#our orbit is elliptical

[madame-mongoose]

ignore that im calling myself out rn

[mikodrawnnarratives]

I experimented with a few ways I don't normally draw Y/N cause it's fun and also stumbled across

BEARDO Y/N IDEAS + regular pretty y/ns

According to what I imagine would fit in line with the y/n's character in universe even though VERY MUCH valid for any y/n to look like anything since it literally is your name but I'm gonna stop talking now cause I'm overthinking this

@paper-lilypie I think the kids like it whenever they grow it longer but I imagine they usually stay clean shaven or stubble. Not sure what the boys would think of the stubble or a bigger beard, they might like it!

Still very gorgeous. @naffeclipse @sunnys-aesthetic Vigilante y/n would probably have a scruffy beard, one that looks better if they are able to groom it likely. I think the Detective boys would like it if they actually took care of it lmao. Don't know what Eclipse would think... I have a feeling he wouldn't like any beards. Maybe I'm wrong

LISTEN

CRYPTID SUN AND MOON WOULD LOVE ANY BEARD THEY (could) HAVE! I think they'd love the scratchiness, even when they kiss. Unpictured is Cryptid Sun and Moon being sweet to Cryptid Hunter y/n and y/n finds it cute

@starrspice Cherub y/n can never stop being pretty huh? So very VERY pretty

@bamsara I think of Solar Lunacy beard, and I think only of shenanigans. If SL y/n grew a beard, I can only imagine that most of the time it's more unkept than not (well, if according to their personality in fic).

Sun and Moon would probably make fun of their beard at SOME point

@madame-mongoose @sycopomp

I mean, maybe they could grow a mustache? Maybe at some point they'll draw some scruff on with permanent marker

And they are all, always, very pretty. Pretty pretty beautiful handsome beautiful y/n's.

[sycopomp]

OOIE TRUTHERS YOUR TIME HAS COME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[solitary-star]

For my first post, here’s a drawing long overdue: a little contribution to @sycopomp and @madame-mongoose’s Our Orbit is Elliptical!

For as obsessed I am with the concept of Sun being downright mean, I’m equally as obsessed with the concept of Moon turning out to be the less mean of the two. Even though we haven’t gotten there yet, I think this paragraph in particular was when he first began to question whether or not this new assistant will be the same as those previous.

[chaotikanvas]

I can’t animate, but I made this!

A little doodle for @madame-mongoose because now I have this song stuck in my head on loop and I love it lol

Based on Our orbit is elliptical by @sycopomp and her!

[jerrsterrr]

Listing fave Reader Designs

thru magma doodles!!

Solar Lunacy by @/bamsara

transcript:

(sun and moon just happy to take care of reader)

"sun, i know we are friends but we aRE ALSO COWORKERS AND THIS IS SO EMBARRASSING OHH MY GODDBHHB"

2. Sleuth Jesters by @/naffeclipse and @/starlightcloudbaby

3. Raised in Captivity by @blonde-fraumell

4. Our Orbit is Elliptical by @/sycopomp and @/madame-mongoose

[artistic-bepp]

I have an obsession and desperately need help..

Anyway I drew my Y/N-sonas(?) of both @bamsara Solar Lunacy and @madame-mongoose & @sycopomp Our Orbit is Elliptical (OOIE) along with my version of Trouser. (I can't draw cats, I'm sorry) I highly recommend reading these tho I'm sure the audience this post will attract are already just as obsessed with these two series as I am, lmao. I absolutely love these AU's and maybe I'll even draw some more versions with the other Sun/Moon series. Idk.

[nasa]

Black Scientists and Engineers Past and Present Enable NASA Space Telescope

The Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope is NASA’s next flagship astrophysics mission, set to launch by May 2027. We’re currently integrating parts of the spacecraft in the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center clean room.

Once Roman launches, it will allow astronomers to observe the universe like never before. In celebration of Black History Month, let’s get to know some Black scientists and engineers, past and present, whose contributions will allow Roman to make history.

Dr. Beth Brown

The late Dr. Beth Brown worked at NASA Goddard as an astrophysicist. in 1998, Dr. Brown became the first Black American woman to earn a Ph.D. in astronomy at the University of Michigan. While at Goddard, Dr. Brown used data from two NASA X-ray missions – ROSAT (the ROentgen SATellite) and the Chandra X-ray Observatory – to study elliptical galaxies that she believed contained supermassive black holes.  

