Mastodawn

Such a cool use of the #sensors in a smartphone (read out by the #phyphox app). By putting a smartphone on the back of a swimmer, and after careful integration of the acceleration data, the speed of the swimmer can be plotted, showing the different arm and leg movements, and body rotation. Something to try this summer! 🏊 📱 📈

Philippe Smet Apr 7

I am surprised by the amount of misinformation regarding the "solar eclipse" seen by the #Artemis crew (below in Scientific American).

It is not the first time ever.

All the Apollo missions (at least those with Moon landing) passed the night side of the moon and saw a similar solar eclipse. During the Apollo 11 mission, images of the Sun's corona were made when they entered the shadow caused by the Moon.

Philippe Smet Apr 7

On days like these, it is good to put things in perspective. This image - yes, you will need to zoom in - shows the dimensions and distances of the Earth and the #Moon to scale. The furthest point of #Artemis from Earth is indicated, which is approximately 1,000 times further than the #ISS space station when it passes directly overhead.

Philippe Smet Apr 4

By now, you have seen the Earth image by the #Artemis crew at least a hundred times. In this annotated version, several #optics effects are highlighted. It also shows how fragile planet #Earth is, with a super thin #atmosphere protecting us from the harsh vacuum of space.
Let's protect it.

Philippe Smet Apr 3

Zonde om de prachtige foto te annoteren, maar wat hierop van optische fenomenen allemaal te zien is, is ongelooflijk! Deze foto ziet er nu helder uit, maar voor de #Artemis astronauten is het zwakker dan het onverlichte deel van de Maan, zoals je dat kan zien wanneer enkel een smalle maansikkel verlicht is.

Philippe Smet Apr 3

Starlink 34343, which experienced - according to #SpaceX - an "anomaly on-orbit" on March 29, is now spinning with a period of about 18.5 seconds based on the time between consecutive flares. Observed Apr02 from Ghent (Belgium) through thin clouds. Video is at double speed. #Starlink satellites do not spin. "Luckily" there are at least 5 (five!) other ones visible, which indeed show stable brightness.

Philippe Smet Mar 29

Het was deze ochtend spannend in Ukkel of het al dan niet een vriesnacht was. In elk geval is de (gemiddelde) datum van de laatste vrieskou in Ukkel de laatste 40 jaar merkelijk opgeschoven, met zo'n 3 weken. De IJsheiligen verliezen zo hun betekenis en zouden best een stevige kalendermove maken. Data via @frankdeboosere

Philippe Smet Mar 24

Denk dat ik #DeMol al gevonden heb: die werkt duidelijk op de #dataviz afdeling van Play!
(wat zijn dat nu voor manieren, op slinkse wijze staafdiagrammen zeer ruim onder nul laten beginnen, zodat het momenteel lijkt alsof iedereen ongeveer als even verdacht gezien wordt). #grafiekpolitie

Philippe Smet Mar 23

Bart Coppens Mar 22

Had some fun taking pictures with my dad of the ISS transit in front of the Moon tonight. (The ISS being the only satellite that still makes me happy when I can actually see it with my own eyes---I'd rather not see any satellite swarms.) Thanks to @pfsmet for pointing out that I could take these photos from the comfort of my garden in Lebbeke tonight! (Details of the photos at the end of the alt text) #ISS

Show thread

Philippe Smet Mar 22

Voila, overtuigend bewijs dat de Maan op grotere afstand staat dan het #ISS ruimtestation!