Nostr notes by Elizabeth Tasker

My internet is completely borked. A red light is lit on my fibre ...

2026-03-21T00:04:00Z

My internet is completely borked. A red light is lit on my fibre connection box which is resisistent to all forms of rebooting and even a hard reset. The internet company is sending someone round on Wednesday and I am back in 1995 🤨

This spicy hot pot shop appeared in my neighbourhood and always ...

2026-03-20T14:51:01Z

This spicy hot pot shop appeared in my neighbourhood and always has a huge queue! You fill a bowl with things like vegetables and dumplings, and they cook it in a soup with noodles. I towed along a Japanese friend to make sure I didn’t screw up the system 😂

Nostr event nevent1qqspcee0vgyaa3ffyrlejmx29s04rqle7gv0vgts0ekugmrg6cjas4czyplnz2f6jqykxfg2utpdx67ewrhjk4cdvdmel465az44tdh3qw8gccapkjw

2026-02-19T10:47:10Z

Apparently, you can arrest presidents and kings.

Full #Snowkyo! Glared at by #NorahNeko. ...

2026-02-08T01:05:03Z

Full #Snowkyo! Glared at by #NorahNeko.

On an exercise bike in my little Japanese apartment, having put ...

2026-01-30T12:03:35Z

On an exercise bike in my little Japanese apartment, having put my heated blanket in the wash after one of my rescue cats urinated on it. What an end to a week.

It must be time to pedal through an exilerating (and oddly calming) canyon train track! (In #VR with holofit 🚴)

It’s pretty cold this week in Tokyo, and our teacher ...

2026-01-29T12:18:37Z

It’s pretty cold this week in Tokyo, and our teacher (Japanese), myself (British) and one of my classmates (Ethiopian) turned up to class wearing chunky sweaters.

Then the Canadian arrived in a tee-shirt 😂

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.

Someone came to the coin laundry just to use the drier. Driers ...

2026-01-08T01:26:44Z

Someone came to the coin laundry just to use the drier. Driers are rare in Japan apartments (washers standard, and newer bathrooms can circulate hot air for drying) and this must be common as there are 5 washers here but 7 driers. But I feel lugging wet laundry is more effort than a clothes horse 🧐

Midway through a sort-out I found this note tucked into a pile of ...

2026-01-02T05:49:11Z

Midway through a sort-out I found this note tucked into a pile of letters from my grandmother.

TELL ME THIS ISN'T THE START OF A COSY MURDER MYSTERY!

I have... zero idea... what this is about. Current plan is to put it back in a box to be uncovered when I move again in another 10~20 years.

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?

Today, I did my favourite walk along the river to Komae which ...

2025-12-30T05:18:01Z

Today, I did my favourite walk along the river to Komae which has… truthfully not much…! But the 6km walk is enough to battle through a simple five minute Japanese podcast, after which I totally earned this big bowl of tempura! 😂

Dragon boss time in #VR Demeo D&D! The game is well done, but ...

2025-12-27T12:11:52Z

Dragon boss time in #VR Demeo D&D! The game is well done, but I really like that I can play with friends around the world as if we’re sitting together around a giant animated table game 🎲🐉

My efforts and those of my friends. Some of us… were more ...

2025-12-25T13:10:47Z

In reply to nevent1q…y2vz
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My efforts and those of my friends. Some of us… were more skilled than others 😅 We watched four Christmas movies, seeing three city-slicking women find the true meaning of Christmas in sleepy villages with muscly dudes, and concluded with a bunch of muppets. Merry Christmas! 🎄

Assembly action. All bonsai are now dead to me. And beads. And ...

2025-12-25T13:02:48Z

In reply to nevent1q…ee80
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Assembly action. All bonsai are now dead to me. And beads. And crafts in general. This is why I wisely hired professional renovators for my apartment 😂

Instructions no longer correspond to the parts that I have ...

2025-12-25T12:37:50Z

In reply to nevent1q…r3ct
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Instructions no longer correspond to the parts that I have created. It’s now a free-for-all-create-a-tree.