With Roman’s wide field of view and fast survey speeds, astronomers will be able to expand the search for black holes that wander the galaxy without anything nearby to clue us into their presence.

Dr. Harvey Washington Banks 

In 1961, Dr. Harvey Washington Banks was the first Black American to graduate with a doctorate in astronomy. His research was on spectroscopy, the study of how light and matter interact, and his research helped advance our knowledge of the field. Roman will use spectroscopy to explore how dark energy is speeding up the universe's expansion.

NOTE - Sensitive technical details have been digitally obscured in this photograph. 

Sheri Thorn 

Aerospace engineer Sheri Thorn is ensuring Roman’s primary mirror will be protected from the Sun so we can capture the best images of deep space. Thorn works on the Deployable Aperture Cover, a large, soft shade known as a space blanket. It will be mounted to the top of the telescope in the stowed position and then deployed after launch. Thorn helped in the design phase and is now working on building the flight hardware before it goes to environmental testing and is integrated to the spacecraft.

Sanetra Bailey 

Roman will be orbiting a million miles away at the second Lagrange point, or L2. Staying updated on the telescope's status and health will be an integral part of keeping the mission running. Electronics engineer Sanetra Bailey is the person who is making sure that will happen. Bailey works on circuits that will act like the brains of the spacecraft, telling it how and where to move and relaying information about its status back down to Earth.  

 Learn more about Sanetra Bailey and her journey to NASA. 

Dr. Gregory Mosby 

Roman’s field of view will be at least 100 times larger than the Hubble Space Telescope's, even though the primary mirrors are the same size. What gives Roman the larger field of view are its 18 detectors. Dr. Gregory Mosby is one of the detector scientists on the Roman mission who helped select the flight detectors that will be our “eyes” to the universe.

Dr. Beth Brown, Dr. Harvey Washington Banks, Sheri Thorn, Sanetra Bailey, and Dr. Greg Mosby are just some of the many Black scientists and engineers in astrophysics who have and continue to pave the way for others in the field. The Roman Space Telescope team promises to continue to highlight those who came before us and those who are here now to truly appreciate the amazing science to come. 

To stay up to date on the mission, check out our website and follow Roman on X and Facebook.

Make sure to follow us on Tumblr for your regular dose of space!

[breelandwalker]

Snow Moon - February 23-24, 2024

Boots and mittens on, witches - it's time for the Snow Moon!

Snow Moon

The Snow Moon is the name given to the full moon which occurs during the month of February. Despite what certain groundhogs will tell you, February is the month that sees the highest rates of snowfall across much of North America, according to the National Weather Service, and many alternative names for the moon and the month in which it falls reflect this.

As with many full moon names, we find the roots of the Snow Moon among the indigenous peoples of North America. In this particular case, a colonist explorer noted in 1760 that the Naudowessie (Dakota) people called this month Snow Moon specifically due to the tendency for snowstorms to come during that month. Some other indigenous names for this moon and month refer to commonly-sighted animals. Some examples include Eagle Moon (Cree), Bear Moon (Ojibwe), Groundhog Moon (Algonquin), and Goose Moon (Haida). Another notable example is Hungry Moon (Cherokee), denoting the scarcity of available food in deep winter.

The Snow Moon this year is what is known as a "micromoon" - basically the opposite of a supermoon. Where a supermoon brings our beloved satellite closer to Earth, at the perigree (or zenith) of its' elliptical orbit, a micromoon is at the apogee (or nadir), placing the moon at a point comparatively farther away. The moon will be at peak illumination at 7:30am EST on February 24th, meaning the moon may appear to be full on the 23rd and the 24th, depending on where you live.

What Does It Mean For Witches?

February is a month of change and transition. Though winter still holds on, many places may be showing early signs of spring. Little buds may be coming out on the trees, certain species of birds are beginning to migrate back, and hibernating animals start to wake up and reappear.

As we begin to turn toward the end of our long winter's rest, it's a good time to think about how we prepare for oncoming change and how we care for ourselves and our practices during times of stagnation.

