(1/3) Josh and I have news... we are moving to New Zealand! I'll be joining the faculty of Victoria University of Wellington (www.wgtn.ac.nz/scps), and Josh will be consulting for local tech and aerospace.

If you're in LA this Mon, Aug 4, come join us at Dog Haus Biergarten in Pasadena for Astronomy on Tap! I'll be speaking about #NASADragonfly and David Vartanyan will also drop some knowledge about exploding stars... there will be trivia, telescopes and NASA swag! astronomyontap.org/event/astron...

NASA’s EMIT sensor on the ISS detected high methane levels off California’s coast, highlighting how satellite tools can trace pollution from industrial and natural sources. #EMIT #Methane #EarthScience 🧪⚒️🛰️

NASA Sensor on Space Station Eyes Contamination off California Coast

Proof-of-concept results from the mouth of the Tijuana River in San Diego County show how an instrument called EMIT could aid wastewater detection.

jpl.nasa.gov

🔭 Two Worlds, One Sun Left Image Credit & Copyright: Damia Bouic; Right Image Credit: NASA, JPL-Caltech, MSSS; Digital processing: Damia Bouic apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap25061...

Saturn.

Four charts showing the extent of cuts to NASA in the FY26 budget: - Cuts to every science division - Smallest science funding since 1984 - 19 active, inflight missions cancelled - Smallest NASA budget since FY 1961

I am furiously, flamingly, incandescently, *supernova-levels* of angry right now. Trump is trying to kill NASA science. And hoo boy, do I have something to say about it. badastronomy.beehiiv.com/p/trump-thre... 🔭 🧪

Trump threatens to eviscerate NASA

The Presidential budget proposal is a death sentence for the space agency

badastronomy.beehiiv.com

I tried to explain this to a reporter today. When you are constantly under threat of budget cuts or have actual budget cuts, shit gets efficient real quick because it is that or cease to exist.

Drew McKevitt@drewmckevitt.bsky.social · last yr.

Lol just heard the NPR story about the DOGE guy who lost his job when he said he was surprised at how hard it was to find inefficiencies in the federal govt because he came from Silicon Valley where companies always have lots of people sitting around doing nothing

Briefly wandered over to The Other Place to gauge the response to the NASA budget devastation to encounter a bunch of gleeful 'we spend too much money, so this is great.' TO BE, ONCE AGAIN, PERFECTLY CLEAR, THE BUDGET REQUEST MOVES ALL THIS MONEY TO DEFENSE. IT SPENDS IT. NO MONEY IS SAVED.

Our buddy Maria is in this picture. And that's the thing, right? Scientists are people, in all shapes and sizes and ages, with networks of friends and loved ones. We are you, and our future is shared. That future is still unwritten, so we need to work together to make it what we want.

Gavin Schmidt@climateofgavin.bsky.social · last yr.

Last day at the GISS building (Wed. May 28th). 🥲

One of the easiest ways for the public to see the value of NOAA / NASA / USGS data is for broadcast TV, streamers, weather apps, etc, to simply start showing (sourcing) agency logos on graphics. Repetition and visual association works. Hurricane season would be a great time to start.

Another gem in the newly released NASA fiscal-year 2026 budget: How they're going to downsize the Agency. They're going to cut the number of full-time civil servants with NASA from 17,400 to 11,850—a 32% cut. They're going to get rid of a third of the Agency.

Paul Byrne@theplanetaryguy.com · last yr.

We're going to learn some tough stuff today about the White House's proposed budget for fiscal year 2026—including what they have in mind for NASA. I'll share what I hear, but remember: CONGRESS decides how much money NASA gets, not the White House. So whatever happens today, the fight continues.

This is seismic. Isaacman had clearly articulated a strong support for science, and the withdrawal of his nomination yet further imperils NASA's Science Mission Directorate. www.semafor.com/article/05/3...

White House to pull NASA nominee Isaacman

Jared Isaacman was set for a vote next week, but now the president is yanking his nomination.

semafor.com

There are 2 previous historical cases of countries destroying their science and universities, crippling them for decades: Lysenkoism in the USSR and Nazi Germany. The Trump administration will be the 3rd. It's not just budgets but research, institutions, expertise, and training the next generation.