The tree building kits cost 2000-3000 JPY and you could buy the ...

2025-12-25T11:43:27Z

In reply to nevent1q…y3ga
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The tree building kits cost 2000-3000 JPY and you could buy the complete pre-built trees for about 7000 JPY and let me tell you… they don’t charge enough for the finished version 😐

Adding the flowers requires glue. I have none. Going to wing it. ...

2025-12-25T10:42:37Z

In reply to nevent1q…73xe
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Adding the flowers requires glue. I have none. Going to wing it. I’m completely sure the difference it will make to my masterpiece will be minimal.

I’ve been making bead leaves since the dawn of time. There is ...

2025-12-25T10:06:46Z

In reply to nevent1q…t6m8
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I’ve been making bead leaves since the dawn of time. There is no perceptible decrease in the quantity of beads reminding.

I’ve already cut up the wrong wire to make the leaves. ...

2025-12-25T09:36:34Z

In reply to nevent1q…h0hh
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I’ve already cut up the wrong wire to make the leaves. There’s no knowing at this stage if this is recoverable. I’ve started to make the leaves 🍃. My new year resolution is not to give up my day job.

Here’s the plan: build this Christmassy-looking bonsai bead ...

2025-12-25T09:22:37Z

Here’s the plan: build this Christmassy-looking bonsai bead tree while watching Christmas movies 🎄📺. I’m slightly further along than I’m claiming here and… I speak truly when I say that you will not see this tree again 😅

In other news, I feel vaguely gas lit by this salad place. ...

2025-12-23T12:39:43Z

In other news, I feel vaguely gas lit by this salad place.

In Japanese class last night, we discussed how "刃" ...

2025-12-19T00:15:13Z

In Japanese class last night, we discussed how "刃" (yaiba) is the sharp part (blade) of a "刀" (katana sword). And if that isn't in keeping with the holiday spirit, well I don't know what it is 🎄

Always wait for the green man before crossing. ...

2025-12-11T01:10:55Z

Always wait for the green man before crossing.

HOKAY! This is how it'll go down: FIRST snapshot of Apophis ...

2025-12-11T00:25:24Z

In reply to nevent1q…k4s8
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HOKAY! This is how it'll go down:

FIRST snapshot of Apophis from space will be via a flyby by JAXA's DESTINY+ (then mooch off to Phaethon).

ESA/JAXA Ramses (launch buddy with DESTINY+ on JAXA H3) will then rendezvous with Apophis during the close encounter with Earth.

Then NASA's OSIRIS-APEX will view the aftermath post encounter.

This is an epic international initiative to look at what happens when an NEO comes close to the Earth to understand better how we might deflect if we ever need to.

Time for a quiz! A flurry of international missions will set sail ...

2025-12-09T12:03:44Z

Time for a quiz! A flurry of international missions will set sail to watch the close approach of asteroid Apophis (WHICH POSES NO DANGER) in 2029. But who is set to grab the first space pictures...?

The Japan Cat Network is running a fundraiser for "giving ...

2025-12-02T06:15:56Z

The Japan Cat Network is running a fundraiser for "giving Tuesday", where all donations will be doubled.

The JCN has volunteers who #TNR, foster, and provide medical care to stray kitties from bottle-fed kittens to terminal ill moggies, and I've called on them for advice during my own #catrescue many times.

https://www.japancatnetwork.org/donate

Home owner. With the most appropriately labelled key ...

2025-11-28T03:01:47Z

In reply to nevent1q…49tn
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Home owner.

With the most appropriately labelled key 🔑🏡🎯😂

I am waiting for the bank loan to come through. I will briefly be ...

2025-11-28T01:37:19Z

In reply to nevent1q…kf3w
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I am waiting for the bank loan to come through. I will briefly be the richest I’ve ever been in my life 😂 And then I shall spend it all in one go.

