MAJOR naked-eye aurora visible through cloud gaps from Dartmoor in Devon right now. Vibrant red and green colours easily visible to the eye with direct vision. Here’s back of DSLR view from a few moments ago.

We have an STFC-funded PhD project at the @nhm-london.bsky.social. Work with me, @joemcneil.bsky.social, @katie-h-joy.bsky.social, and Gareth Collins, and share in the fun of secondary impact craters and landing sites! tinyurl.com/nez8dzsy

Are you (or do you know of) an undergrad with an interest in solar physics? Check out the Leiden/ESA Astrophysics Program for Summer Students (LEAPS 2026). Myself, Andy To and Henrik Eklund invite you to come work with us at ESTEC on "Catching the Solar Wind in Action". leaps.strw.leidenuniv.nl#none

If you want to reduce plastic use in 2026, make this simple swap. Yellow kitchen sponges like these don’t break down in landfill, and they release microplastics that end up in the sea, harming marine animals. Eco-friendly alternatives are available – see: littlegreenspace.org.uk/reviews/seep...

Join the team !

An interesting #spaceweather story developing. Airbus has made a statement saying that “Analysis of a recent event involving an A320 Family aircraft has revealed that intense solar radiation may corrupt data critical to the functioning of flight controls” www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

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.

Open position: Scientific Editor for The Planetary Science Journal Note that this is a paid position via a stipend. As a current PSJ editor, I’d be happy to answer questions. aas.org/jobregister/...

We have a PhD opportunity at the University of Reading focused on analysing Jupiter and Saturn auroral observations! Title: Investigating Earth-like responses to the Solar Wind in Gas Giant Upper Atmospheres Supervisor: me! Full description/application portal: www.findaphd.com/phds/project...

We're hiring!!! Come join our faculty!!! ⚒️🧪🔭🌊

We have upgraded our geomagnetic forecast today (12 November 2025) to the highest intensity level amid an ongoing solar storm. Current predictions suggest that the activity will result in potentially the largest solar storm to hit our planet in over two decades.

Astonishing when you see it like this.

Fake cobwebs like these may look spooky – but what's really scary about them is that they can trap & injure wildlife, including birds, insects & small mammals. And fake webs aren't recyclable – so will end up in landfill for many years. More: littlegreenspace.org.uk/features/5-i... #Halloween

Get your space rocks here: New Elements issue out about Sample Return through the ages www.elementsmagazine.org 🌛🚀🪨👩‍🚀

NASA has announced its newest astronaut class, and it includes Lauren Edgar—a bona fide geologist! She joins Jessica Watkins as the second (to my knowledge) geology-trained scientist currently in NASA's astronaut corps. This bodes super well for going back to the Moon and on to Mars!

Kyanite is cool, but it's not "literally from the core of a small planet" cool, or "makes beautiful geometric patterns when polished and etched" cool, or "travelled through space as part of a meteoroid for a billion years or so" cool - so this one is an easy one for me: vote #taenite! #MinCup25

🧑💻 Job vacancy 🧑💻 We're looking for a part-time Assistant Librarian to join our team and would love to hear from anyone with the necessary skills and experience! Want to apply or find out more? Visit: ras.ac.uk/news-and-pre...

An Earth-facing #SolarFlare has just launched a coronal mass ejection towards Earth. The flare is only moderate in size, but well placed for the eruption to hit us. We’re not talking about anything extreme, but simulations will give a better idea of the likely impact timings and effects soon.

For over 25 years, science and discovery centres have been at the heart of inspiring millions of people to explore, question, and be part of UK science and technology. But they're seriously under threat… 1/3

It was amazing to participate in a little bit of history this week - the 1st #ArtemisIII NASA SMD (Science Mission Directorate) Science Team Meeting 😀 #ToTheMoon

Alphabet Moon alphabetmoon.org 🌙

Read this. And then call your Senator and tell them to save NASA science. www.planetary.org/articles/sci...

If you saw the fireball over Scotland on the 3rd July www.bbc.co.uk/news/article... please report any observations to the UK Fireball Alliance group ukfall.org.uk ☄️

I'm looking for a postdoc for my group at the University of Oxford (UK) to study #Europa surface. The position is open to international candidates and the university can sponsor visa etc. Please apply/forward as you see fit. Full details here: my.corehr.com/pls/uoxrecru... #planetary #job

Need data to explain the disastrous proposed cuts to NASA? Here are seven charts that lay out why The White House’s FY2026 budget proposal poses a historic threat to NASA. www.planetary.org/articles/nas...

I fucked up the link. HERE IT IS: www.planetary.org/advocacy-act...

