Nostr notes by Elizabeth Tasker

Japan. You’re drunk. ...

2026-04-28T06:48:04Z

Japan. You’re drunk.

@nprofile…v2v2 I know gather.town and also like it! Typically, ...

2026-04-20T09:46:26Z

In reply to nevent1q…hcch
_________________________

nprofile1qy2hwumn8ghj7un9d3shjtnyd968gmewwp6kyqpqncxka2nmkqkndk4wkuf3tz3l39z9m8xax3aen3h8tvudwgjmf5mq4uv2v2 (nprofile…v2v2) I know gather.town and also like it! Typically, we need the functionality of both v. 1.0 (ability to stream the conference talks into the platform) and 2.0 (async chat discussions) combined... which isn't offered 🤦 We are now looking at WorkAdventure which is very similar ....

Anyone have a good (and cheap) conference platform for ...

2026-04-20T00:25:13Z

Anyone have a good (and cheap) conference platform for online/hybrid meetings?

I really want the talks streamed into the platform, rather than using a separate app like Zoom, to keep everyone together for talks, questions, and discussion.

Budget is uncertain, so we were considering "Discord", but the new age verification (needed for "stage access") could be a barrier.

Is it absolutely ridiculous to buy frozen baked potatoes? Yes. ...

2026-04-11T12:11:24Z

Is it absolutely ridiculous to buy frozen baked potatoes?

Yes.

Are they delicious and perfectly cooked after five minutes in the microwave?

Also yes.

I shut my laptop with a snap. I’m still in a meeting. What is ...

2026-03-10T08:29:37Z

I shut my laptop with a snap.

I’m still in a meeting.

What is this in-person nonsense?

This year, the JAXA Martian Moons eXploration (#MMX) mission will ...

2026-03-10T05:52:34Z

This year, the JAXA Martian Moons eXploration (#MMX) mission will launch for Phobos 🛰️! The spacecraft is stuffed with instruments to study everything from composition to the radiation environment 🔭, and will return the first sample from the Mars region to Earth 🧪. Annnd our website was just updated!

https://www.mmx.jaxa.jp/en/

This drawer is just cats. #NorahNeko #CasperCat ...

2026-03-08T22:53:54Z

This drawer is just cats.
#NorahNeko #CasperCat

And now I am carrying a toilet seat through the streets of Tokyo ...

2026-03-01T09:00:57Z

And now I am carrying a toilet seat through the streets of Tokyo at dusk. Looking damn casual.

Took a quick detour to mail back the old apartment router.

The shop dude had questions. He fought them bravely.

Nostr event nevent1qqs8fjc37uaypap8umgdc3z22cgvnu0gxdwv30280aj8cfwcpr5ursszyr2fhhm42cy09axe2cp2fw6pj7903fnq383j3gq5q2dg7ahgn6d5z6dyff0

2026-02-19T10:47:10Z

Apparently, you can arrest presidents and kings.

Tonight, I ordered this complete abomination. It’s a Pizza Hut ...

2026-01-16T12:10:36Z

Tonight, I ordered this complete abomination. It’s a Pizza Hut pizza slice filled with… strawberry KitKats.

Hey, I did not invent it. But I did eat it. For science.

It is overly sweet. And indeed, abominable.

SO... when I was at the vet, the receptionist handed me a bag of ...

2025-12-30T10:21:22Z

SO... when I was at the vet, the receptionist handed me a bag of home grown vegetables.

This was both super kind and... surprising... as I was expecting cat medicine, and also I always thought she found my terrible Japanese annoying 🤔 She seems to have decided that should live, and am not doing the greatest job at that.

But... what are these? The little radishes are kabu (right?) and the misshapen rocks are maybe... taro?

There is a candidate JAXA mission for a UV space telescope named ...

2025-12-16T08:39:49Z

There is a candidate JAXA mission for a UV space telescope named LAPYUTA: Life-environmentology, Astronomy, and PlanetarY Ultraviolet Telescope Assembly.

And I have googled it, and suspect "environmentology" is a made-up word that Japan is trying to pass off as real 😐

I thought this would be a mistake. And I was quite correct. ...

2025-12-12T04:53:21Z

I thought this would be a mistake. And I was quite correct.
(It’s a sweet taste in what should be a savory situation!)

My oil radiator has had a broken caster for… some years! It ...