Nostr event nevent1qqs8ysfrxvhyu9c4nhlzta8yxz00xxggfj6saw8wxup2xd03x33360qzyplnz2f6jqykxfg2utpdx67ewrhjk4cdvdmel465az44tdh3qw8gccm209y

2025-11-28T00:12:12Z

I am out to buy a home! 🏡🔑

In 1957, Vance and Pockriss released the song, Catch a falling ...

2025-11-02T09:22:32Z

In 1957, Vance and Pockriss released the song,

Catch a falling star and put it in your pocket
Save it for rainy day

But if you did catch a meteor before it hits the Earth, you should use a ziplock bag and get it to a curation facility to protect it from contamination. Waiting for a rainy day would be the worst course of action. THE WORST.

New excuse from my kanji learning app just dropped. ...

2025-10-25T12:12:01Z

New excuse from my kanji learning app just dropped.

It was great and felt very appropriate for autumn!

2025-10-19T04:08:14Z

In reply to nevent1q…7mf3
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It was great and felt very appropriate for autumn!

Pumpkin, bacon, cranberry and cheese in one sandwich 🥪from ...

2025-10-19T03:54:30Z

Pumpkin, bacon, cranberry and cheese in one sandwich 🥪from #nokucheese (from the bread and sandwich mind of Froward Jason (npub1mm9…75hp)) and brought to my door by Uber Eats… although I’ll admit the latter was very lazy, due to having a rather packed day 😅

New asteroid grain trading cards created by JAXA curation! These ...

2025-10-12T02:03:17Z

New asteroid grain trading cards created by JAXA curation! These are based on the asteroid Bennu grains JAXA received from the NASA OSIRIS-REx mission, as part of the exchange with the Ryugu grains from Hayabusa2.

The Future of Meetings (npub14k4…3qjn) submitted the suggestion for the “collaboration” card, under the code name, Celery Penn! The grain resembles holding hands, with text “we are always stronger when we work together, even when we’re worlds apart”.

The card gives you up to 3000 power from your opponent!

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

2025-10-12T00:37:58Z

Happy #caturday! (with #NorahNeko)

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.

I saw a small child on the walk home who had a bandage on his ...

2025-09-11T10:50:48Z

I saw a small child on the walk home who had a bandage on his forehead and round glasses that were tied around his head with not one, but two sets of elastic straps.

And I feel that tells the whole story.

(I think the cone at the bottom is just the model stand, not an ...

2025-09-03T12:53:54Z

In reply to nevent1q…cwn0
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(I think the cone at the bottom is just the model stand, not an antenna.)

I’d not seen a model before either, but one of the team ...

2025-09-03T12:51:42Z

In reply to nevent1q…sasa
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I’d not seen a model before either, but one of the team apparently had one hidden in his office! I don’t entirely agree with the Hayabusa resemblance (other than “box with solar panels” which is most spacecraft!). The solar panels are quite a different shape.

It’s a 1:10 DESTINY+ spacecraft! And a babier 1:20 DESTINY+ ...

2025-09-03T10:32:26Z

It’s a 1:10 DESTINY+ spacecraft! And a babier 1:20 DESTINY+ spacecraft 🛰️🛰️ DESTINY+ is an up-coming JAXA mission to test flyby observations by observing the active asteroid, Phaethon (and a few others), which is thought to shower Earth with (organic-rich) dust and cause the Geminid meteor shower ☄️

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

2025-08-24T06:16:40Z

My coauthor, not entirely helping. #NorahNeko

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 🌟🚞

Positioning a 4.56 billion year old asteroid grain in a ...

2025-08-11T04:29:51Z

In reply to nevent1q…hydt
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Positioning a 4.56 billion year old asteroid grain in a protective display case for international exhibit! This action shot will now be my profile photograph for… everything 😂

Struggling what to picture when you see a fleck of grain from an ...

2025-08-10T14:03:22Z

In reply to nevent1q…5neh
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Struggling what to picture when you see a fleck of grain from an asteroid world?