With the moon in apogee, we might also contemplate the concept of distance as it relates to our practices, be it keeping long-distance bonds fresh, doing things remotely either alone or as part of a larger group, or feeling distant from your craft or your deities. And yes, such things are normal and cyclical. Our inspiration and motivation wax and wane just as the moon does. If it feels like you've been far away from your craft for too long, perhaps it's time to bring it back into your orbit.

What Witchy Things Can We Do?

Gather fresh snow or icicles for moon water, or make your own moon ice by leaving a bowl of water out overnight to freeze, if the temperature drops low enough.

If it snows in your area, you can wish upon a snowball. Grab a handful of powdery snow, whisper your wish to it, and throw the whole thing up in the air to release the wish into the universe

With winter scarcity in mind, practice creating a minimalist spell as an exercise. Create a workable spell with as few components, words, movements, or ritual elements as possible. This is more of a challenge if you're used to using material components or rituals in your spellwork. Many witches cast spells with focused thought or energy work alone.

Explore the concept of self care as magic. Use your routines to create moments of rest and harmony, make a point of being kind to your body and your mind, and cultivate a more positive relationship with yourself - it's the only one guaranteed to last a lifetime.

Connect with your local biome by looking for any early signs of spring in your area. Feed the returning birds and identify the plant and animal species you see around you as they appear one by one.

Happy Snow Moon, witches! 🌕❄️

SOURCES & FURTHER READING:

Bree’s Lunar Calendar Series

Bree’s Secular Celebrations Series

Snow Moon: Full Moon in February 2024, The Old Farmer's Almanac.

Snow Moon: The Extraordinary Full Moon of February 2024, The Peculiar Brunette.

Moon Info - Full Moon Dates for 2024

Calendar-12 - 2024 Moon Phases

Everyday Moon Magic: Spells & Rituals for Abundant Living, Dorothy Morrison, Llewellyn Publications, 2004.

(If you’re enjoying my content, please feel free to drop a little something in the tip jar, check out my monthly show Hex Positive, and find my published works on Amazon or in the Willow Wings Witch Shop. 😊)

[talonabraxas]

The Sirius Star Constellation & Astronomy The Astronomy of the Sirius Star System Located behind the Sun when viewed from our planet during the Northern Hemisphere’s summer, Sirius rises in the east, before the Sun begins to rise. It was this pre-dawn path that led the astronomers of early civilizations to assume that the star somehow brought about the intense heat and droughts that were common in the middle of summer. In addition to this, Sirius goes by a different name: Alpha Canis Majoris, or the Dog Star. Sirius earned its canine-inspired moniker due to its position on the Canis Major constellation, otherwise known as the Big Dog. It actually traces its name back to its Greek roots — “Seirios,” which means “sparking” or “scorching.” According to modern-day estimates, the Sirius star system is approximately 8.6 light years away from Earth. Despite being so far away, astronomers are still able to gauge just how bright Sirius is, thanks to its stellar magnitude. The stellar magnitude system used by astronomers is simple: the lower the number, the brighter the star is. In the case of the Sirius star system, its visual magnitude clocks in at -1.44, which means that when viewed from our vantage point in the cosmos, it is brighter than any other visible star. Note: this does not mean that Sirius is the brightest star in the entire galaxy. Sirius does not produce the most amount of energy, nor does it radiate the most intense light; however, other stars are farther away from Earth, and thus don’t shine as brightly as Sirius does. One doesn’t even need to use a telescope just to see Sirius. There are only six celestial bodies within the Solar System that outshine Sirius: the Sun, the Moon, Mercury (which isn’t even the case most of the time), Venus, Mars, and Jupiter. Binary Star Sirius A & B Why is Sirius so bright despite its massive distance from our planet? Sirius is a binary star system. In addition to the main sequence star (known as Sirius A), the system also features a smaller companion star (Sirius B). Sirius A is twice the mass is twice that of Sirius B, which in turn is almost the same as our Sun’s. Sirius A Diameter of roughly 2.4 million kilometers (or 1.5 million miles). Sirius A is close to twice as large as our Sun. It is a main-sequence star (spectral type A1V). That means Sirius A’s energy is a direct result of the fusion of hydrogen atoms deep within its core. This gives Sirius A a luminosity that is easily 25 times that of our Sun, as well as a surface temperature of around 10,000 degrees Celsius (or 18,000 degrees Fahrenheit). Sirius B A diameter of approximately 11,800 km (7,300 miles). As a white dwarf star, Sirius B has a density 92 000 times our own sun. One cubic inch of material at that density would weigh over two tons at the surface of the Earth. It has a gravitational force that is about 350,000 times stronger than Earth’s. Meanwhile, Sirius B travels around Sirius A following a highly elliptical orbit. Its luminosity is roughly 3% that of the Sun. However, it’s easily five times as hot as the sun, registering surface temperatures of close to 25,000 degrees Celsius (45,000 degrees Fahrenheit). Relative to Earth, Sirius B is the closest known white dwarf star. That is a star that is so old that it has completely depleted its energy source and lost its outer layer. ~Anatomy of a Star~

