Fight for it!
Details at the link:
planetaryworkshop.org
What's frustrating is the number of outlets that position this as a two-sides thing.
There aren't two sides to this.
There's observational fact and there's straight up lying, and I am sick of the media pretending it's anything else.
There aren't two sides to this.
There's observational fact and there's straight up lying, and I am sick of the media pretending it's anything else.
For those keeping score, Bellingcat, The New York Times Visual Investigation Team, & Washington Post's Visual Forensic team have all published analysis showing the ICE shooter wasn't in the path of Renee Nicole Good’s vehicle when he shot her, contradicting statements by the President & his cronies
January 8, 2026 at 8:04 PM
What's frustrating is the number of outlets that position this as a two-sides thing.
There aren't two sides to this.
There's observational fact and there's straight up lying, and I am sick of the media pretending it's anything else.
There aren't two sides to this.
There's observational fact and there's straight up lying, and I am sick of the media pretending it's anything else.