[Grabs the chalk] From the planet cookbook to crystals of soda water that might kick start life, let's hit three top analysis results!

Prefer wordy over chalky? I got your back 🔗: https://cosmos.isas.jaxa.jp/the-sample-from-asteroid-ryugu-summary-early-2023/

The asteroid Ryugu grain is being displayed in collaboration with ...

2025-08-10T08:12:31Z

In reply to nevent1q…g2mz
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The asteroid Ryugu grain is being displayed in collaboration with NARIT (National Astronomical Research Institute of Thailand) who designed this INCREDIBLE display at the MHESI Fair (Aug. 9 ~ 17); a huge technology exhibition in Bangkok. The floor image is that of asteroid Ryugu!

The JAXA Hayabusa2 mission returned 5.4g of material from ...

2025-08-10T02:51:15Z

In reply to nevent1q…dwjf
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The JAXA Hayabusa2 mission returned 5.4g of material from asteroid Ryugu, but each individual grain is no more than a fleck.

This grain came from the 2nd touchdown, and quite likely is subsurface material scattered during the Hayabusa2 impact experiment.

The fleck is the rarest material on Earth.

This box contains a tiny grain that was never destined to be on ...

2025-08-09T10:26:45Z

In reply to nevent1q…327g
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This box contains a tiny grain that was never destined to be on Earth.

Until we intervened.

When the customs official sees me and the protective case I am ...

2025-08-08T11:11:29Z

In reply to nevent1q…9err
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When the customs official sees me and the protective case I am carrying, he gives an "Ah" of recognition.

Which seems a strange response to an asteroid fragment, since there's only been three asteroid sample return missions in the entirety of human history and presumably few couriers.

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.

It has been pointed out that there is also a SECRET DOOR behind ...

2025-08-05T03:40:29Z

In reply to nevent1q…zdrj
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It has been pointed out that there is also a SECRET DOOR behind the toilet into the void. Do you just step in and ... flush?

Or is the void a giant septic tank for the toilet which is overlooked by your scenic bay window? This seems like a property one would want to buy new 🤔

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.

(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 🌪️🧑‍💻.

Now, how about this parking spot? (Spotted at Hanyang University ...

2025-07-10T02:32:55Z

Now, how about this parking spot? (Spotted at Hanyang University in South Korea.)

“You are the only speaker who has prevented me from even ...

2025-07-08T08:09:55Z

“You are the only speaker who has prevented me from even sending an email during their talk!” (Because they were listening.)

— a participant at the International Space University Summer Program in Korea.

I might add this to my resume 😂

Great! It's a simple step, but in my experience, it's the ...

2025-06-25T16:31:14Z

In reply to nevent1q…5p3l
_________________________

Great! It's a simple step, but in my experience, it's the single biggest thing that can make a difference to hybrid.

Time for a rhetorical question: What is the single, most ...

2025-06-25T13:51:33Z

Time for a rhetorical question: What is the single, most important task when running a hybrid conference?

There should be one person on-site whose entire job it is to MONITOR THE ZOOM FOR EVERY TALK.

We are all now expecting a dark and silent world. We don't need zoom to visualise this.

The Japan Pavilion at the #EXPO2025 was all about sustainability. ...

2025-06-09T10:26:18Z

The Japan Pavilion at the #EXPO2025 was all about sustainability. The cutest room had Hello Kitty algae. Did you know that algae can absorb 14 times as much CO2 as a cedar tree? And produce 50 times as much protein as beef for the same amount of water? But could you eat these faces? Maybe yes.

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.

Everyone should have a spare 😐 ...

2025-06-07T09:12:22Z

Everyone should have a spare 😐

I interrupted a morning meeting. Some powerful “sitting close ...

2025-06-02T23:27:45Z

I interrupted a morning meeting. Some powerful “sitting close so you can see that I’m ignoring you” strategy vibes from #NorahNeko 😸.

#CatsOfTheBalcony #CasperCat

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 😂

Is this squeezy bottle an abomination? Almost certainly. Is it ...