[madame-mongoose]

Guys did you miss ooie? I sure did

[mikodrawnnarratives]

part 4

THE STAKES HAVE NEVER BEEN HIGHE-

...

I have bad news for you friend

They did put up a good fight

@lavenoon CONGRATS 🎉🎉🎉

RIP @paper-lilypie @madame-mongoose @sycopomp @opudont-donut @bamsara @castercassette @xitsensunmoon @badiwikiwi @starrspice @naffeclipse @sorveteir @jack-o-phantom @luneytoonss @chlorenw @laurzzz

So... rematch?

In the mean time I'd appreciate any advice for how to get the images to work on this simulator, it'd be more impactful with them y'know

[sycopomp]

ooie? ooie.

y'all have been nice and patient so i'ma give you a li'l sneekie peekie at ooie ch2

Perking up, you said to Sun, “I’ll be right back!” and turned to make your way to the storage–

Your key!!

“Oh!” Stopping abruptly, shoe scuffing on the play mats, you spun around– and found Sun staring at you. He looked just as surprised at your sudden turn, going strangely still. “Sorry! Ben e-mailed me this morning and said that you… would have my key?” You had almost said you were supposed to supply my key, but you didn’t want to sound accusatory. 

Sun blinked slowly, still watching you. It took until that moment for you to realize that he had been watching you when he thought you weren’t looking, and you blinked in return. You definitely shouldn’t say anything about that, right?

… Probably.

… 

You were right on the verge of not taking your own advice when Sun blessedly saved you from yourself. “Indeed!” Raising a finger, he tapped it to his cheek. “It’s been sooo long since anyone needed that spare old thing. I’m sure it was left in one of the desk drawers.” He beamed down at you, eyes crinkling up sharply. “I’m fully confident in your ability to find it!” Twiddling his fingers in farewell, he spun and crouched next to the ball pit, turning his attention to a child calling his name. 

“Sounds good! Thank you!” You gave a little wave in return, then smiled at the child, before heading over to the desk. 

This time, you didn’t catch the look Sun sent your way. 

Finding the key amidst the lawless disarray of the daycare’s security desk was going to prove a greater hurdle than anticipated. Part of you considered simply asking Sun to open the storage shed. 

Then, deciding that you were going to need to tidy this desk up for yourself at some point anyway, you rolled up your sleeves and got to work. Each drawer came out of the desk, up-ended, and set aside for a later wipe-down (once you could fetch the disinfectant wipes from the storage). The overall clutter that ended up strewn across the desk was sorted in an order that was ingrained in your subconscious; trash in trash, like with like, and significant stuff separated. … You liked alliteration. 

More of the mess was actually garbage than you really wanted to think about sitting in the drawers for who-knows-how-long. Within just ten minutes you were left with a much more manageable menagerie (okay stop that) of knickknacks, office supplies, lost and found-bound toys, and… a little pile of things you could not quite identify. One looked like a remote for a fan or something, another resembled your employee card (maybe the last assistant forgot theirs), and–

Wait was that the key? You picked it up, turning it over in surprise. It looked more like a snub-nosed little trinket, but now that you thought about it, the shed hadn’t worn a padlock, so maybe this was right. 

Pushing away from the desk and giving a little stretch, you headed over to the shed. The little lock resembled the power symbol on computers, and the key slotted in perfectly. “Score,” you whispered to yourself, feeling a surge of triumph. You did something all on your own! It was a comfort, reminding you that you would find your footing here with time. 