"NASA’s primary role is space exploration and, similar to prior generations that were inspired by the Apollo lunar landings, NASA will inspire the next generation of explorers through exciting, ambitious space missions. The FY 2026 budget proposes no funding for NASA’s Office of STEM Engagement."

Inspired by @jtuttlekeane.bsky.social and @ohdearz.bsky.social, here's what the White House proposed budget cuts to NASA would do to the entirety of the agency's Science Mission Directorate. Bloodbath is right.

The president’s proposed NASA budget does 2 things well: it cedes US leadership in STEM, and it funnels taxpayer dollars to companies and their CEOs. Moving the goal to Mars means that companies get to spend a LOT of tax dollars in development, rather than having to deliver actual results.

We're going to learn some tough stuff today about the White House's proposed budget for fiscal year 2026—including what they have in mind for NASA. I'll share what I hear, but remember: CONGRESS decides how much money NASA gets, not the White House. So whatever happens today, the fight continues.

The President's budget request would be devastating to NASA science and our quest for life beyond Earth. But there's still time to act, and your voice matters.

It’s Not Too Late to Save NASA’s Imperiled Search for Alien Life, but the Clock Is Ticking

NASA’s astrobiology ambitions are at risk of collapsing under the White House’s proposed budget. But your voice can make a difference

scientificamerican.com

Here's NASA astrophysics, if I read the president's proposed budget correctly. 🔭

James Tuttle Keane@jtuttlekeane.bsky.social · last yr.

The NASA planetary science fleet chart if the president’s budget is enacted.

The proposed NASA and NSF cuts feel like when ISIS destroyed the monuments of Palmyra with sledgehammers. These things not only pay for themselves, they return several dollars for every $1 spent. Kill the science, kill the spin-offs, startups, patents, talent pool and global influence.

James Tuttle Keane@jtuttlekeane.bsky.social · last yr.

The NASA planetary science fleet chart if the president’s budget is enacted.

This seems extremely relevant

Joe Uchill@joeuchill.bsky.social · last yr.

A lot of people know about the Germans in the space program, but the more relevant engineer might be Qian Xuesen, the MIT/CalTech aerospace professor who co-founded JPL and was sent to recruit the Germans. We deported him the 1950s. He became the leader of China’s missile program.

BREAKING: The president's budget request just hit Congress, which could usher in a dark age for NASA space science. Congress has the final say, but you can help shape the outcome by adding your name to our global petition. This is just the start of our fight. Sign the petition: planet.ly/petition

🚨🚨 Friday night news drop from National Science Foundation!! 🧪 NSF just released its detailed budget request for next year: nsf-gov-resources.nsf.gov/files/00-NSF... We knew it was going to be bad...and it lives up. Guts direct NSF support for a **quarter million people** 🧵 on some highlights...

Here's a bit of help with writing and calling to support NASA:

Save NASA Science - Action Hub

NASA science faces record cuts. Take action to stop it—we'll show you how.

planetary.org

Sarah Hörst@planetdr.bsky.social · last yr.

The Presidents Budget Request for NASA is out. It’s a bloodbath Canceled are DAVINCI, VERITAS, Juno, OSIRIS-APEX, US participation in ExoMars and EnVision… Huge cut to R&A. No funding to begin development of the Uranus Orbiter. If you’ve ever cared about NASA, time to contact congress.

The Presidents Budget Request for NASA is out. It’s a bloodbath Canceled are DAVINCI, VERITAS, Juno, OSIRIS-APEX, US participation in ExoMars and EnVision… Huge cut to R&A. No funding to begin development of the Uranus Orbiter. If you’ve ever cared about NASA, time to contact congress.

The NASA planetary science fleet chart if the president’s budget is enacted.

🔭 Ares 3 Landing Site: The Martian Revisited Image Credit: HiRISE, MRO, LPL (U. Arizona), NASA apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap25051...

Not that anyone asked, but during my tenure on the Pentagon’s Defense Innovation Board, under part of Obama-2 and all of Trump-1, we visited Military Bases domestically & abroad. At no time did any member of the Armed Forces I met say to me: “America needs less science funding.”

Is there potential for life on Jupiter's moon Europa? Let's ask a NASA expert... oh, that's me! #planetsci 🧪🔭 www.youtube.com/watch?v=wfzm...

Is There Potential for Life on Europa? We Asked a NASA Expert

YouTube video by NASA

youtube.com