2025-04-27T13:53:24Z

Is this squeezy bottle an abomination? Almost certainly. Is it convenient enough not to care? My friends, it could be.

Now it must be acknowledged… that this is one hell of a ...

2025-04-27T12:49:58Z

Now it must be acknowledged… that this is one hell of a backyard view! This is Whitby Abbey, snapped from our holiday cottage garden. I’m actually slightly horrified that buildings were allowed so close 😂 The cliff drops to the sea on the right.

Customs official disappeared and returned with the stamped export ...

2025-04-22T12:48:37Z

In reply to nevent1q…ayeq
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Customs official disappeared and returned with the stamped export forms. He then proceeded to deliver the only English he’d spoken thus far,

“All finished. Bye bye.”

Some might describe that as… pointed 🤨😂

At the airport with a large—and frankly suspicious ...

2025-04-22T12:34:47Z

In reply to nevent1q…suz7
_________________________

At the airport with a large—and frankly suspicious looking—box, I head to customs with a clutch of export forms.

Customs guy looks appalled by the forms completed in English.

I attempt a commanding look and casually tap my work pin badge.

Space magic, boy. Buckle up.

Passed the time by giving the taxi driver a top rating on the ...

2025-04-22T12:15:11Z

In reply to nevent1q…2h8s
_________________________

Passed the time by giving the taxi driver a top rating on the smartphone app.

He may have stolen this random taxi at a convenience store, but he’s trying to run it right.

And he bought me a tea.

We finally found the international terminal annnnnnd… the taxi ...

2025-04-22T12:12:54Z

In reply to nevent1q…4zne
_________________________

We finally found the international terminal annnnnnd… the taxi fare is wrong.

Taxi driver called for assistance.

Have become slightly doubtful that he has previously operated a taxi.

Did a different guy come back from the convenience store and I just didn’t notice? 🧐

We arrived at the wrong terminal. It seems sadly impossible to ...

2025-04-22T11:56:43Z

In reply to nevent1q…hdw3
_________________________

We arrived at the wrong terminal. It seems sadly impossible to change terminals after such commitment, as we attempted to leave but ended up going in a circle.

I may have no choice but to take a domestic flight, rather than the work-related mission I should be on.

Well. I tried.

I was just thinking that I should have hopped out to buy a drink, ...

2025-04-22T10:32:55Z

In reply to nevent1q…pasc
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I was just thinking that I should have hopped out to buy a drink, when the taxi driver returns and he’s bought me a hot tea!

Is this a reward for not stealing the taxi?

He’s sussed out my nationality and realised I would indeed prefer a tea over a taxi.

OK, it’s my taxi driver who cannot make the journey with dry ...

2025-04-22T10:29:37Z

In reply to nevent1q…nt4r
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OK, it’s my taxi driver who cannot make the journey with dry pants and we’ve stopped at a convenience store for the toilet.

I am currently alone. I could run off with this taxi but… then I couldn’t use the drop-off airport point 🧐

My taxi driver has just confirmed with me that I do not need the ...

2025-04-22T10:16:23Z

My taxi driver has just confirmed with me that I do not need the toilet before we hit the highway to the airport.

It’s been a pretty stressful month and I may no longer look my age 🧐👵🏻

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 🌸🎾

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 😂

True, but this person is from ISAS, so lives in the Tokyo-region. ...

2025-03-28T02:13:27Z

In reply to nevent1q…q2uf
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True, but this person is from ISAS, so lives in the Tokyo-region. And to be fair, Sapporo is legit cold (although also with better insulated housing).

I'm reading an account of a JAXA balloon experiment conducted ...

2025-03-28T02:08:48Z

I'm reading an account of a JAXA balloon experiment conducted in Antartica. The author notes that their living arrangements were warmer than winter in Japan. People, the Tokyo-region does not get Antartica-cold. Houses are just that badly insulated 😂

This morning, I was sent a survey by my Japanese language school ...