2025-12-06T08:05:09Z

My oil radiator has had a broken caster for… some years! It only just occurred to me that this might be easily fixable. And indeed, you can buy a new set of wheels designed to fit these radiators very easily and quite cheaply. The wheels are even better than the originals 😅

Just to note that there is royal precedent for drowning scumbag ...

2025-10-31T07:23:38Z

Just to note that there is royal precedent for drowning scumbag brothers of kings in barrels of malmsey wine.

Happy #caturday! (with #NorahNeko) ...

2025-10-12T00:37:58Z

Happy #caturday! (with #NorahNeko)

It’s our open day at ISAS. A terrifying prospect, and it’s ...

2025-10-11T03:08:16Z

It’s our open day at ISAS. A terrifying prospect, and it’s pouring with rain. But this is a half-scale model of the Martian Moons eXploration (MMX) spacecraft. HALF SCALE. It’s the biggest spacecraft we’ve ever built 😳

A seasonable sweet potato milk drink is a very Japan’s take on ...

2025-10-10T00:24:24Z

A seasonable sweet potato milk drink is a very Japan’s take on pumpkin spice 🍠🥛

KANGANAUT! 👩‍🚀🦘That is all. ...

2025-10-07T03:44:05Z

KANGANAUT! 👩‍🚀🦘That is all.

Tomorrow (10/07) at 10:30am ACDT, #JAXA ISAS Director General ...

2025-10-06T05:20:42Z

Tomorrow (10/07) at 10:30am ACDT, #JAXA ISAS Director General Fujimoto Masaki will give a talk (online and on-site) about the #Hayabusa2 mission 🛰️, as a fragment of asteroid Ryugu is unveiled for display at the Australian Space Discovery Centre in Adelaide 🪨!

Adelaide is the nearest big city to Woomera, where the sample capsule from Hayabusa2 landed. So this little grain is coming back to its first Earth home!

Register here (all free):
https://www.space.gov.au/news-and-media/event-from-ryugu-to-earth-bringing-hayabusa2-home

I have gained a supportive koala. ...

2025-10-02T07:33:23Z

I have gained a supportive koala.

2 space agencies, 2 epic missions, 1 in-coming asteroid, and 1 ...

2025-10-01T11:30:30Z

2 space agencies,
2 epic missions,
1 in-coming asteroid, and
1 sweet logo!

A joint launch for the ESA Ramses and JAXA DESTINY+ missions onboard the JAXA H3 is under consideration 🚀🛰️🛰️ Both missions will observe asteroid Apophis which will NOT HIT THE EARTH but make a close approach in 2029.

Now that the lower space has been reclaimed, we have moved to our ...

2025-09-05T05:18:55Z

In reply to nevent1q…fz47
_________________________

Now that the lower space has been reclaimed, we have moved to our preferred vantage hang-out to see off a garbage truck singing a merry tune, and take a bath. #NorahNeko

I caved. Yet, there is still judgement. #NorahNeko ...

2025-09-05T04:26:22Z

In reply to nevent1q…jdj0
_________________________

I caved. Yet, there is still judgement. #NorahNeko

We have never used this lower cat bed, which is really a crash ...

2025-09-05T03:53:48Z

We have never used this lower cat bed, which is really a crash mat for the window hammock, UNTIL I took part of the space for some books. Now, outrage 😐 #NorahNeko

This month, a sample grain from asteroid Ryugu has been on ...

2025-08-26T12:44:22Z

This month, a sample grain from asteroid Ryugu has been on display in Bangkok and Chiang Mai in Thailand! 🛰️

I'll be giving a public talk at the NARIT HQ at Princess Sirindhorn AstroPark on Saturday to mark the closure of the exhibit, and I made a short montage of a few great snaps of #AsteroidGrainsOnTour! 🔭

My coauthor, not entirely helping. #NorahNeko ...

2025-08-24T06:16:40Z

My coauthor, not entirely helping. #NorahNeko

How is it that the balcony cat food and water end up in such a ...

2025-08-22T11:33:54Z

How is it that the balcony cat food and water end up in such a mess? …. I wonder no longer 😮‍💨 #NotCatsOfTheBalcony

A sample grain from asteroid Ryugu is now on display at the NARIT ...

2025-08-22T02:03:33Z

A sample grain from asteroid Ryugu is now on display at the NARIT HQ in the Princess Sirindhorn AstroPark in Chiang Mai, Thailand!

The last day of the exhibit will be August 30, and I'll be giving a public talk in Chiang Mai that evening on the JAXA Hayabusa2 mission, and the science n' smuggling of the asteroid grains.

