Amateur astronomer and author of science fiction and science reference books, including "A Cat's Guide to The Night Sky". Fascinated by Mars since knee high to R2D2 and owned by a very demanding rescue cat called Jess.
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Giving this a plug again because it's one of the books I'm most proud of. When a reporter goes to Mars to cover an election which will shape the planet's future, she meets many fascinating people, all with different reasons for travelling to the red planet... www.amazon.co.uk/Interviews-M...
See also the Lake District...
He's a cocky, disobedient, rude robot. If R2D2 is Gary Barlow, Chopper is Robbie Williams ;-)
No, I look a wreck, Chopper looks fantastic :-)
That's not R2D2, that's the (in)famous Chopper! :-)
Met one of my heroes today!!!! :-)
No idea! :-) But during the Spirit/Oppy treks it seemed like they spotted one every few months & Curi's imaged more than a few, so all I'm saying is there must be *some* at Jezero? But hey, I'm just an enthusiast who's been supporting rover missions by making & posting images for 30 years... 😄
I know it's not, but they must have spotted a few by now, would be nice to have them pointed out. And with those tubes going nowhere for a long time, sadly, spotting such curiosities is increasingly important. (I think the one on the right is a candidate based on my own collection, but *shrug*)
Not a case of funding. The team write regular blog posts and reports, updates etc, but I don't remember many - if any - calls of "Ooh! Look! A meteorite!" Spirit, Oppy and Curi spotted lots of them.
Does anyone else following Perseverance think these rocks, imaged a couple of days ago, look rather.. um... meteorite-y? (I'm amazed the mission team have identified so few starstones in the pix taken by the rover. Are they not looking? Not bothered?) Image Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/ASU/S Atkinson
Meanwhile, on Mars, a nuclear-powered robot geologist and biologist pauses in her epic exploration of the red planet to look back over her shoulder and see the tracks of her wheels in the rust-hued dust... Image Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/S Atkinson
Some #spaceart I've done over the years. Please repost for me. #SciArt
#NASA's #Mars #Perseverance rover Mars Perseverance Sol 1602: Left Navigation Camera (Navcam) mars.nasa.gov/mars2020/mul... NASA/JPL-Caltech/j. Roger Hay un dust devil oscuro en la parte inferior derecha
Done. Bring your paints so you can paint the gorgeous view from the top!
Awful, but no surprise. If anyone out there still actually believes the cackling billionaire vomiting these WiFi routers across the night sky gives a **** about astronomy and science I've a big bag of magic beans here I'd love to sell them.
Anyone fancy joining me on a gentle hike on Mars today? Perseverance took these images a few sols ago and the top of that hill looks like a great spot to sit on a big boulder and take in the view from, don't you think? Image Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/ASU/S Atkinson
Meanwhile, on Mars, Curiosity has a wonderful view over her shoulder as she continues to climb the slopes of Mt Sharp in the centre of Gale Crater... Credits: NASA/JPL-Caltech/S Atkinson
Love this new view of Perseverance's wheel tracks stretching out far, far behind her... (images taken yesterday) Image Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/S Atkinson
By the way, if you signed up on that NASA website all those years ago to send your name to Mars onboard Perseverance, this is where you are, on one of the chips circled. That's you, on Mars!!! Image Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/S Atkinson
...and finally for today, made from Navcam images taken two days ago, a wonderful new view of Perseverance with the Big Country martian landscape stretched out behind her... This took ages to make so I hope you like it enough to Share it! Image Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/S Atkinson
Something a little different tonight: a couple of new, sweeping panoramas made from images sent back yesterday by Curiosity looking down onto and across the faraway floor of Gale Crater... Love the detail on the distant hills. Credits: NASA/JPL-Caltech/S Atkinson
No, I got that :-) I was just giving my view on it.
I don't actually want him, his beliefs and world view anywhere NEAR Mars, even if it means no crewed landing in my lifetime. He would have no interest in science, in looking for native life, it would just be a building site for him to bulldoze and concrete over.