2025-02-26T01:02:38Z

This morning, I was sent a survey by my Japanese language school that perhaps reflects the country too well in the ability to protest too little work, but not too much 😂

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/

In August, the International Astronomical Union (#IAU) General ...

2025-01-06T01:33:07Z

In August, the International Astronomical Union (#IAU) General Assembly was held in Cape Town. As the first time the meeting had come to Africa, and as one of the largest meetings for the international astronomy community, we knew we had to go hybrid.

Our team at The Future of Meetings (npub14k4…3qjn) created a full virtual venue that was accessible via web browser, smartphone and #VR, in addition to broadcasted talks and Slack channels.

Here's how we did this (Nature Astronomy article): https://rdcu.be/d5qPD

Problem mysteriously (I feel it’s mysterious…?) fixed by ...

2024-12-30T11:35:10Z

In reply to nevent1q…2d42
_________________________

Problem mysteriously (I feel it’s mysterious…?) fixed by rebooting the computer with monitor already connected. The last monitor the computer connected to was a wide screen, so maybe it didn’t automatically adapt the resolution?! Anyway, I am now surrounded by an excess number of cables and adaptors when the original one turns out to work fine 😅

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?

SLIM was designed to demonstrate a "pinpoint landing" ...

2024-12-26T13:15:48Z

In reply to nevent1q…md9l
_________________________

SLIM was designed to demonstrate a "pinpoint landing" whereby the spacecraft autonomously corrects course to reach the target landing site by identifying its position above the lunar surface through matching the pattern of craters it sees through the navigation cameras with those on onboard maps.

This was ridiculously successful, and a conservative estimate says SLIM reached within 10m of its target before final descent.

A lunar day is... a month... because... that's basically what ...

2024-12-26T13:13:10Z

In reply to nevent1q…0hhc
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A lunar day is... a month... because... that's basically what a "moon-th" is for a tidally locked body 😀

But without atmosphere to disperse and trap heat, the lunar noon and night have extreme hot and cold temperatures that are deadly for li'l landers.

Without something like an RTG to keep clement, SLIM was designed to end operations as night fell.

But it turned out to be way too obsessed with rocks to die and survived through 3 nights.

...No one is quite sure how...

The nose dive was actually no problem for the one scientific ...

2024-12-26T13:07:16Z

In reply to nevent1q…h3dz
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The nose dive was actually no problem for the one scientific instrument onboard SLIM (which primarily a technology demonstration mission).

The single remaining engine still brought the spacecraft to a gentle landing on its nose, and the multiband spectroscopic camera actually had a cracking view.

SLIM analysed ALL THE ROCKS, and found olivine, thought to originate from the Moon's deep interior (papers pending).

SLIM's spectacular nose-dive landing was due to damage to one ...

2024-12-26T13:05:19Z

In reply to nevent1q…nrxl
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SLIM's spectacular nose-dive landing was due to damage to one of the two main engines that occurred approximately 50m above the lunar surface.

The cause was SPACE PIRATES!

...uh, no sorry....

The attitude error was due an anomaly that occurred when burning the last of the propellent in SLIM's fuel tank, in which a delay in ignition due to the decreasing pressure saw a small fuel build up inside one engine that then ignited with a KABOOM! The nozzle fell off and thrust vanished.

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

Coined by William Herschel, the word “asteroid” means ...

2024-12-22T10:02:41Z

Coined by William Herschel, the word “asteroid” means “star-like”, reflecting that asteroids remain as point sources of light even through a telescope.

But the Japanese word for asteroid is 小惑星, meaning “small planet”. I feel this term must have been coined later with hindsight 🧐

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 ❤️

Nurse: do you need the toilet? Flashback to my parents asking me ...

2024-12-07T02:32:02Z

Nurse: do you need the toilet?

Flashback to my parents asking me this before a long car journey, age approximately 5.