The Nagano “High Rail 1375” train refers to the highest point ...

2025-08-18T11:42:14Z

The Nagano “High Rail 1375” train refers to the highest point on the JR rail lines at 1375m. The “closest to the sky” train is kitted out in an astronomy theme and if you ride at night, you’ll stop at Nobeyama station (home of Japan’s radio telescope facilities) for a star gazing event enroute 🌟🚞

English wallpaper, Japanese sentiment 😐 ...

2025-08-14T12:13:06Z

English wallpaper, Japanese sentiment 😐

The reclining golden Buddha of Wat Pho in Bangkok. This amazing ...

2025-08-11T05:43:12Z

The reclining golden Buddha of Wat Pho in Bangkok. This amazing Buddha sprawls 46m in length and is 15 m high. The temple complex is huge and old (predating Bangkok) with many statues and chedi (stupa). Very awesome, would recommend.

It’s not yet 7am, but the train is now so packed that we’re ...

2025-08-07T22:05:11Z

It’s not yet 7am, but the train is now so packed that we’re shoulder to shoulder.

A padded bag is protectively being held between my feet, like a baby lion cub. Inside, is a 4.56 billion year asteroid fragment.

Innocently googles, “what plug adaptor do I need for ...

2025-08-07T05:43:26Z

Innocently googles, “what plug adaptor do I need for Thailand?”

Google: it’s plug roulette, friend.

I’m looking into buying a home in Japan. I’m currently ...

2025-08-05T03:19:55Z

I’m looking into buying a home in Japan. I’m currently appreciating this option, whose bedroom bay window extends into the void, perfect for your screaming needs 😐

Notably, there are no internal photographs of this property. Is that grounds for a visit? Maybe. What does one wear for a void?

NHK weather be like, THERE IS A HUGE FREAKING SUN OUT THERE, ...

2025-07-30T00:25:05Z

NHK weather be like, THERE IS A HUGE FREAKING SUN OUT THERE, PEOPLE.

Unsure how to assign an asteroid grain super-powers? The only ...

2025-07-21T02:57:46Z

In reply to nevent1q…9hax
_________________________

Unsure how to assign an asteroid grain super-powers? The only part I felt was missing from the information from JAXA Curation was a few examples of trading cards, translated into English. So here are four translated trading cards for grains from asteroid Ryugu.

Truthfully, I vibe HARD with the "Orion" power for A0507, that plummets your ability by 1000 during the summer ☀️. The Omelette Rock is secretly a maths test.

To assign a Bennu asteroid grain appropriate powers, you can fill ...

2025-07-21T02:54:15Z

In reply to nevent1q…vqql
_________________________

To assign a Bennu asteroid grain appropriate powers, you can fill in the suggestion form here:

https://forms.office.com/r/FrQNcBEzi5

I did hear the number of entries was not super high, so if you sneak in a suggestion, a trading card might have your name on it (literally).

Y'all thought you had me, but then I played Ryugu grain C0227 ...

2025-07-21T02:51:27Z

Y'all thought you had me, but then I played Ryugu grain C0227 and it was OVER!

JAXA Curation have created a trading cards game with the cards featuring asteroid grains from Itokawa (Hayabusa mission 🦸 ) and Ryugu (Hayabusa2 mission 🦸‍♀️ ), and they're now a calling for suggestions for the super-powers Bennu grains (OSIRIS-REx mission) might possess! 🦹‍♂️

The catch is the deadline is today: 07/21.

(Images from the JAXA Curation twitter post.)

At a session on careers at the “Advancing Nuclear Astrophysics ...

2025-07-16T12:22:46Z

At a session on careers at the “Advancing Nuclear Astrophysics and Beyond” workshop in Osaka, Baba Yoshiko talked about her work in research support and the three questions you should ask (along with her personal answers) when considering a job or career path.

(At the salon getting my hair washed) “Are you going out ...

2025-07-12T06:44:53Z

(At the salon getting my hair washed)

“Are you going out anywhere nice later?”

I do not get my hair done to hit the town 🧑‍🎤. I get a cut so that the outer visage does not echo the uncontrolled chaos within and it seems reasonable to continue to employ me 🌪️🧑‍💻.

My cousin is visiting Tokyo, and she was hoping to buy a a ...

