Stuart Atkinson
@stuartatkinson.bsky.social
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.
Pinned
Hi... If you Followed me as "Mars_Stu" over on the other place I hope you'll do the same here. If you didn't, but like space (especially Mars), SF & cats I'd be delighted if you'd Follow me here! Here's an example of the image processing I do... Credit: Image Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/ASU/S Atkinson
Just sent in a feature to three different astro magazines. Hope one of them takes it...
September 23, 2026 at 9:45 AM
Just sent in a feature to three different astro magazines. Hope one of them takes it...
Reposted by Stuart Atkinson
It is the autumn equinox tomorrow
The equinox hare is on their way. Those who are quiet of heart and walk the hedge might catch a glimpse. Do say hello if you do
The equinox hare is on their way. Those who are quiet of heart and walk the hedge might catch a glimpse. Do say hello if you do
September 22, 2026 at 6:45 PM
It is the autumn equinox tomorrow
The equinox hare is on their way. Those who are quiet of heart and walk the hedge might catch a glimpse. Do say hello if you do
The equinox hare is on their way. Those who are quiet of heart and walk the hedge might catch a glimpse. Do say hello if you do
Had a loooooong list of writing jobs to do today on my so-called "day off" but they're all done, so time now to just chill with J and probably fall asleep like this ...
September 21, 2026 at 2:34 PM
Had a loooooong list of writing jobs to do today on my so-called "day off" but they're all done, so time now to just chill with J and probably fall asleep like this ...
Reposted by Stuart Atkinson
BlueSky! Any Sunday chores on your to-do list today that would benefit from an audio accompaniment? Here is me & Jason Goodyer (editor of BBC Science Focus) having a lovely long blether about reality. Suitable for both cooking and cleaning activities. You're welcome 🤗🧪🔭
🔗: pod.link/1296673906/e...
🔗: pod.link/1296673906/e...
September 20, 2026 at 9:01 AM
BlueSky! Any Sunday chores on your to-do list today that would benefit from an audio accompaniment? Here is me & Jason Goodyer (editor of BBC Science Focus) having a lovely long blether about reality. Suitable for both cooking and cleaning activities. You're welcome 🤗🧪🔭
🔗: pod.link/1296673906/e...
🔗: pod.link/1296673906/e...
Precious time with Jess last night, she dozed in my arm, "you're not going anywhere" paw clamped firmly on my knee while I binge-watched Neagley...
September 20, 2026 at 8:33 AM
Precious time with Jess last night, she dozed in my arm, "you're not going anywhere" paw clamped firmly on my knee while I binge-watched Neagley...
Seestar S50 image of the Pacman Nebula, taken in the early hours of Sept 20th. I know, I must be the last Seestar user on the planet to take a pic of this nebula, but it was worth waiting for :-)
September 20, 2026 at 8:28 AM
Seestar S50 image of the Pacman Nebula, taken in the early hours of Sept 20th. I know, I must be the last Seestar user on the planet to take a pic of this nebula, but it was worth waiting for :-)
In the early hours of this morning I set up my vintage Seestar S50 to take some more images of the galaxy NGC 7331 with the supernova shining near its centre...
September 20, 2026 at 8:24 AM
In the early hours of this morning I set up my vintage Seestar S50 to take some more images of the galaxy NGC 7331 with the supernova shining near its centre...
No, seriously - whatever you're doing just stop and take a moment to admire the pure beauty of these ancient Martian rocks, seen by Curiosity just a few hours ago... Images: NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS/fredk/S Atkinson (that big twisty, dark, knobbly one HAS to be a meteorite, surely?)
September 20, 2026 at 7:58 AM
No, seriously - whatever you're doing just stop and take a moment to admire the pure beauty of these ancient Martian rocks, seen by Curiosity just a few hours ago... Images: NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS/fredk/S Atkinson (that big twisty, dark, knobbly one HAS to be a meteorite, surely?)
Clear sky earlier so had the Seestar S50 out in the yard, taking pics of the supernova in galaxy NGC 7331...
September 20, 2026 at 1:26 AM
Clear sky earlier so had the Seestar S50 out in the yard, taking pics of the supernova in galaxy NGC 7331...
This TEMU Bond villain simply will not be satisfied until the night sky is totally f***d. Who the **** made him Emperor of Earth with the right to destroy the ground beneath our feet and the sky above our heads?