Me: I… uh… think I can get through the doctor’s appointment 🤨

This transpired to be due to a planned, but thus far uncommunicated, urine test 😅

NASA’s Europa Clipper is heading for the Jovian icy moons: the ...

2024-12-02T11:56:43Z

NASA’s Europa Clipper is heading for the Jovian icy moons: the implausible… yet possible… habitats that get their heat from Jupiter’s gravitational squeeze rather than sunlight. Researchers at ISAS JAXA weigh in on the mission challenges, and the synergy with the JUICE mission to Ganymede! https://cosmos.isas.jaxa.jp/global-space-news-nasas-europa-clipper-heads-to-the-icy-moons/

Now. What is this? (Wrong answers absolutely preferable!) ...

2024-11-19T08:49:57Z

Now. What is this?

(Wrong answers absolutely preferable!)

We have a great new article on saving the planet from celestial ...

2024-11-06T06:39:45Z

We have a great new article on saving the planet from celestial impact but... we're going to hold it to Friday, as I feel the room might not be feeling it right now.

Do you want to build a... ⛄ ...Martian Moons eXploration (#MMX) ...

2024-10-31T07:38:11Z

Do you want to build a... ⛄ ...Martian Moons eXploration (#MMX) spacecraft? We've just released files for a 1:48 scale model you can print on a 3D printer. It was designed by one of our engineers, so the model looks super good.

The size is such that it apparently fits on a home-grade 3D printer. Do... many people have their own 3D printers? 🤔 What do you make with them, or have you been waiting to build an MMX army to march on Phobos?

https://mmx-news.isas.jaxa.jp/?p=2410&lang=en

The red is just starting to fade from the kochia bushes, but ...

2024-10-25T05:00:19Z

In reply to nevent1q…97h2
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The red is just starting to fade from the kochia bushes, but they’re still stunning! Time Out Tokyo reported that there are 33,000 in the park 😳 They look like fluff balls up close!

Here we go! A themed ice cream for the beautiful red kochia ...

2024-10-25T04:54:58Z

In reply to nevent1q…pahf
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Here we go! A themed ice cream for the beautiful red kochia bushes 🍦 🌳

Queuing at the public toilets, it’s the one squat toilet ...

2024-10-25T04:02:42Z

In reply to nevent1q…kp5f
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Queuing at the public toilets, it’s the one squat toilet cubical that becomes free. I might have passed, but the lady who emerged looked about 96 so it felt churlish 😂 So bend the knees and balance we did!

Off on a mini-adventure! Hitachi Seaside Park is quite a hike ...

2024-10-25T03:19:37Z

Off on a mini-adventure! Hitachi Seaside Park is quite a hike from where I live in Kanagawa, but currently has red kochia bushes in bloom 🌳🎈

Viewing particular plants or trees in flower is very popular in Japan, with parks specialising in particular botanical spectacles. If you fall into step with the expected viewing occasions, you’re rewarded with easy signposting, dedicated buses, and pretty ticketing 😂 Sometimes even themed ice cream 🍦

The answer is that Apophis is foretold to pass about 32,000 km ...

2024-10-18T04:41:52Z

In reply to nevent1q…gme2
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The answer is that Apophis is foretold to pass about 32,000 km from Earth on the ill fated Friday 13 (April 2029)!

This does not pose a risk to the Earth, but it's close enough that the Earth's gravity will affect the asteroid itself (more than just trajectory), so ESA is considering sending a new mission "RAMSES" to take a look at Apophis before the close approach, to gather information that might be useful for future planetary defence.

OK, SPOOKY QUIZ TIME! 👻 ☄️ Asteroid Ryugu (the destination ...

2024-10-17T03:51:48Z

OK, SPOOKY QUIZ TIME! 👻 ☄️

Asteroid Ryugu (the destination of Japan's Hayabusa2 mission) is not expected to come closer than around 100,000 km of Earth. BUT the 340m asteroid Apophis will make a record breaking close approach for an asteroid of its size on FRIDAY 13TH APRIL, 2029 😱 .

How close is it expected to come?