2025-06-26T13:33:58Z

My cousin is visiting Tokyo, and she was hoping to buy a a Japanese painting (or other artwork) on a scroll. Any ideas where you might be able to get something like that? 🤔

The USA Pavilion at the #EXPO2025 is both well done and sad. ...

2025-06-08T05:06:47Z

The USA Pavilion at the #EXPO2025 is both well done and sad. Images burst with diversity, advertise opportunities for overseas students, and proudly applaud scientific programs that are now decimated. With a mascot jingle about togetherness, this is a time capsule constructed in a different era.

It’s been a tough week, and I think we can all agree that no ...

2025-05-25T06:39:03Z

It’s been a tough week, and I think we can all agree that no one feels that more than #NorahNeko 😐

Tokyo is currently hosting “Hokusai: Another Story”, which is ...

2025-05-24T10:54:40Z

Tokyo is currently hosting “Hokusai: Another Story”, which is an immersive art exhibition of the work of Hokusai Katsushika, perhaps most famous for “The Great Wave of Kanagawa”. The main exhibits are 20k digital remasters of Hokusai’s art, gently animated, and projected onto walls and floors.

Tis the “dawn” or “sunrise”, or in Japanese, あかつき ...

2025-05-19T19:32:04Z

Tis the “dawn” or “sunrise”, or in Japanese, あかつき (akatsuki) and ひので (hinode). And these are also the name of two JAXA missions.

Akatsuki explored the climate of Venus, while Hinode studies the Sun.

It’s also 4:30am due to Japan having no daylight saving 😐

I have just arrived back in Japan, bringing home the 1:20 scale ...

2025-05-08T10:04:10Z

I have just arrived back in Japan, bringing home the 1:20 scale model of the JAXA Hayabusa2 spacecraft that has been on display at the London Science Museum.

Five customs officials examined the model.

There was nothing amiss with the paperwork. They just wanted to see the model 😂

The gulls must be stopped! ...

2025-05-01T14:11:11Z

The gulls must be stopped!

Britain, biological sex does matter for ice cream. It does not ...

2025-04-30T13:03:32Z

Britain, biological sex does matter for ice cream.

It does not matter for public toilets.

Could we perhaps partake in proper professional opinion before preventing access to both of the above?

Almost (but not quite!) rained out for tennis! Snapped a few ...

2025-04-06T05:15:56Z

Almost (but not quite!) rained out for tennis! Snapped a few squelchy photos of the surrounding cherries 🌸🎾

@nprofile…uhf2 I suspect… that you’re thinking of the ...

2025-04-03T13:37:28Z

In reply to nevent1q…s39l
_________________________

nprofile1qy2hwumn8ghj7un9d3shjtnddaehgu3wwp6kyqpqjpt6khjtyscf6ld9zntxnqvg5u6x76e6luz2ercu7nylfzvlxqfs4suhf2 (nprofile…uhf2) I suspect… that you’re thinking of the Tsukuba campus visitor centre, which is the big one! This is the Sagamihara campus, which has a nice but quite small visitor centre. I’ve never actually seen the Tsukuba one, although I direct anyone who’s interested in visiting JAXA to there 😂

The JAXA ISAS cherry tree is in full bloom! And yes, that’s a ...

2025-04-03T13:34:32Z

The JAXA ISAS cherry tree is in full bloom! And yes, that’s a couple of rockets in the background 🚀🌸

In brand new comments for 2025: “The flight doesn’t need to ...

2025-03-31T13:25:05Z

In brand new comments for 2025:

“The flight doesn’t need to be direct, but please no connections through the USA.”

Sakura 🌸 along the Meguro River! The blossom wasn’t at ...

2025-03-30T02:55:27Z

Sakura 🌸 along the Meguro River! The blossom wasn’t at absolute maximum, probably because I’m a few days too early (also, it tipped it down ☔️ yesterday). Street venders line the street selling everything from super long fries to pink champagne 🥂 There is a set route and you follow it 😂

Japan Christmas is about to begin. ...

2025-03-23T13:27:03Z

Japan Christmas is about to begin.

I didn’t immediately notice, but our ball mural has been subtly ...

2025-03-02T04:24:55Z

In reply to nevent1q…dsn6
_________________________

I didn’t immediately notice, but our ball mural has been subtly changed for White Day (March 14)! The gift is now being passed in the opposite direction to Valentine’s Day 💁🏻‍♀️🎁🙋🏻‍♂️➡️💁🏻‍♂️🎁🙋🏻‍♀️

If anyone is thinking of applying for a grain from asteroids ...