And I say that as a supporter of SpaceX, a huge admirer of what they've done with Dragon & Falcon etc. But the whole Starship lunar mission architecture is absolutely insane. Too many launches, too complicated and a grain silo on Lego legs for a lander.
Does anyone really believe Musk is going to meet that contract? He has zero interest in the Moon, never talks about it. I think he would happily walk away from Artemis. Starship is looking more & more like a dead end to me. We should be watching on-orbit refuelling now, not fireworks displays.
Very nice :-)
Amazingly I managed to beat the weather! Pics of the Moon shining close to Venus (bottom left) and Jupiter (top right) taken from Kendal, Cumbria at around 4.30am today. Images: Stuart Atkinson
Huge THANK YOU to everyone who has Liked and Shared these images, I really appreciate it!
Well, thank you for your very valuable, insightful input and observation. Now bugger off.
I got that, don't worry. Also, these mosaics are made from the lower resolution Navcam images, not the super-sharp Mastcam images, so it's not *all* my fault... 😉
Sounds like a plan! But seriously, there are many *much* more skilful image processors on here who do this too, and much better than I do. You should check them and their work out. 🙂
I'm just going to run that through a translator, give me a moment...
Perseverance can (I think!) but my modest laptop (and limited processing skills) won't let me make super hi-res images, sorry.
Absolutely ridiculous, they're gutting NASA. It will take decades to repair this brutal, orcish vandalism.
Wow, you're fun aren't you? I'll leave you to your miserableness and I'll keep enjoying the view. (And I'm British, so I didn't pay any taxes for this, but if I *had* done I'd have thought it worth it, as I do my taxes which go to ESA)
It's exotic to me and many thousands of people who are still stunned when we take a moment to think "That was taken on another world by a nuclear powered robot, and I can view it hours later, for free".
"Amazing" is a grossly-overused word these days, but sometimes it's the only one to use, and this new view of Mars, made from images taken by Perseverance yesterday, definitely is amazing. I hope you all like it! (Please Share if you do!) Image Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/S Atkinson
By the way, Vicky is an **amazing** space artist too, so if you like seeing beautiful pictures of the universe on your timeline, give her a Follow.
Great astronomy outreach doesn't have to involve holding huge events with hundreds of people. Sometimes just helping one person to see something amazing "up there" creates a magical memory they'll treasure forever. Well done!
Beautiful (I think!) new views of Mars, made from images sent back by the rover Perseverance yesterday... Images Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/ASU/S Atkinson
10 wks since I queried my latest novel "Plains of Gold" with 13 agents. With 2 wks left of the standard "If you've not heard back from us within 12 weeks it's a No" period, only 1 has got back to me, with a form rejection, so it's looking like I'll be self publishing it. Time to polish the blurb!
(before anyone worries, Curiosity is STILL making tracks, even if her wheels are looking a bit like they've been gnawed on by sharks!)
For years I've loved seeing the tracks of the rovers meandering across the dusty surface of Mars. Sojourner, Spirit, Opportunity & Curiosity all left their marks, and Perseverance is doing the same. Here are new views made from images taken Aug 15th. Image Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/S Atkinson
It's not boring to people who appreciate what they're seeing: images taken by a nuclear-powered robot scientist of an ancient landscape shaped by aeons of wind. Proof that in a time of stupidity and rage, science can take us to faraway worlds and show us sights to make us believe we can be better.
For example, I posted these pics yesterday... Look at the Likes... Not complaining, my cat is *gorgeous* & I'm a very proud cat dad, but it does show the level of engagement. Maybe "space people" appreciate the pics but don't feel need to Like/comment on them. I'm probably guilty of that myself.
I don't know. Maybe people are just busy, or less interested in this stuff than they used to be. I'm pretty much making these images for myself now, to use in my Outreach talks, and just hope a few other people like them too.
