Staring At The Sun

“On April 29, 2015, NuSTAR, Hinode, and Solar Dynamics Observatory all stared at our Sun. 

Flaring, active regions of our Sun are highlighted in this image combining observations from  Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array, or NuSTAR (shown in blue); low-energy X-rays from Japan's Hinode spacecraft are green; and extreme ultraviolet light from Solar Dynamics Observatory, or SDO, are yellow and red. This NuSTAR image is a mosaic made from combining smaller images.

The active regions across the Sun’s surface contain material heated to several millions of degrees. The blue-white areas showing the NuSTAR data pinpoint the most energetic spots. During the observations, microflares went off, which are smaller versions of the larger flares that also erupt from the sun's surface. The microflares rapidly release energy and heat the material in the active regions.”

https://www.nasa.gov/image-feature/staring-at-the-sun

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Originally posted on Twitter.

CosmoQuest-A-Con Recap

I had a fabulous time at CosmoQuest-A-Con last weekend. The sci-fi improv panel Friday evening (with Keren Landsman, Stephen Granade, Mur Lafferty and Greg Gbur) was ridiculous and hilarious - Hitchhiker's Guide has nothing on the stories we wove - and the spec-fic discussion on Sunday was a delightful celebration of being a geek in the '80s sci-fi heyday.

But, objectively, the *best* panel had to be "Imagining Humans In Space" (with Tim Chrisman, Brian Gray and Morgan Rehnberg). We had such a fascinating conversation about growing up in the space shuttle era, how we lost our way in the '90s and 2000s, and what we're doing - and still need to do - to seize the opportunity the burgeoning private space race has given us and get humanity to the stars to stay. I'm proud to have been part of this excellent discussion.

If you missed the panel but would like to check it out (it lasts an hour and change), you can watch it on Twitch here: https://www.twitch.tv/videos/1089556001?t=01h22m50s.

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Originally posted on Facebook.

Montana Valley Book Store

During our mountain getaway, we stumbled upon this small-town used bookstore. It doesn't look like much from the outside, does it?

Well, that impression quickly changed on venturing inside. There are definitely 100,000 books available (thanks to a huge basement that is just amazing). Classic paperback releases with old-school covers, new hardbacks and everything in between. Books on every topic imaginable. A hefty section of signed and special books.

We spent half an hour talking to the wonderful owner. She followed her father into the used book business, and she regaled us with a lifetime of stories of funny author readings (starring local authors James Lee Burke and James Crumley, plus a great story about J.K. Rowling), as well as crazy tales of rare and signed books that had passed through the store.

We walked away with 5 books, of course, and a desire to return. And because we live in the modern world now, it turns out the store has a lovely website: https://www.montanavalleybookstore.com/.

Sometimes it's worth it to venture off the interstate.

Originally posted on Facebook and Instagram.

New Shepard Launch and the Future of Space Tourism

You know something important is happening when every member of my (non-spacey) family messages me to see if I'm watching.

Jeff Bezos, Wally Funk (now the oldest astronaut), Mark Bezos and Oliver Daemen (now the youngest astronaut) have gone to space and returned to Earth in Blue Origin's first crewed flight of New Shepard! I love the unabashed joy we heard from the crew as they floated in weightlessness, looking down upon the Earth and up into the stars.

The future of human tourism in space is now upon us. Yeah, yeah, they paid $28 million for the privilege. But that price is going to drop like a...well, like a rocket booster on its way back down, lol. I'm starting my savings fund today.

Originally posted on Facebook.

Dragons

From reader Sam Ash Rob on Facebook:

“Re-reading 'Starshine', a fun game came to me. Post the opening lines of a famous book, and add 'and that was when the dragon attacked.'

I'll start.

'James Bond, with two double bourbons inside him, sat in the final departure lounge of Miami Airport and thought abo'ut life and death. And that was when the dragon attacked.'

Goldfinger, Ian Fleming”

My contribution:

"In the week before their departure to Arrakis, when all the final scurrying about had reached a nearly unbearable frenzy, an old crone came to visit the mother of the boy, Paul. And that was when the dragon attacked."