2025-02-26T05:40:48Z

If anyone is thinking of applying for a grain from asteroids Ryugu or Bennu from #JAXA for WILD BABY SPACE ROCK SCIENCE 🪨🧪, then the deadline to notify of intent (not the full proposal) is TOMORROW (02/26 23:59 UTC)!

The website has instructions and links to the sample databases to ogle grains from both asteroids 👀

https://curation.isas.jaxa.jp/ao/

Saturday (2/22) was “Cat Day” in Japan, so named because the ...

2025-02-24T07:03:02Z

Saturday (2/22) was “Cat Day” in Japan, so named because the number 2 sounds like the Japanese onomatopoeia for a cat’s meow, “nyan”. One of the local convienience stores sold cat-themed treats and extras in celebration! 🐱

A new ball mural at tennis 🎾 for Valentine’s Day! In Japan, ...

2025-02-16T05:00:40Z

A new ball mural at tennis 🎾 for Valentine’s Day! In Japan, women traditionally give men gifts (usually chocolate) on February 14, while men reciprocate on “white day”, a month later.

When bacteria was found on an asteroid Ryugu grain in a ...

2025-01-14T11:36:15Z

When bacteria was found on an asteroid Ryugu grain in a laboratory in London, the media questioned whether a sample returned from space could ever stay free of contamination from Earth.

However, no contamination has been found in the JAXA curation facilities.

But let's take a look at what that takes... (brace yourselves)

My latest on Cosmos 👉
https://cosmos.isas.jaxa.jp/keeping-out-the-earth-protecting-the-asteroid-ryugu-sample-from-contamination/

Traditional New Year Eve fare of sushi and soba noodles 🍜 For ...

2024-12-31T14:16:05Z

Traditional New Year Eve fare of sushi and soba noodles 🍜 For long life and prosperity, friends! Happy New Year 🎍

My windows computer (bought from a friend so it's a ...

2024-12-30T11:00:04Z

My windows computer (bought from a friend so it's a new-to-me-machine) isn't recognising two of the three monitors I've tried.

Both the unrecognised monitors work fine with my Mac Mini (so both cables and the monitors themselves are fine). The monitor that is recognised by the Windows PC is the newest monitor (by quite a lot: the other two are 10+ years old).

Any ideas? Is there something about old monitors that Windows hates?

Almost a year ago (Jan 20, 2024) one little #JAXA lunar lander ...

2024-12-26T13:02:06Z

Almost a year ago (Jan 20, 2024) one little #JAXA lunar lander made a successful soft Moon landing... on its nose... 🌝 .

And then promptly refused to stop analysing rocks through 3 lunar night that should have frozen its metal behind solid.

Operations for. the SLIM mission are now over, and the team held a press briefing summarising the mission. The translated materials are here:

https://www.isas.jaxa.jp/en/topics/files/SLIM-press-briefing-20241226.pdf

They're not admitting it in English, but the National Museum ...

2024-12-11T06:09:13Z

They're not admitting it in English, but the National Museum of Science and Nature in Tokyo is holding an exhibit from December 17 ~ January 13 of grains from ALL THREE OF HUMANITY'S ASTEROID SAMPLE RETURN MISSIONS: Itokawa (#JAXA Hayabusa mission), Ryugu (JAXA Hayabusa2 mission) & Bennu (#NASA OSIRIS-REx mission).

If you're in Japan over the holiday season, do check this out:
https://www.kahaku.go.jp/event/2024/12hayabusaMMX/

In addition to scientific research, JAXA loan grains returned ...

2024-12-10T07:20:30Z

In addition to scientific research, JAXA loan grains returned from asteroid Ryugu by the Hayabusa2 mission for outreach displays worldwide. One of the wonderful teams said that they hoped the exhibit would send a hopeful message about future cooperation between our countries 🥹. So I'd like to nominate Ryugu for Time Person of the Year ❤️

Allow me to fix this @nprofile…js0s headline: "Rare ...