[solitary-star]

POV the animatronic you practically begged to get along with the new assistant is… actually getting along with them?

This is another mini-comic for @sycopomp and @madame-mongoose’s Our Orbit is Elliptical—this time, depicting a little time skip! When Sun and the new hire do finally start to get along, I like to imagine ol’ Benji is absolutely baffled the first time he notices.

[andr0nap]

welcome to Hell Froze Over!

be glad youre not there :)

we have:

Ice Spike Regions areas covered in towering ice spikes. traveling through those regions is risky due to falling debris and strong winds.

Worm Tunnel Cities some cities/towns are built within the ancient tunnels of ice burrowing worms. theyre generally warmer thanks to their shape, which helps with even heat distribution.

The average snowstorm (and a crash-site city) sometimes also referred to as "the wrath of God", for uh.. obvious reasons (theyre big and scary and sooo deadly)

The Hunting Grounds general name of areas with high Icebreaker worm activity along the equator. the ice is much thinner there compared to the rest of the planet.

Ribbon Valleys places named after their characteristic striped icebergs.

Geothermal Areas (with stalker and flying worms) so far only two have been discovered. theyre the only places where the ice has melted enough for the ground to be visible. unfortunately theyre also known for being worm hotspots, thus hard to access.

+ some planetary scribbly stuff & ramblings below the cut

the planet is a frozen wasteland on the surface, covered in a thick ice shell that thins around the equator, with liquid water and a (possibly) volcanic seafloor deep below. theres very little land right under the ice and the planet would be a water world with few islands scattered about if not for the extremely low temperatures.

there are a lot of unknowns about whats going on below the ice since humanity doesnt have the equipment for that kind of research and everyone is too busy trying to survive the cold.

Hell Froze Over doesnt really have seasons like our planet does since its axial tilt is minimal. instead it has pseudo-seasons caused by its elliptical orbit.

its either cold or colder. the highest recorded temperature in the habitable zone was -34°C during the "summer" season. during winter it can drop all the way down to -90°C.

[leonscape]

ikepri as things in space

jin- a gas planet ( jupiter)

jupiter protects earth by catching dangerous objects in its orbit and preventing it from making contact with earth. the storms rage on jupiter but it makes a beautiful sight. some people say that jupiter is a failed star, but the truth is jupiter doesn’t have enough mass to be considered a failed star. it is simply a gas giant, not a failed star.

chevalier- a void

voids are areas in space with low cosmic density. it may look empty but there are galaxies in the area. it’s just that these areas have a lot less than other parts of the universe. it might be scary to think about, especially because the scale of space is so large. to fathom an area where there’s just nothing there or things are so far apart it appears to have nothing there, is quite chilling.

clavis- a star (blue star)

the gravitational pull of a star is very strong. it pulls other objects in and traps them with its gravity, taking everything in their grasp with them. blue stars are the hottest stars so they are still quite young. but if you get too close to the star, you’ll get bent out of shape and worst case scenario, you’ll be torn apart and destroyed

leon- a rogue planet

rogue planets are not bound to anything; they don’t have a star to orbit. they most likely got ejected out of their system or maybe they formed on their own outside of a system. most rogue planets will forever wander space alone. but some will encounter a planetary system. they could become weakly bound to the parent star(s) or they could kick out an exoplanet and replace it.

yves- a nebula (NGC 6334)

a nebula is a huge cloud of dust and gas. materials are spread out but overtime, they can clump together and the gravity will get stronger as these clumps grow bigger. this can be the beginning of a new star, so some nebulae are called star nurseries

licht- a comet

comets are made up of frozen rock, gas, and dust. when their orbit reaches closer to the sun, they heat up and melt, dispersing gas and dust in a colorful tail. since their orbits are elliptical and so far away from the sun, it takes them a while to return to the warmth of the sun.

nokto- a dwarf planet

dwarf planets are small but they’re still special. they don’t quite clear out their orbit, but they are still large enough to gain some recognition.

luke- the moon

moons are just satellites that orbit a planet. maybe they’re chunks of material from failed planets that were caught in a planet’s gravity. perhaps it was an object wandering around that happened to be caught by a planet. the moon can have influence over a planet as well and cause things to happen. like how our moon influences the ocean’s tides.