sundogplanets

sundogplanets, 1 month ago to random

I had lunch (outdoors!) with a bunch of people from the conference, and because it's a bunch of planetary astronomers, everyone was comparing the properties of the asteroids named after them. Kinda cool.

sundogplanets, 1 month ago to random

Oh no I'm on national news again...?

https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/video/9.4226867

sundogplanets, 1 month ago to random

It's been a lovely conference, and I've managed to survive being in Toronto (staying in a dorm room, because holy crap hotels are expensive in Toronto). Ready to go back home now! ...Unfortunately I still have 3 more days of conference to go.

I'm up early because this dorm room bed really sucks and cities are loud. Guess I'm going to go for a walk and see if anywhere has good breakfast. Another live radio interview scheduled for later today, I wonder how many others will pop up?

sundogplanets, 1 month ago to random

"Enjoy your water, and remember that you have Jupiter to thank for that beverage" #ThingsActualScientistsSay

sundogplanets, 1 month ago to random

Here's my interview from this morning on my local CBC radio station talking about SpaceX space junk discovered by a farmer in his field in Saskatchewan: https://www.cbc.ca/listen/live-radio/1-66-the-morning-edition-sask/clip/16067265-sask.-farmer-finds-space-junk-field

sundogplanets, 1 month ago to random

I have a live radio interview about the Saskatchewan space junk in the middle of a prize talk about black holes (which sounds very cool), so I guess I'll go to the beginning of it?

My public talk for tonight is ready (too long, but ready), and the satellite pollution advocacy website is almost ready to launch!

I am disappointed I did not see any raccoons yet today.

sundogplanets, 1 month ago to random

Oh dear lord is it actually still Monday? I had so many good conversations today with old friends and collaborators, and yelled about satellites to a room full of astronomers to try to encourage them to take action, and didn't completely melt down in a big city.

Almost have a public website ready to go with more satellite regulation advocacy info, hopefully will get it (at least bare bones version) before my public talk tomorrow!!

Mundane observation about Toronto: SO much falafel.

sundogplanets, 1 month ago (edited 1 month ago) to random

Hello Toronto - a reminder that I'm giving a public talk TODAY. Want to hear me yell about satellites for an hour? Come say hi!

The image in the poster was taken by Joshua Rozells, see APOD link: https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap220614.html

sundogplanets, 1 month ago to random

My first talk is done, I think it went well? A CBC reporter called me moments after my talk to get an interview for the Saskatchewan space junk story (I think maybe I was a bit too enthusiastic in my interview since I had literally just given a talk and listened to a session on satellite pollution so I am MAD and fired up).

Maybe I can take a short walk before the last session of the day starts? (Though I"m not 100% sure being outside is actually calming for me in Toronto...)

sundogplanets, 1 month ago to random

Oh shit I'm in Toronto. Why did I agree to go to Toronto?? I better make a lot of people angry about satellites.

sundogplanets, 1 month ago to random

First Toronto raccoon already spotted. It apparently lives in a vent on the roof right outside the dorm room where I'm staying for the conference. Hello urban chaos panda!

sundogplanets, 1 month ago to random

Incredible auroras all night, doesn't seem like we're in Kessler Syndrome yet (yay) but apparently GPS and Starlink internet aren't working for people.

A goat got into chicken food and I had to force feed him baking soda to try to save his life (we'll see how that goes ☹️ ).

I emailed the CNN reporter who interviewed me about satellite pollution a couple years ago to see if she's interested in the space junk story.

And it's Vaisakhi/Khalsa Day, so I'm going to get amazing free food!

sundogplanets, 1 month ago to random

Every chance I've had to interact with satellite operators in conferences, I've asked them about their plans for dealing with solar storms (I'm particularly worried about Starlink, which requires dozens of maneuvers per day to avoid collisions. What if a large fraction shuts down for a few hours?!)

The universal response to my inquiries has been "Don't worry about that, it'll be fine!"

I guess we're going to find out very soon. https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/

sundogplanets, 1 month ago to random

HAHAHAHA

sundogplanets, 1 month ago to random

I am talking o a reporter about this in a couple hours: https://regina.ctvnews.ca/from-outer-space-sask-farmers-baffled-after-discovering-strange-wreckage-in-field-1.6880353

This is about an hour away from my farm, so this'll be a fun conversation, and yet another great opportunity to tell a lot of people about what a huge problem we have with unregulated commercialization of orbit. (Also I just redid my slides for my public talk next week, this is going in!)

sundogplanets, 1 month ago to random

Got the electronet out and set up, and now all the 4 legged animals are out on grass for the first time this year! They are sooooo happy. (And the llama doesn't seem to have any thoughts of escape, so that's great).

A herd of over a dozen white goats with a couple of brown and black goats sprinkled in. They are 100% concentrating on eating. They are in a bright green grassy area, with a tall wooden fence, tall spruce trees, and a large old yellow barn in the background. There are lovely poofy clouds in a bright blue sky above.

sundogplanets, 1 month ago to random

Good morning from baby goat land

sundogplanets, 1 month ago to random

The barn swallows are back in my barn!!! I'm so happy to see them!

sundogplanets, 1 month ago (edited 1 month ago) to random

Hello Toronto - I'm giving a public talk there in 8 days. Want to hear me yell about satellites for an hour? Come say hi!

EDITED to add: Oops I didn't give image credit! The image in the poster was taken by Joshua Rozells, see APOD link: https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap220614.html

sundogplanets, 1 month ago to random

As another crewed launch is about to happen, it's a good time to re-share this essay I wrote a couple months ago about how I just really can't get excited about rocket launches anymore.

https://theconversation.com/an-astronomers-lament-satellite-megaconstellations-are-ruining-space-exploration-215653

sundogplanets, 1 month ago to random

Having a zillion back-to-back Zoom meetings is even harder when I could be outside watching bouncy baby goats!

A bunch of baby goats and the one mama goat all standing around the same farmyard. One white baby goat is trying to pull himself up onto a tiny concrete ledge next to the building.

sundogplanets, 1 month ago to random

Discussions about nuclear weapons being deployed in orbit are slightly better with a cat in your lap (but only slightly). Wowee, my meetings today are on another level of stressful... I'm so glad I've got baby goats...

sundogplanets, 1 month ago to random

WOOOO!!! Letter of intent for a giant grant I'm a co-I on was accepted! (Which doesn't mean it'll get funded, but this grant only asks a few groups to submit a full application, so the odds are suddenly much, much better)

...trying not to be grumpy about the fact that it's about satellite pollution, and the fucking satellite companies should be the ones paying for it...

sundogplanets, 1 month ago to random

I wrote a super aggressive, angry official statement draft about atmospheric pollution from satellites and I'm really proud of it. I'm sure it'll get completely gutted before it gets adopted. But I feel pretty good about this version (I'll share something about it later after discussions with some other people I'm working with on it - especially the people who are much better with writing policy statements than me).

sundogplanets, 1 month ago to random

The 2SLGBTQ+ in STEM conference I helped organize and attended the last few days was awesome and beautiful and holy cow I learned SO MUCH from so many amazing queer scientists. And I am completely exhausted now. I hope I can spend all day snuggling baby goats tomorrow (and also reading proposals, and a paper, and reading about satellite pollution, and getting my students set up for next week, and and and and...maybe I'll just hide out in the barnyard all day)