2024-12-03T03:17:37Z

Allow me to fix this nprofile1qy2hwumn8ghj7un9d3shjtnddaehgu3wwp6kyqpqrdtpnhvmx4phtece7nal5j6vtssesm64zes25cvwxzef8rcuh84qffjs0s (nprofile…js0s) headline:

"Rare asteroid sample contaminated by microorganisms after exposure TO THE AIR"

A team from Imperial College received an asteroid Ryugu grain from JAXA's Hayabusa2 mission. The journal paper states that the sample was absent of Earthy evil when it arrived from JAXA then... they exposed it while sealing in resin 😑

The contamination speed is interesting, but the message here is wrong: proper protocols protect a celestial sample.

https://gizmodo.com/rare-asteroid-sample-contaminated-by-microorganisms-despite-scientists-best-efforts-2000528691

My parents’ village has produced the most British scene ever in ...

2024-07-06T15:37:31Z

My parents’ village has produced the most British scene ever in the history of British cuteness. Be prepared.

Look, this is pretty much how "Day of the Triffids" ...

2024-05-11T11:34:25Z

Look, this is pretty much how "Day of the Triffids" started, people. Don't you forget that.

This week, we're hitting the #Blender3D shop floor for a big ...

2024-04-29T02:40:08Z

This week, we're hitting the #Blender3D shop floor for a big design that (I hope) will ultimately become a #VR space for a conference.

So far... it's a doughnut.

Is this to remind attendees that they better getting running around this track to burn off eating too many pastries? We shall see...

I’m on my way to tennis, but everyone else on this train has a ...

2024-04-28T01:05:23Z

I’m on my way to tennis, but everyone else on this train has a giant suitcase and is presumably departing the city for Golden Week 🤔

(“Golden Week” is a run of national holidays that occur in Japan end of April / start of May. This year they’ve fallen on the Monday, Friday, Saturday and Monday, which isn’t a great line up, but many people will supplement with their paid vacation and take the week away.)

One of my coworkers is retiring today and brought around the ...

2024-04-26T10:08:22Z

One of my coworkers is retiring today and brought around the prettiest treats!

Somebody in my apartment zoomed around and meowed non-stop at ...

2024-04-25T23:47:27Z

Somebody in my apartment zoomed around and meowed non-stop at 4am. And this was their response to the alarm at 7am 🤦🏼‍♀️

#CatsOfMastodon #NorahNeko

OCTOCHOMPERS AT THE READY! The NASA-led Dragonfly mission to ...

2024-04-17T06:29:10Z

OCTOCHOMPERS AT THE READY!

The NASA-led Dragonfly mission to Titan is cleared to progress to the final design.

Dragonfly is a bonkers (in a good way) 8-rotor craft that will be able to fly on the Saturn moon, Titan, due to the moon's thick atmosphere. It'll visit a bunch of places and see if anything sorta life-y or useful-to-life is around. JAXA are designing the seismometer to peek below Titan's surface!

https://science.nasa.gov/missions/dragonfly/nasas-dragonfly-rotorcraft-mission-to-saturns-moon-titan-confirmed/

The Meridian laser marking the route of the Greenwich Meridian at ...

2024-04-07T19:28:43Z

The Meridian laser marking the route of the Greenwich Meridian at night across London 🔫✨🔭

The sand dune in Bordeaux, Dune du Pilat, is the tallest in ...

2024-03-24T19:57:55Z

The sand dune in Bordeaux, Dune du Pilat, is the tallest in Europe. It was formed by sand sweeping in from the sea and periodically covering the old sand dune and any trees that had grown around it. It’s now a giant beach with a huge hill!

@npub17hj…7a0r No. Epicenter is Japan.

2024-03-21T00:24:03Z

In reply to nevent1q…amjc
_________________________

npub17hj23w6afv43uufuzx4tknahr87wrx4rwnqnjth9xza5fqjl38dq407a0r (npub17hj…7a0r) No. Epicenter is Japan.

Yikes! Big quake: major shake even on the ground floor and it ...

2024-03-21T00:10:02Z

Yikes! Big quake: major shake even on the ground floor and it triggered the (previously unknown) warning alarm at the co-working space 😳

This snap is from the live talk broadcast by the SLIM team after ...

2024-02-28T00:37:07Z

This snap is from the live talk broadcast by the SLIM team after the lunar landing.

On the right, Project Scientist Sawai Shujiro is saying that SLIM landing on its head was actually great for science, giving a surprisingly good view to the onboard camera that was better than in the planned orientation. He jokes that they should have aimed for that landing.

...and in the middle, we have Project Manager Sakai Shinichiro, looking like he regrets ever inviting a scientist to join the team 🤣

It should be winter but throat itches and eyes run only worse to ...

2024-02-27T00:49:18Z

It should be winter
but throat itches and eyes run
only worse to come

#haiku #allergies #WhyInFebruary

OK, so you weren't at Tanegashima last weekend for the #JAXA ...