HAKUTO-R M2 mission is over. "the lander was unable to decelerate sufficiently to reach the required speed for the planned lunar landing. ... it is currently assumed that the lander likely performed a hard landing on the lunar surface." Source: ispace-inc.com/news-en/?p=7...

Nice article featuring issues of diversity and inclusivity in planetary nomenclature by my student Annie Lennox. If folk don’t see their like represented, they are likely to feel excluded from the field. That’s unfair, but also we need all the talent we can get. geoscientist.online/sections/une...

We are seeking nominations for Chair of the Space Exploration Advisory Committee (SEAC). 🚀 The SEAC is responsible for advising the Agency on matters relating to robotic and human space exploration programmes. 🪐🔭 Learn more and nominate before 31 May 👉 gov.uk/government/p...

USRA has circulated this statement regarding their unilateral* decision to remove from their website planetary science community abstracts, studied, and reports they hosted that included DEI content. Too little, too late in my view. *i.e., not at the direction of NASA

The @vuamsterdam.bsky.social has taken the terrible decision to cut their Geology and Geochemistry program, including the BSc, effective this summer. I am so sorry for the talented and respected colleagues. @uugeo.bsky.social will work to help students who are out in the cold to get their degree 1/n

There's a partial solar eclipse today in the UK that peaks at 11am! Here's how to make a pinhole telescope to see it: svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/14391/

To anyone looking for a #postdoc at #LPSC2025 my university has just announced a Postdoctoral Fellowship Program. The program “incorporates the principles of equity, diversity, and inclusion”. Reach out if you’re interested. uwo.ca/research/fun...

One of the employees fired from NASA told me how much their career meant to them: "Prior to everything happening today, NASA has been an incredible place to work — to dream big, to innovate, to do things that I never thought I could have done.” Words by me. 🧪 www.nature.com/articles/d41...

If you are at #LPSC2025 & work on impact craters or planetary samples, come to my talk at 4.20 pm in Ballroom 6. Please provide input on a proposed new classification scheme & nomenclature for impactites! www.hou.usra.edu/meetings/lps...

If congress approves this budget request from the admin, it would threaten my career, my students careers’, and the ability of all of us to do our jobs. Not to mention all of the jobs, businesses, and small companies that are supported by NASA research. All to save about 0.05% of the US gov’s budget

These colours. Spring is popping ✨️

Athena spacecraft declared dead after toppling over on moon

An accurate and frightening thread about the potential future of planetary science in the United States. In the time since Apollo, NASA has enjoyed broad and bipartisan support. Now it faces a grave crisis.

Great to be able to finally share what our #ArtemisIII Science Team got up to at NASA JSC last November! science.nasa.gov/uncategorize...

We're looking for a physics engagement officer here in Oxford - lots of delivery, part of a great team and working mostly with local 11-15 year olds. It's a half time position, and suits flexible working. Details below, or ask if you have any questions: my.corehr.com/pls/uoxrecru...

We're at a crossroads in planetary science, and now really is the the right time to think about new ways to do what we do. That's why I'm holding a meeting at 12:00 pm in Creekside Park at LPSC on Wednesday, March 12 to talk about setting up a new professional society. I hope to see you there!

If you are going to the Lunar and Planetary Science Conference (#lpsc) next week, please take the time to reflect on the future #planetaryscience and to use the time at the conference to organize and prepare for the future.

Morning at Mare Crisium. Minor tonal adjustments have been made, for some reason the cameras on Blue Ghost from which we have so far seen images from the Lunar surface don't show white, only a light blue gray.

🇪🇺 🇺🇦 Europe stands with Ukraine in its fight against the Russian aggressor. Yesterday in Kyiv, President @vonderleyen.ec.europa.eu announced new key actions to support Ukraine ↓

NASA folks in #planetaryscience - I'm trying to put together a network who can help our colleagues through RIFs on Tuesday. This is an EMERGENCY: Reports say that NASA probationary employees will be fired on Tuesday.

I am thrilled to see #JohnMcFall be fully certified to fly to the ISS - continuing to open up space, but more importantly, challenges perspectives and assumptions. "Assume capability" as John says. Now @esa.int just need to assign him a mission... www.theguardian.com/science/2025...

@robertmassey.bsky.social are RAS aware of this regarding issues around late announcement of STFC grants and threat to future astronomy grants funding?

We're now into February 2025, and still no outcomes from the 2024 grants rounds. STFC sent an email update to all PIs this morning which basically says no news is still no news, and that they aim to send out the results as soon as they can. 🔭

The Early Career Award in Geophysics goes to Dr Giulia Magnarini, of the Natural History Museum in London, in recognition of "her pioneering research using a multi-disciplinary approach to further our understanding of long runout landslides across the Solar System". Well done Dr Magnarini! 👍 👏