- Dune, Frank Herbert

This generated a really awesome thread on Facebook - so many great opening lines from incredible books, and each one turned funny, witty, ridiculous and more with the addition of dragons. ;) If you’re so inclined, give the comments a read, and add your contribution below!

The Size of Space

This isn't the first "relative size of objects in the universe" graphic to be created, but this one caught my attention beause it includes several of the famous nebulae we all recognize, and the comparison casts them in a new light.

Just use the arrow keys or swipe to experience how tiny we are, and how vast the universe is: https://neal.fun/size-of-space/

Thanks to James Jackson for the link!

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Originally posted on Facebook.

Red Rock Canyon

Okay, one more hike. This one (Red Rock Canyon) was a little different, scenery-wise: less forested mountains, more central Colorado's vaunted red rocks and expansive vistas.

The picture of me sitting on the ledge comes with a story. When we we came upon the outcropping, I immediately scrambled up it and plopped down. Then I declared, "This is exactly like in DISSONANCE when Alex and Caleb visited Seneca's doppleganger planet in the Mosaic. They went up into the mountains, then found a ledge, sat on the edge of it to contemplate the view, and said philosophical things."

#MrJennsen: "And what philosophical things do you have to say?"

Me: "That I wrote a scene where my characters sat on a ledge in the mountains and said philosophical things."

Originally posted on Facebook and Instagram.

There's Coffee In That Nebula

‘I have a problem, and its name is “Jordandene.” In addition to the "There's Coffee In That Nebula" shirt pictured (virtual gold star to you if you know the reference!), over the last few months I have collected the following apparel:

- TWO styles of "We're All Mad Here"

- "Higher, Further, Faster"

- "Punch Holes In The Sky"

- "We're All Stories In The End"

I would say, "Send Help!" But honestly, I think I'm good. I mean, I might need "We Make Our Own Future." And "Look to the Stars. Aim. Ignite.".....

If you want to join me in my crazy, you can visit https://jordandene.com/ (No, I'm in no way whatsoever being paid for feauturing them. But if they *want* to offer me a discount, I could certainly use it.... )

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Originally posted on Facebook and Instagram.

We're Going Back to Hell!

Er, I mean, Venus - so very lovely from afar, so very deadly up close.

DAVINCI+, slated to launch around 2029, will fly by Venus twice to snap close-up photos of the planet’s surface before tossing a robotic probe into its thick atmosphere to measure its gasses and other elements.

VERITAS is slated to launch around 2028. It’ll orbit Venus and map its surface, giving scientists a better picture of the planet’s geological history. It’ll use a synthetic aperture radar and track surface elevations to “create 3D reconstructions of topography and confirm whether processes such as plate tectonics and volcanism are still active on Venus,” NASA said in a statement.

Another camera on VERITAS will be sensitive to a wavelength that could spot signs of water vapor in Venus’ atmosphere, which, if detected, could hint that active volcanoes had been degassing on the planet’s surface sometime long ago.

Both missions are part of NASA's Discovery Program, which is focused on solar system exploration. Each mission has a far lower cost cap than NASA's "big" missions, and tends to be more focused on a specific scientific goal.

https://www.theverge.com/2021/6/2/22465588/nasa-mission-to-venus-davinci-veritas-discovery-program

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Originally posted on Facebook.

I Sneaked In a Getaway....

Nothing like recharging with a steady stream of beautiful sunrises and sunsets. Thank you, Florida! Now to wrangle this book in submission....

Originally posted on Facebook and Instagram.

Character Art Appreciation

Since she's currently winning the spin-off poll...in my mind, this is the spitting image of Marlee.

(I did take some color liberties with the original image to make it even more on point, but her expression and demeanor grabbed me immediately. All credit to the artist, Shai Daniel: https://www.artstation.com/artwork/zOoz3Z)

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Originally posted on Facebook.

Ingenuity's Many Successes

Ginny has done such an incredible job in 5 flights (each one more daring than the last), that NASA is extending its mission! The little helicopter that could is no longer a simple technology demonstration - now it's going to be Percy's assistant for a while.

https://www.npr.org/2021/05/01/992739491/nasa-makes-new-plans-for-ingenuity-helicopter-on-mars

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Originally posted on Facebook.