For my portfolio, my mentor has asked me to remove my characters from four different drawings just to enhance the landscapes/surroundings. I realise that she has a point, and I do have multiple copies of each image but it still feels wrong to just remove them like that. Too attached? _Me_? Naaah! 😝

How to teach an octopus to play the piano! 🐙 (And on a side note, the piano teacher is obviously Swedish.) youtube.com/watch?si=2C9jUSUZR4DbEfk3&v=PcWnQ7fYzwI&feature=youtu.be

We're having a problem with wild boars where I live and I am pissed off because they ruin the lawns. That's old man warning right there. 😝

–Not exactly the glowing mushrooms you predicted. –Fascinating! They look like explorers, just like us! –It's rather rude talking about others as if they weren't there. –Are you suggesting we try to communicate? –Either that, or we just politely nod and move along. #SciFiSat

–How you intend to “take it down”, is a mystery to me, Reyes. This previously deactivated station AI should be directly connected to the mainframe and thus be able to access the entire Kepler, isn’t that right? [1/5] #SciFiFri

"Ten minutes of morning sunlight can significantly benefit your health by regulating your body's circadian rhythm, which improves sleep, mood, and energy levels." Excuse me but what sunlight, exactly what is this "sunlight" you speak about? Is that, like, bright clouds or something?!

–Doctor, I'm not normally superstitious but... –But what, captain? –But I think we might have ghosts on the station! –Captain, you are being absurd. –Yeah, I know what it sounds like but haven't you noticed all the strange things going on lately? [1/8] #SciFiSat

–The faint light of the star reflected in the frozen globes of unseeing eyes served as a reminder of reality, because in the end this was all that the ship was: A cold and silent grave, forgotten and left to forever drift through the darkness of space. [1/4] #SciFiFri

Soo… that was fun! I was randomly put to lead a group of strangers through the haunted house and there was a lot of screaming. Not from me (or _because_ of me) though. I thank good perception and years of paranoid gaming for that. 😜👻🎃

Taking à few hours off to visit our currently Halloween themed park, Liseberg, and some of their horror houses. I’ll do my best not to ruin the mood for everyone by laughing at the actors. Again. 👻🎃

Another reason why people shouldn't have AI: People are too lazy to write e-mails so the ask an AI to do a summary of what they need to send. AI spits out an interpretation. People on the other end are too lazy to read, so they ask an AI for a summary and guess what? It's the bloody telephone game!

And now I have a photo of the entire, awesome and wonderful Onsala Day and Night of Astronomy team! That day will be one of my fondest memories of this year! 🚀🔭📡✨

And this is (one of the many reasons) why I don't like AI. Tried to get some simple support and... well, the green boxes are my comments.

–Captain, the more we talk about it, the less it seems like an accident. –Oh come on! Don't tell me you've never wondered what the big red button is for. Look at it as a... a scientific experiment! Yeah! –You could have just read the bloody manual!

–Aldrich, I've been thinking. –What a refreshing change of routine, captain. –Since the garbage is now in stable orbit around the station, all you have to do is to steer us closer to the star and the garbage will burn up upon entry in its corona! –Yes. And so would we. #SciFiFri

Whooo-hooo! Finally! On Friday this week, The Outer Worlds 2 will be released. Guess what I'll be doing this weekend? 🚀🎮

"So what do you work with except astronomy?" someone asked me and I replied that I'm aiming to become an illustrator. The answer to that was: "Cool! Like with AI?" _Excuse me_?! Is this what people think illustrators are up to these days? Sheesh, gimme a break.

Today we got our revenge on the storm that forced us to cancel the Day & Night of #Astronomy and #100HoursofAstronomy at Onsala Space Observatory. This is inflatable planetarium where I held 7 presentations today and look - they made a roll-up banner of my artwork! 👩‍🚀🌍✨

1/2 -Reyes, could you and Cadwell please get back our there and pick up the rest of the trash before we’ll have a full Kessler syndrome on our hands? -Hey Aldrich, what do you call someone who tidies up in space? #SciFiSat

1/2 –So all of the sudden we’re not going to do the quality survey? Doc, what made the cap change his mind? –Because, Mr. Reyes, he fears that results will make us due for another inspection and then inspectors will see all bags of garbage floating around our station #SciFiFri

I just had a really great meeting with my great illustration mentor, picking out pictures for my portfolio. She ended up looking for the frog in every image, laughing every time she found him. 😅🐸

Back from the SF-convention LunCon where I hung out with old friends and acquaintances, made some new ones, participated in a panel about alien life and - as tradition nowadays is - bought a bunch of the talented @markadesign.bsky.social’s wonderful stickers! 🚀

-Doctor, you’re a geneticist, right? And you’re also the one we turn to for medical attention. How can we be sure that you’re not experimenting on us? -Captain, as much as I sometimes wish that I was able to turn _you_ into a hamster, that is not how it works. #SciFiFri

In this issue I interview the one and only @drspacejunk.bsky.social and together we go through the existing space laws. Watch out, stupid space billionaires, we’re on to you!