(David Attenborough voice) Cats... Masters of stealth... Cunning, experts at hiding and blending in with their surroundings, concealing themselves as they silently hunt their prey... Jess:
Doesn't matter, it's still gorgeous!
Here are some new views of Mars made from images sent back by Perseverance yesterday. Absolutely love the contrast of the windblown dunes' soft curves and the bare, jagged rock... Image Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/S Atkinson
Very nice :-)
Very nice! Venus and Jupiter rising together in the north east right now... Image taken from Kendal, Cumbria, 03.25 August 12th, Image: S Atkinson
Up early to try and catch Venus and Jupiter rising close together... ...and there they are! :-)
03:20 in Kendal and seeing a lovely sight, as Jupiter (left) and Venus (right) rise together in the east, London oking like a beautiful double star. Still a couple of mornings away from their closest approach, they're still a striking sight as they climb up from behind the trees...
They...*edited* the Constitution?
Thanks! But they're not organic, we've seen features and structures like these elsewhere on Mars. They didn't walk away from the methane tho; it's being monitored and measured constantly. And there's no "colour masking" going on, all the raws are freely available online for anyone to use & process.
BRILLIANT name!
I hear it all the time... "Mars is boring! It's just covered in rocks and they all look the same!" Oh yeah? Aug 5th Perseverance images: NASA/JPL-Caltech/LANL/CNES/IRAP/S Atkinson (close ups) NASA/JPL-Caltech/ASU/S Atkinson (wider view) Any geology folk still on here plz give info.
Loki's takeover of the publishing world continues!!!
Now that's a view... Panorama made from images sent back from Mars by Perseverance yesterday... Image Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/S Atkinson
Some thin afternoon clouds above the Mars Perseverance Rover tosol on Sol 1584. flic.kr/p/2rkCFt7
Gorgeous, I knew you'd be right on that!
Other, much more skilled image processors will make *much* better versions of this view, made from images taken and sent back by Perseverance from Mars earlier today, but I wanted to have a go myself! Isn't this beautiful? Image Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/S Atkinson
Your regular reminder that my book telling the story - the *whole* story, not a white-washed Disneyfied version of it - of Felicette, the only cat ever to be sent into space, is available for Kindle and in print. There's no happy ending but her story deserves to be told. amzn.eu/d/eZQZDgh
True...
Hello, followers! Sorry, been a bit busy lately so haven't posted much. Here's a glimpse for you of my latest work in progress. Would much appreciate any reposts. Many thanks. #blender #sciart #scapeart
I'm sure you'd be fine. I'm probably already blacklisted in The Business for speaking out against this, and the way new writers basically have to win The Hunger Games to get an agent to reply to their query now.
It's not unfair. Unpopular opinion, I know, but it's essentially fraud. Many of these celebs go on "The One Show" or "This Morning" talking lovingly about 'their book' which they didn't actually write. How can that be right?
The whole "ghost writer" thing is ridiculous tho. It's lying. There are no "ghost footballers", no "ghost chefs", no "ghost artists". If you didn't sit down and write the book you're not its author, simple. But "it's just the way things are done" and won't change, too much ££££ to be earned.
So in that situation it's basically lying. And it's why so many talented, passionate writers trudging around Sainsbury's and Tesco's see shelves groaning under the weight of books by "celebrity authors" and throw up their hands in despair and give up.
That's fair enough. But writers who are constantly told "be patient", "follow The Rules", "it's just the way it's done", "it's just how publishing works" as they wait months for replies from agents see these celebs being tossed big deals and then don't even *write* the books. It's wrong.
Queue-jumpers, mostly; it's wrong that celebs with no love of the craft looking for a way to increase their income stream & profile get deals thrown at them while dedicated writers who love creating and follow "the rules" can't even get agents to reply to their queries.
Take care today, David.
Half an hour(ish) on M13 using my SeeStar S50 before the clouds rolled in. Before and After some in-phone processing. Not bad from the middle of light-polluted Kendal...