September 20, 2026 at 12:37 AM
This TEMU Bond villain simply will not be satisfied until the night sky is totally f***d. Who the **** made him Emperor of Earth with the right to destroy the ground beneath our feet and the sky above our heads?
Cats... Graceful, elegant, refined, mysterious...
September 19, 2026 at 5:06 PM
Cats... Graceful, elegant, refined, mysterious...
Reposted by Stuart Atkinson
Tomorrow (Sat 19 Sept) at 12:30pm UK time, I'm doing a talk about astronomy sketching and art for the Photonica festival. It's being streamed live for free on YouTube so if you'd like to watch live or catch up afterwards, here's the link:
youtu.be/7eJu5EpIOKA?...
youtu.be/7eJu5EpIOKA?...
September 18, 2026 at 10:48 PM
Tomorrow (Sat 19 Sept) at 12:30pm UK time, I'm doing a talk about astronomy sketching and art for the Photonica festival. It's being streamed live for free on YouTube so if you'd like to watch live or catch up afterwards, here's the link:
youtu.be/7eJu5EpIOKA?...
youtu.be/7eJu5EpIOKA?...
Lots to do tonight, clearing the Admin decks before starting a Big Writing Job tomorrow morning... so of course J had other ideas.
She was there curled up in my arm with her head in my hand for almost an hour.
But that's ok, it's in my Cat Dad Contract. :-)
She was there curled up in my arm with her head in my hand for almost an hour.
But that's ok, it's in my Cat Dad Contract. :-)
September 18, 2026 at 6:58 PM
Lots to do tonight, clearing the Admin decks before starting a Big Writing Job tomorrow morning... so of course J had other ideas.
She was there curled up in my arm with her head in my hand for almost an hour.
But that's ok, it's in my Cat Dad Contract. :-)
She was there curled up in my arm with her head in my hand for almost an hour.
But that's ok, it's in my Cat Dad Contract. :-)
You might want to sit down for these... 5,014 days after it landed, the Curiosity rover sent back these absolutely stunning images of Mars. The rover's incredible team deserves some credit from NASA's bosses for their achievement. Images: NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS/fredk/Additional processing S Atkinson
September 17, 2026 at 11:11 PM
You might want to sit down for these... 5,014 days after it landed, the Curiosity rover sent back these absolutely stunning images of Mars. The rover's incredible team deserves some credit from NASA's bosses for their achievement. Images: NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS/fredk/Additional processing S Atkinson
The Curiosity team just marked, and I'm sure celebrated, a huge milestone in the mission: 5000 days on Mars! HUGE congratulations to them - and shame on NASA bosses, including Administrator Jared Isaacman, for totally ignoring it. New NASA is "Moon! Moon! Moon!", and pretending Mars doesn't exist.
September 17, 2026 at 5:05 PM
The Curiosity team just marked, and I'm sure celebrated, a huge milestone in the mission: 5000 days on Mars! HUGE congratulations to them - and shame on NASA bosses, including Administrator Jared Isaacman, for totally ignoring it. New NASA is "Moon! Moon! Moon!", and pretending Mars doesn't exist.
Close-up of the beautifully-layered, wind- and time-sculpted rocks currently being cracked and scrunched beneath Curiosity's weary wheels... Love how abstract this looks... Image credits: NASA/JPL-Caltech/S Atkinson
September 16, 2026 at 9:33 AM
Close-up of the beautifully-layered, wind- and time-sculpted rocks currently being cracked and scrunched beneath Curiosity's weary wheels... Love how abstract this looks... Image credits: NASA/JPL-Caltech/S Atkinson
...meanwhile, on Mars, Curiosity is driving over some fascinating-looking rocks as she works her way up the valley high up on the slopes of Mt Sharp in the centre of Gale Crater... Image Credits: NASA/JPL-Caltech/S Atkinson
September 16, 2026 at 9:21 AM
...meanwhile, on Mars, Curiosity is driving over some fascinating-looking rocks as she works her way up the valley high up on the slopes of Mt Sharp in the centre of Gale Crater... Image Credits: NASA/JPL-Caltech/S Atkinson
"Mars is boring. It's just covered in rocks and they all look the same!" Oh yeah? The Curiosity rover begs to differ. Look at this amazing view taken yesterday. (No, I don't know the scale, or what they are, I'm just *showing* you!) Images: NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS/fredk/S Atkinson
September 15, 2026 at 8:31 AM
"Mars is boring. It's just covered in rocks and they all look the same!" Oh yeah? The Curiosity rover begs to differ. Look at this amazing view taken yesterday. (No, I don't know the scale, or what they are, I'm just *showing* you!) Images: NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS/fredk/S Atkinson
Reposted by Stuart Atkinson
SCI-FI GIVEAWAY!