–Who'd have thought that we'd be able to use this old equipment to get messages directly relayed to us in the field! Anything new? -Just an invitation from the Kepler station...to a Monty Python's Holy Grail themed party. Ehm.. –Let's not go there. It's a silly place. #SciFiSat

–Yes, yes, I know it's my fault that the garbage is now floating around in space but fear not – Reyes and Cadwell are harpooning is all back as we speak and the latter certainly has a talent for it! –Captain, according to protocol the creation of space debris... 1/2 #SciFiFri

I am disappointed beyond all recognition! Due to an incoming storm, our event at the Onsala Space Observatory has been cancelled! I have no words other than... "Why can't we cancel the mf:ing storm instead?!" 🤬 #100HoursofAstronomy #IAU

Spent a wonderful but exhausting day at Onsala Space Observatory preparing the planetarium and the show. On Saturday we’re doing it! #100HoursOfAstronomy #IAU

I joined an online mentorship for freelance illustrators which has been very helpful this far but as always, no matter what occasion, I'm the odd bird: "These guidelines do not really apply to Katja - she does science fiction and space and can choose almost whatever market she wants." Alright! 😀

–Hey doc, what on Earth is the captain doing stomping around in all that garbage?! –Ah, Mr. Reyes. It appears compressing machine is broken. –And no one thought of calling for me? I'm the engineer for goddamn's sake! –Well, I figured our captain could use the exercise. #SciFiSat

–Doctor, why is the station smelling worse than usually? –It appears garbage has not been handled according to protocol. –And why is that? –If memory serves that was your job. –I'm the captain, I don't handle garbage! –Captain is mere title. On this station we have rotating schedule. #SciFiFri

Halloween came early this year, along with moons, Jupiter and adorable little frogs! Thank you so much @astropotamus.com for these wonderful 3D prints!!! 👻💀🎃🌕🐸

-Here we go again... -I thought you'd want to see a dinosaur fight. -That thing behind me sure as hell isn't a dinosaur! -If you shoot it I want to study the carcass! -No one's shooting anything. We're leaving. Quietly. -But I want to watch! -What are you, 5 years old? Now move it! #SciFiSat

1/2 -We’re drifting too close to the star and I can’t pull away. -How hard can it be? Just chuck a quick u-ey and she’ll be apples. You’ve got this, Aldrich! -Cadwell, that's not how it works! This is a space station, not a car! #SciFiFri

So... I've been invited to hold a short lecture about the space race from an optical point of view at Onsala Space Observatory in December. It's going to be great, and I'm already looking forward to it! 🚀🔭📷

-Mate, you have a little something on your... -Sod off! -See, Mr. Cadwell, Andrusha is a very clever octopus, distracting Mr. Aldrich while putting crab into the pot. -Yeh well, it looks like he's at risk of ending up in that pot himself, doc. Why's he so fascinated by our food anyway? #SciFiSat

-Reyes, help me out mate, what's then name of the colony where they sent a bunch o' criminals? -Australia? -Nah, in space. -Space Australia? Seriously Cadwell, there's no such colony. -Then why have we received a distress call about escaped, really dangerous, prisoners? #SciFiFri

1/2 There I was, buying leads for my mechanical pen and the guy behind the counter says: –You know this is H, right? –Yup. said I –You probably want HB... –No, HB is too soft and smear all over the place. –I'm just saying... –Look, dude, I draw stuff, I know what I need!

–Mr. Aldrich, I was under impression that Mr. Reyes does not have scheduled spacewalk until tomorrow? –Change of plans, doctor. Captain's orders. He's obviously tired of his view. –Would that explain why Mr. Reyes is carrying all the Christmas lights with him? –Do you really need to ask? #SciFiSat

-Aldrich, I don’t like the view from my quarters, it’s too dull. I want something with more colour. -What are you asking, captain? It’s not like I can make a nice little star arrangement for you. -No, but you can change the station’s orbit. -Yes but that is not going to happen. #SciFiFri

Overheard on the tram (17-18 years old male speaking on the phone): "If a war breaks out here, I promise you I'll fight because I've been playing too much Call of Duty!" Well, at least he was open about his stupidity...

I play the most mature computer games… #Wasteland3

-Crikey! Adding water just turned it all into batter! What now, Reyes? -Add some eggs, milk, salt, crank up the heating and we'll have a fresh batch of floor made pancakes! -Nah mate, I still remember when you fried snags on the reactor. -Now that, Cadwell, was a radiological experiment! #SciFiSat

-Why is the galley's floor covered in flour? Cadwell?! -Hi cap, Reyes here was just showing me how impact craters are formed. You have this tray of flour and then take a spoon... -And you had to do it a thousand times? -To make sure that an experiment is successful... -Shut up, Reyes! #SciFiFri

IAU's 100 Hours of Astronomy is slowly getting closer! The event registration deadline is on September 15, so make sure not to miss it! iauoutreach.org/global-proje...

I smacked a pigeon off the table as it tried to steal my ice cream. I had only intended to shoo it away but it came to close while I was already moving my arm so it really only has itself to blame. I might be a terrible person but I'm not sorry at all because a minute later the flying rat was back.

– Fascinating! – What is that thing anyway, some sort of water badger crocodile? – I know you are being silly on purpose. It looks like a large amphibian. – Great, now take your photos, pick your plants, I’m not going to miss the syzygy because of our pal down there! #SciFiSat

–No offence, Cadwell, but how come you got this job? I mean shouldn't a a communications officer should be capable of clear communication? –Guess when the old admin did a Harold Holt the new one was busier than a cat burying crap on concrete cuz Aldrich, I didn't apply for this yakka! #SciFiFri

Went out to pick blueberries and did not expect to find lingonberries as well. Never happened before but the fact that it’s still only August, I’ll expect September to bring lots of red goodies. Oh, don’t worry - this is only a small part of what I ended up picking. 🫐

-Sooo...? –Captain, I am geneticist, not physician but no, you do not have malaria. Your condition is likely mental and I am afraid there is no cure. And since when is my lab common room? Get smoking robot out of here and tell Mr. Aldrich to stop yelling at Andrusha. #SciFiSat