2024-02-21T11:48:04Z

OK, so you weren't at Tanegashima last weekend for the #JAXA #H3 launch, and now your life is full of regrets?

Me too, people, me too.

BUT! There's now a 360 YouTube video that'll also look epic in #VR for you to experience it as if your toes were (almost) in the sea!

📺 :
https://youtu.be/_-pQpGLZsZg?si=Wr_lX-42rZTFRvgA

Weeeeeeee! JAXA's new #H3 launch vehicle shoots into the sky! ...

2024-02-17T00:36:25Z

Weeeeeeee! JAXA's new #H3 launch vehicle shoots into the sky! Everything seems to be going well so far. The rocket is at 690km (higher than the International Space Station), moving at 4km/s.

Also, can we all admire the beauty of Japan's Tanegashima Space Center launch site?

While discussing a possible site for a telescope array in India: ...

2024-02-11T11:19:55Z

While discussing a possible site for a telescope array in India:

“Without domes, won’t the monkeys make a complete mess of the mirrors?”

“No, the leopards with deal with the monkeys.”

Which led me to a different… yet distinctly related… question 🤔

I’m in a long line for the bag drop at the airport. A robotic ...

2024-02-03T23:59:32Z

I’m in a long line for the bag drop at the airport. A robotic cart joined the queue. It alternated between demanding people move in Japanese and English, and voicing the same demands at a variety of barriers.

People have done their best to acquiesce to its demands, but it’s now stationary and shouting in multiple languages.

Presented without comment 😂 #NorahNeko #CatsOfMastodon ...

2024-02-03T09:32:27Z

Presented without comment 😂 #NorahNeko #CatsOfMastodon

SLIM'S ALIVE!! The team reestablished communication with the ...

2024-01-29T01:05:00Z

SLIM'S ALIVE!! The team reestablished communication with the spacecraft after the Sun inched round in the sky and hit the solar panels. Wild science'ing instantly began!

I don't think #SLIM has a long lunar surface program. It is primarily a technology demonstration to test the image matching navigation (100% success) and 2-step landing (busted due to the loss of one of the two main engines). So I think the multi-band camera will snap hundreds of images while the Sun is up, and then be done.

Now this is one fabulous ball mural! The tennis club creates a ...

2024-01-28T04:48:54Z

Now this is one fabulous ball mural! The tennis club creates a new mural out of old balls every month or so, but this one for the Year of the Dragon is my favourite one so far!

AND HERE'S THE BLOCKBUSTER! 🎬 Brought to you by ...

2024-01-26T06:51:27Z

AND HERE'S THE BLOCKBUSTER! 🎬 Brought to you by yesterday's JAXA SLIM press conference slides (now translated)!

We open by revealing the landing site location to 5 decimal places, and sounding apologetic that only 1dp was previously quoted.

Now, we can mark our Moon globes accurately. Thank god.

Then we move to some SWEET image matching, where SLIM's new tech snaps photos, identifies craters and matches these to maps to estimate location to unholy precision.

(Slides:)
https://www.isas.jaxa.jp/en/outreach/announcements/files/SLIM-pressconf-20240125.pdf

Here's today's press release for JAXA's SLIM lunar ...

2024-01-25T13:47:39Z

Here's today's press release for JAXA's SLIM lunar landing!

TL;DR:

Pinpoint site identification was crazily successful.

We were lowering into position, detecting boulders like a champ.

THEN ONE OF THE ENGINES DROPPED OFF.

(I kid you not)

(we don't know why yet)

(maybe space pirates)

But we still soft-landed on 1 engine.

(TAKE THAT SPACE PIRATES!)

but on our head.

Strangely, might not be a big deal once the Sun moves round to the other side of the spacecraft.

https://global.jaxa.jp/press/2024/01/20240125-1_e.html

Lunar soft landing confirmed, maybe even with the “pinpoint” ...

2024-01-19T17:58:00Z

Lunar soft landing confirmed, maybe even with the “pinpoint” accuracy (will take a while to confirm, as expected) but something awry (solar panels not charging) and thus, everyone is peeved because they’re a bunch of perfectionists 😅

I have some SLIM swag! And I think the team are fabulous.

And. I need to sleep before the first train.

BBC news:
https://www.bbc.com/news/live/science-environment-68019846

TWENTY MINUTES TO LIVE BROADCAST: ...

