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Bill Higgins-- Beam Jockey

@beamjockey.bsky.social

Physicist at large. Speaker. Writer. Mono-instrumentalist. Spaceflight, astronomy, history of science, science fiction, & jokes thereof. Avatar: Bill Heterodyne, smiling & tipping his boater, by Phil Foglio. Banner: Me, infinitely reflected in mirrors.

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Bill Higgins-- Beam Jockey@beamjockey.bsky.social · 18h ago

I regret to report a coup d'état in Peoria, Illinois. Where University Street meets Forrest Hill Ave, the southeast corner holds INSURANCE KING and ROYAL VAPE; PAWN KING's on the northeast corner, and, visible half a block northward, BURGER KING. PAWN KING's gone, CASH AMERICA's now in his place.

Street scene. At left, a modest building with a red and blue sign proclaiming "Insurance King, Low-Cost Insurance." At right, another modest building whose sign, in yellow letters of a hard-to-read font, says "Royal Vape." The address is 1214 West Forrest Hill Avenue in Peoria, Illinois. Google Street View image captured June 2026. Photo copyright 2026 by Google.Street scene. A white storefront with blue trim. A sign proclaims in red letters "Pawn King." The address is 3099 North University Street in Peoria, Illinois. Google Street View image captured June 2026. Photo copyright 2026 by Google.
Reina Hardy@reina.bsky.social · 2d ago

I need a good toddler book about the periodic table of the elements STAT. My two year old just learned all the symbols in the Moon and Serpent Magical alphabet for some reason and is even using them in rudimentary spells. I need to distract him.

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⭐ ᗰᗩᖇᛕ ᗩ. ǤᗩᖇᒪIᑕᛕ ⭐@markgarlick.com · 3d ago

Thank you all for likes and comments. Much appreciated. But even more appreciated are RESKEETS. My income has been cut in half by AI and is only going to worse. Some of you have far more followers than I. You can make a difference by just hitting that share button. Please. And thank you.

Illustration of a planetary system in the style of Dutch artist Mondrian.
70s Sci-Fi Art@70sscifiart.bsky.social · 3d ago

In 1959, Forrest J Ackerman commissioned famed science fiction artist Frank R Paul to create a parody of Paul's old Oct 1926 issue of "Amazing Stories." Ackerman had Paul change the title to a pun on his nickname "Forries" & add a century to the publication date... making it the October 2026 issue.

An October 2026 issue of "Amazing Forries" features a guy in a red cloak greeting two aliens that look like giant lobsters with beaks, with a silver tube-like spaceship behind them.
ESA Space Science@science.esa.int · 6d ago

Juice used the gravity of our home planet to alter its route to Jupiter using very little fuel. The flyby deflected Juice by an angle of 20° compared to its pre-flyby path and increased its velocity by 3.5 km/s. 🔭 🧪

Infographic showing Juice's flight past Earth with a dotted orange line. Key timings are indicated, including the start of the flyby navigation campaign (17 August), the closest approach to Earth (28 September) and the farewell images of Earth (2 October). Some of the line is bold yellow, a key indicates that this means that Juice's science instruments are switched on.
👻 Saavik ‘Spooky Season’ Ford 🎃@saavikford.bsky.social · last wk.

Hey folks—this is doing really well—more than 90% raised!!! But they aren’t there yet! Can you help save the grave of the man who 1st recognized light is an electromagnetic wave??? It’s more than a little shocking this is down to private fundraising, but with your help, it will get done!!!

Astronomer Royal for Scotland | Catherine Heymans@astroroyalscot.bsky.social · 4w ago

Help! Parton Community Council has 60 days to raise £70k to buy Parton Kirk (resting place of James Clerk Maxwell). They plan to turn it into a visitor centre celebrating our great hero! The other buyers could turn it into long-term storage 😬 Even £5 would help 🙏🧪⚛️ www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding...