*This* is the Mars my kids' SF novel "Plains of Gold" is set on: a world of rolling rocky plains covered in dunes of cinnamon-hued dust beneath a vast sky. Will self-publish it in Dec if no agent/publisher takes it by then. Aug 1 Perseverance images Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/S Atkinson
Not annoying at all! Very grateful for your interest and feedback.
No, sorry, I'm purely an enthusiast who makes pretty pictures for people to (hopefully) enjoy looking at. I leave it to NASA to add that kind of data :-)
(excellent film, by the way, very under-rated)
2010?
The passion I put into processing these images is the same passion I put into writing my children's SF stories set on Mars. I know they'd love them! I just need an agent or a publisher to give me a chance. But it's been years of this now...
54 years ago the Apollo 15 mission was exploring the Hadley Rille area of the rim of the Moon's vast ancient Imbrium Basin. After landing, the 'top' hatch was opened and David Scott obtained panoramas of the surroundings from an elevated view, something done only once. Here is a part of that view.
Something special to share with you all... Earlier today Curiosity took images looking back down the slope of Mt Sharp towards & across Gale Crater's floor - and here they are stitched together to make a sweeping panorama. Hope you like it! Credits: NASA/JPL-Caltech/S Atkinson
Ah, the cat... Elegant, graceful, serene... ;-)
Something special to share with you all this morning: a gorgeous new view of Mars, sent back from the slopes of Mt Sharp by Curiosity just a few hours ago, looking over her shoulder at the floor & distant rim, of Gale Crater... Credits: NASA/JPL-Caltech/S Atkinson
Although their obscene symbiotic relationship has now ended, Trump and Musk are still the two greatest threats facing the world and our future at this time.
Please, Curiosity team, PLEASE, ***PLEASE*** take some colour images of this amazing view...!! Credits: NASA/JPL-Caltech/S Atkinson
It's #NationalMarineWeek so what better time to pick up a copy of the acclaimed children's book #DayOfTheWhale by @racheldelahaye.bsky.social which is a love letter to nature and a plea to conserve our oceans, wrapped up in an island thriller!
"Paint me like one of your French cats, Jack..."
Not the most beautiful astrophoto ever taken, I know it won't win any awards/be published anywhere, but I don't care, I was *so* chuffed I managed to image the supernova in this 40m LY distant galaxy last night with my SeeStar from the middle of light-polluted Kendal in Cumbria!
...meanwhile, on Mars, Curiosity, a nuclear-powered robot geologist is slowly but surely making her way up the slopes of an ancient mountain in the centre of a huge impact crater, leaving her wheel tracks in the cinnamon-hued dust... Credits: NASA/JPL-Caltech/S Atkinson
Still only 2 replies out of the 13 agents I queried my MG SF Mars novel "Plains of Gold" to so I will try indie publishers next. Frustrating. It's an amazing story, kids would love it, but I don't think I'm what agents are looking for, I don't tick their marketing boxes...so...
Nice dust devil caught whirling and twirling across Mars yesterday, by the Perseverance Mars rover... Image Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/S Atkinson
A couple of new sweeping martian panoramas, made from images sent back by the rover Curiosity currently exploring the slopes of Mt Sharp on Mars... Credits: NASA/JPL-Caltech/S Atkinson
Jess, so unimpressed (as usual) by my latest feature for BBC Sky at Night Magazine - a look-back at how beautiful Comet Hale-Bopp was - that she'd rather watch squirrels and pigeons messing about on CatsTV than read her dad's work. Thanks J. ;-)
Jess, bless her, proving yet again that she is the worst Hide and Seek player **ever**...
🤗 thank you for putting me in the spotlight!
You hear it all the time: "Mars is awful", "Mars is a dump". Well, fine, don't go, don't look at it or even think about it. Leave it for those of us who see the beauty in its rocks & hear the singing of its icy winds to enjoy. Perseverance Images Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/ASU/S Atkinson