2024-01-19T13:42:52Z

TWENTY MINUTES TO LIVE BROADCAST:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nvXLt3ET9mE

+1 hour for the start of landing decent.

People. It’s Moon time 🌝

Tomorrow. My good people. We land. ON THE MOON 🌝 This is not a ...

2024-01-18T12:14:31Z

Tomorrow. My good people. We land.

ON THE MOON 🌝

This is not a drill ⚒️

JAXA's Smart Lander for Investigating Moon (SLIM) mission is going to attempt the first "pin point" landing, with an accuracy of less than 100m.

(This is compared with conventional landing techniques, were anywhere within about 10km is considered pretty snazzy.)

If successful, SLIM will also be Japan's first successful moon landing.

The English dubbed NHK news feed for the major earthquake in ...

2024-01-01T09:02:41Z

The English dubbed NHK news feed for the major earthquake in Japan this evening is here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f0lYkdA-Gtw

If you are at all close to ANY stretch of the west coast of Japan (Sea of Japan side: opposite to Tokyo) then check the news. There is an emergency evacuation order in place. Tremors are continuing and it seems that strong tsunami waves will be a risk for a significant period.

Note tsunami can surge up rivers and even 40cm can sweep you away.

In today’s mini Japanese story (listened to for language ...

2023-12-29T05:16:00Z

In today’s mini Japanese story (listened to for language practice), a woman with two children boards a ferry, along with a samurai. The kids demand candy, but there is only has one sweet 🍬.

The kids are brats and each demands to be given the candy.

The samurai wakes and draws his katana🗡️.

Is the solution to decapitate a child? I thought so.

So did the mother who hides the kids behind her.

But samurai slices the candy in two, solving the issue, although with a disappointing lack of finality.

It’s caturday! #NorahNeko #CatsOfMastodon ...

2023-12-23T00:23:13Z

It’s caturday! #NorahNeko #CatsOfMastodon

And--after the release of an extremely dull looking government ...

2023-12-22T07:29:33Z

And--after the release of an extremely dull looking government document--it's official:

JAXA's Martian Moons eXploration (MMX) mission to visit Mars's moons, Phobos & Deimos, and collect a sample from Phobos, is scheduled for launch in FY2026 (bumped from 2024).

The delay is due to confirming the reliability of the new H3 rocket, which rud'ed on its 1st launch at the start of the year.

NO RUDS FOR MARS.

Could be a new t-shirt.

I updated our web with fresh new dates:
https://www.mmx.jaxa.jp/en/

After my Japanese teacher quit in ABSOLUTE DISGUST[*], I am ...

2023-11-30T10:50:41Z

After my Japanese teacher quit in ABSOLUTE DISGUST[*], I am starting with a new group class today.

And I'm feeling anxious.

My main fear is that I'll hold the other students up by not being as quick in speaking and listening (my weakest areas) or... clamming up in a panic because I'm an introverted academic and they've just asked me about my hobbies.

[*] OK, I may be slightly exaggerating the situation, but it's how I've chosen to remember that email regarding her schedule for all eternity 😉

Disaster has struck! ...

2023-11-26T08:30:29Z

Disaster has struck!

I have a cold and cough. A regular, splutter-like-it's-1999 ...

2023-11-23T23:35:27Z

I have a cold and cough. A regular, splutter-like-it's-1999 version.

(I checked it isn't covid with a couple of rapid tests, and it really doesn't feel like when I had covid earlier this year.)

But. I've an appointment for my next covid vaccine today, and I'm hoping they don't block me when they hear me cough. Rescheduling is possible, but a pain as I have all the paperwork filled in for today!

I'm hoping the lack of fever... and maybe holding my breath... will see me through 😅

Join the federation! @npub1c5u…gj9n presents a clear and ...

2023-11-17T13:00:28Z

Join the federation!

npub1c5uhqc6pupayd294kd4ht4l9pnzkmwv669vmum3gcpg5744fn54ql6gj9n (npub1c5u…gj9n) presents a clear and concise Star Trek argument for joining #mastodon at npub1kfkpmd9eecn35rynvcep0qyn9d562g7vlpr2fv2lregy6e4h38asv24a3q (npub1kfk…4a3q) in terms we can all understand 😂

We say “no” to Monday. #NorahNeko #CatsOfMastodon ...

2023-11-12T22:57:57Z

We say “no” to Monday. #NorahNeko #CatsOfMastodon