Jason Hutt@jthutt.bsky.social · 2w ago

Packing up and moving out of my old Orion office. It’s tradition here to get a going away picture signed by the team you’re leaving. Next one will be from Artemis II

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Sarah Tuttle@niais.cryptoanarchy.network · last wk.

Hey y'all. Sunspot Observatory in New Mexico is being closed and decommissioned. Disappointed and broken hearted. But? Their excellent gift shop is selling everything off at 50% off. nmsusunspotsolarobservatory.company.site/products Make sure to use the code. (And if you like Deneen mugs...)

Products — NMSU/Sunspot Solar Observatory

Welcome to the Sunspot Solar Observatory shop where you will find unique astronomy themed gifts.

nmsusunspotsolarobservatory.company.site

Brown Media Archives & Peabody Awards Colln, UGA Libraries@brownmediaarchives.bsky.social · last wk.

There are already Blessed Fulton Sheen icons, tshirts, stained glass images, etc., for sale on Etsy, but who will be the maker who sells boxes of chalk with this television icon's image on them?

Bill Higgins-- Beam Jockey@beamjockey.bsky.social · last wk.

I like this: In the new portrait of Blessed Fulton J. Sheen, the artist (who?) puts chalk in his hand, because his blackboard was the main tool in his TV evangelizing. Photo of the art by @jeffreybruno.bsky.social. Screengrab of a LIFE IS WORTH LIVING episode from @brownmediaarchives.bsky.social.

Detail from a new portrait of Catholic priest Blessed Fulton John Sheen (1895-1979) unveiled at his beatification ceremony on 24 September 2026. Visible are his pale-skinned hands, black cassock, and the wide red belt-like fascia worn around his waist. He holds a piece of chalk in his right hand, as though ready to write. He came to prominence as a U.S. TV personality in the 1950s, illustrating his preaching by writing or drawing on a chalkboard. I do not yet know the name of the artist, but when l find out I will post a note later in this thread. Photo of the portrait was snapped by Jeffrey Bruno. Seen on the EWTN News site.
Bill Higgins-- Beam Jockey@beamjockey.bsky.social · last wk.

Beatification unlocked— Pope Leo: “We…by our apostolic authority, grant the faculty that the Venerable Servant of God Fulton John Sheen…a tireless preacher of the Gospel through the modern means of communication and a diligent shepherd animated by missionary zeal, may henceforth be called Blessed…"

New portrait of Catholic priest Blessed Fulton John Sheen (1895-1979) unveiled at his beatification ceremony on 24 September 2026. He is a smiling man with white hair and pale skin. He wears a Roman collar, black cassock, and items denoting a bishop, including a wide red belt-like fascia around his waist, a large cross on a chain around his neck, and a red cape. He holds a piece of chalk in his hand, as though ready to write. He came to prominence as a U.S. TV personality in the 1950s, illustrating his preaching by writing or drawing on a chalkboard. I do not yet know the name of the artist, but when l find out I will post a note later in this thread.
Bill Higgins-- Beam Jockey@beamjockey.bsky.social · 2w ago

Caption to art reads: “An imaginary astronaut's view of the Didymos and Dimorphos asteroids” but SHOULD read: “An imaginary astronaut's view of the Didymos and Dimorphos asteroids, as reflected in the visor of another imaginary astronaut.”

A hitchhiker’s guide to Hera’s target asteroids

Currently speeding through deep space at 12 km/s relative to Earth, ESA’s Hera spacecraft is due to reach its target Dimorphos asteroid this November. But if an astronaut were magically teleported ont...

esa.int

James Fallows@jfallows.bsky.social · 2w ago

I thought this *had* to be fake. But you can see the [insert polite word for "moron"] Tuberville ACTUALLY SAYING this, in Congressional Record: www.govinfo.gov/link/crec/la... This guy is running against Doug Jones for governor. God save Alabama. fallows.substack.com/p/running-as...

FactPost@factpostnews.bsky.social · 2w ago

Tommy Tuberville: Many airline pilots, flight attendants, and air traffic controllers are part of the furry community. It's terrifying.