Launch day tomorrow for Wild Skies & I have a deal for UK-based readers (it's a postage thing, sorry)
Pre-order Wild Skies tonight (14/9) by 23.59, tell me you've done it in the comments, & you're in the draw for one of 3 limited-edition paperback copies of book 1, Special Delivery
Launch day tomorrow for Wild Skies & I have a deal for UK-based readers (it's a postage thing, sorry)
Pre-order Wild Skies tonight (14/9) by 23.59, tell me you've done it in the comments, & you're in the draw for one of 3 limited-edition paperback copies of book 1, Special Delivery
September 14, 2026 at 5:38 PM
SCI-FI GIVEAWAY!
Launch day tomorrow for Wild Skies & I have a deal for UK-based readers (it's a postage thing, sorry)
Pre-order Wild Skies tonight (14/9) by 23.59, tell me you've done it in the comments, & you're in the draw for one of 3 limited-edition paperback copies of book 1, Special Delivery
Launch day tomorrow for Wild Skies & I have a deal for UK-based readers (it's a postage thing, sorry)
Pre-order Wild Skies tonight (14/9) by 23.59, tell me you've done it in the comments, & you're in the draw for one of 3 limited-edition paperback copies of book 1, Special Delivery
It's a popular astronomy cliche that there are more stars in the universe than there are grains of sand on all the beaches on Earth. Hard to visualise that, of course, but look at these two images with very different fields of view... Mind-blowing, right? And very beautiful too, I think...
September 14, 2026 at 10:28 AM
It's a popular astronomy cliche that there are more stars in the universe than there are grains of sand on all the beaches on Earth. Hard to visualise that, of course, but look at these two images with very different fields of view... Mind-blowing, right? And very beautiful too, I think...
Whatever you're doing, please, just stop for a moment to imagine you're kneeling down on the surface of Mars and trailing your gloved fingers through this beautifully coloured grit covering the ground around you... (Curiosity image) NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS/fredk/S Atkinson
September 14, 2026 at 10:06 AM
Whatever you're doing, please, just stop for a moment to imagine you're kneeling down on the surface of Mars and trailing your gloved fingers through this beautifully coloured grit covering the ground around you... (Curiosity image) NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS/fredk/S Atkinson
As you read this, 261 million km away on Mars, a nuclear-powered robot geologist/astrobiologist called Curiosity is looking down at the ground between its torn and weary wheels and seeing this beautiful sight... NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS/fredk/S Atkinson
September 14, 2026 at 9:52 AM
As you read this, 261 million km away on Mars, a nuclear-powered robot geologist/astrobiologist called Curiosity is looking down at the ground between its torn and weary wheels and seeing this beautiful sight... NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS/fredk/S Atkinson
Mars has some spectacularly insanely huge features - towering volcanoes, deep valleys, vast deserts - but kneel down in the cinnamon-hued dust and you'll also see it has exquisitely beautiful smaller features on its surface too... Sept 14th Curiosity images credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/S Atkinson
September 14, 2026 at 9:41 AM
Mars has some spectacularly insanely huge features - towering volcanoes, deep valleys, vast deserts - but kneel down in the cinnamon-hued dust and you'll also see it has exquisitely beautiful smaller features on its surface too... Sept 14th Curiosity images credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/S Atkinson
Just over a month to go until the 63rd anniversary of the flight of Felicette, the first & only cat to fly into space, on Oct 18th 1963. I'll be making an extra effort to commemorate it this year, so I hope all my cat-people Followers will help me with that?
September 14, 2026 at 9:17 AM
Just over a month to go until the 63rd anniversary of the flight of Felicette, the first & only cat to fly into space, on Oct 18th 1963. I'll be making an extra effort to commemorate it this year, so I hope all my cat-people Followers will help me with that?
Some recent pics of my girl Jess, to cheer up anyone who needs it on this dreary, grey, damp Monday morning...
September 14, 2026 at 6:33 AM
Some recent pics of my girl Jess, to cheer up anyone who needs it on this dreary, grey, damp Monday morning...