Alan Phipps
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Alan Phipps
@alan-phipps.bsky.social
Compiler engineer, Computer Scientist, Lay Dominican, UCSB grad, Absintheur
Reposted by Alan Phipps
Dice sure seem random, like something that “just happens”, but science tells us otherwise. Does randomness even exist?
No Such Thing as RANDOM? (re-run) - Vatican Observatory
Dice sure seem random, like something that “just happens”, but science tells us otherwise. Does randomness even exist?
www.vaticanobservatory.org
December 27, 2025 at 4:22 PM
Reposted by Alan Phipps
Like many preban paintings showing absinthe, Jean Béraud's Absinthe Drinkers shows gloomy drinkers in a gloomy setting. We believe they might have been happier with a fine absinthe, as shown here.

#absinthe #laclandestine #アブサン #assenzio #TheArtOfAbsinthe
December 28, 2025 at 4:59 PM
Reposted by Alan Phipps
You hear that at the Big Bang space and time were distorted beyond what the laws of physics allow us to investigate. But how can space and time be distorted?
The Speed of Light and the Strangeness of Time: (3) Simultaneous or Not? - Vatican Observatory
You hear that at the Big Bang space and time were distorted beyond what the laws of physics allow us to investigate. But how can space and time be distorted?
www.vaticanobservatory.org
July 12, 2025 at 4:22 PM
Reposted by Alan Phipps
You hear that at the Big Bang space and time were distorted beyond what the laws of physics allow us to investigate. But how can space and time be distorted?
The Speed of Light and the Strangeness of Time: (1) The Constant - Vatican Observatory
You hear that at the Big Bang space and time were distorted beyond what the laws of physics allow us to investigate. But how can space and time be distorted?
www.vaticanobservatory.org
June 28, 2025 at 4:22 PM
Reposted by Alan Phipps
The Pontifical Academy of Sciences has released a statement expressing their recommended actions to safeguard scientific truth and freedom of science
Protecting Freedom of Science and Preventing Distortion of Scientific Truth - Vatican Observatory
The Pontifical Academy of Sciences has released a statement expressing their recommended actions to safeguard scientific truth and freedom of science
www.vaticanobservatory.org
June 19, 2025 at 12:04 AM
Reposted by Alan Phipps
David Levy discusses his viewing (or not) of three comets over the past year.
Skyward by David H. Levy – June 2025 - Vatican Observatory
David Levy discusses his viewing (or not) of three comets over the past year.
www.vaticanobservatory.org
June 5, 2025 at 12:04 AM
Reposted by Alan Phipps
So anything new in the Catholic world these days? Well...
From the Backyard: Pope Leo XIV, Leo XIII, Rerum Norarum and AI - Vatican Observatory
So anything new in the Catholic world these days? Well… let’s see… its Easter… spring usually means you’ve been invited to a...
www.vaticanobservatory.org
May 13, 2025 at 12:04 AM
Reposted by Alan Phipps
IAU Citation

(722063) Andrasz = 2005 CO83
Discovery: 2013-05-03 / K. Černis, R. P.
Jesuit Priest Józef Andrasz Gets An Asteroid Named For Him! - Vatican Observatory
IAU Citation (722063) Andrasz = 2005 CO83Discovery: 2013-05-03 / K. Černis, R. P. Boyle / Mount Graham / 290Józef Andrasz (1891–1963) was a Polish Jesuit...
www.vaticanobservatory.org
April 18, 2025 at 4:22 PM
Reposted by Alan Phipps
Firefly Aerospace's Blue Ghost lunar lander captures a solar eclipse from the surface of the Moon!
Total Solar Eclipse Seen From the Moon! - Vatican Observatory
Firefly Aerospace's Blue Ghost lunar lander captures a solar eclipse from the surface of the Moon!
www.vaticanobservatory.org
March 21, 2025 at 12:04 AM
Reposted by Alan Phipps
Several staff members from the Vatican Observatory and Vatican Observatory Foundation attended the L.A. Religious Education Congress in Anaheim, CA
Faith, Family and...Meteorites? - Vatican Observatory
Several staff members from the Vatican Observatory and Vatican Observatory Foundation attended the L.A. Religious Education Congress in Anaheim, CA
buff.ly
March 7, 2025 at 4:22 PM
Reposted by Alan Phipps
What a spectacular terminator on this night, in this place! Dramatic features from the great crater Archimedes (83 km dia.) on the left edge to the middle of Mare Serenitatis on the right.
Archimedes to Linné - Vatican Observatory
What a spectacular terminator on this night, in this place! Dramatic features from the great crater Archimedes (83 km dia.) on the left edge to the middle of...
buff.ly
February 16, 2025 at 12:04 AM
Reposted by Alan Phipps
For Maths fans, 2025 is a square.
45² = 45 x 45 = 2025
Also,
9² x 5² = 2025
40² + 20² + 5² = 2025
My favourite?
1³+2³+3³+4³+5³+6³+7³+8³+9³ = 2025
#Mathematics #teaching #education
January 1, 2025 at 1:56 PM
Reposted by Alan Phipps
Only 3-4 days after new moon, a day before Atlas and Hercules are in full sunlight, you will see a prominent dark oval in the extreme NE (lunar) of the crescent moon. This is the 160km diameter crater Endymion formed during the Nectarian period (around 3.9 billion years ago).
https://www.vaticanobs…
ENDYMION TO HUMBOLDTIANUM - Vatican Observatory
Only 3-4 days after new moon, a day before Atlas and Hercules are in full sunlight, you will see a prominent dark oval in the extreme NE (lunar) of the...
buff.ly
December 14, 2024 at 4:22 PM
Reposted by Alan Phipps
Br. Guy Consolmagno was interviewed by Catholic Chicago.
“The Pope’s Astronomer” - Intv w/Br. Guy Consolmagno, Director of the Vatican Observatory - Vatican Observatory
Br. Guy Consolmagno was interviewed by Catholic Chicago.
buff.ly
December 6, 2024 at 12:04 AM
Reposted by Alan Phipps
Amazing fossil alert.

Jurassic salamander from China. You can see the soft tissue of the eye, gills, limbs, even the folds of its tail. And its last meal its stomach…

🧪 #evolution #paleontology
November 26, 2024 at 12:12 PM
Reposted by Alan Phipps
The Vatican Observatory has won an award in the community engagement category of Springer Nature's "What does a scientist look like?" Project. I wrote about this project last April, in a article titled "Nature's "Where I Work" Photography Exhibition at King's Cross Shows Br.
https://www.vaticanobse…
Vatican Observatory Wins an Award in Springer Nature's "What does a scientist look like?" Project - Vatican Observatory
The Vatican Observatory has won an award in the community engagement category of Springer Nature’s “What does a scientist look like?”...
buff.ly
November 24, 2024 at 12:04 AM