Robert Kimball

[Black Hole @konstructivizm]

The Night Sky Over Mount Taranaki Turned Into a Highway of Satellites

On the evening of 9 September 2026, New Zealand photographer Brendan Larsen pointed his camera toward the volcanic silhouette of Mount Taranaki and simply left it running. For nearly two hours he captured 578 separate 8-second exposures. When he later stacked and painstakingly masked every trail by hand—a process that took roughly 45 hours—he revealed something startling: an estimated 14,450 satellite trails belonging to about 1,400 individual satellites streaking across the sky above the mountain.

What looks at first like an abstract web of light is a compressed record of real orbital traffic. Many of the trails come from large constellations such as Starlink; others are older satellites, scientific platforms, and debris. Because each exposure lasts only eight seconds, a single satellite can appear multiple times as it crosses the frame, which is why the total number of trails far exceeds the number of distinct objects. Hidden in the same frame are two tiny moving lights on the mountain itself—two climbers descending Taranaki in the dark, their headlamps visible across the entire sequence.

Larsen has emphasized that every trail is real, not AI-generated. The finished composite is both a technical achievement and a quiet document of how rapidly the night sky is changing. A clear evening over a remote New Zealand volcano now contains more moving points of light than most people realize, even if the majority remain invisible to the naked eye without long exposures or careful timing after sunset.

The image is a single evening’s worth of orbital motion made visible—thousands of silent passages above one of New Zealand’s most iconic peaks.

[Reed Timmer, PhD @ReedTimmerUSA]

WAIT FOR IT!

Golden shaft of rain and incredible lightning with supercell neat Belen, New Mexico!

Never stop chasing

[Katie 🌞 California LandBird @CaLandBird]

🌧️🌄 THE GRAPEVINE | FRIDAY EVENING

The Grapevine is moving tonight, with low clouds spilling over the mountains and some spectacular views along I-5.

Traffic is moving in this photo, but drivers should remain alert for slowing vehicles and changing visibility through the mountain passes.

🚗 Check current highway conditions:
https://t.co/o3tP415jm7

@CaltransHQ @CHPFortTejon

#CaLandBird #Grapevine #I5 #FrazierMountain #CaliforniaWeather

[Startrekships @startrek_ships]

#DS9 was built to be unmistakable. Rick Berman pushed for a silhouette you could identify instantly, and Zimmerman delivered an alien, asymmetrical station that stood out in every frame.

#DeepSpaceNine

[westerosies @westerosies]

Happy 40th Birthday to the Mother of Dragons, the incredible and talented Emilia Clarke. 🐉🎂

[NWS Hanford @NWSHanford]

Temperatures are likely to warm up this weekend to closer to average conditions for this time of year. The warmest weather over the next few days looks to be this coming Sunday and Monday. #CAwx

[Katie 🌞 California LandBird @CaLandBird]

🌄 GOOD MORNING FROM FRAZIER MOUNTAIN! 🌲🩷

What a beautiful way to welcome Friday!

Golden morning sunlight spilling across the pine trees, soft pastel colors overhead, and a magnificent sea of clouds stretching across the distant mountains.

While the forest enjoys the morning sunshine, the lower elevations appear tucked beneath a blanket of clouds. ☁️💙

Sometimes the most beautiful moments are the quiet ones, just waiting for us to notice.

📷 Captured by the @ALERTCalifornia Frazier Mountain camera at 7:23 AM | October 23, 2026.

There is always something to discover, if we never stop looking. 🩷

Happy Friday from CaLandBird!

#CaLandBird #FrazierMountain #LosPadresNF #CAwx #California #FridayMorning #StayCurious

[Reed Timmer, PhD @ReedTimmerUSA]

UPDATE from the Overgaard, AZ tornado damage path - tornado has been rated EF2. Radar suggested it could have been EF3 strength which would be the strongest ever in Arizona. Spoke to a resident whose home was destroyed and they had no warning. Just bang and home destroyed.

[Onii Chan @oniichanph]

Mulan, Jurassic Park and Law & Order Star BD Wong Turns 66! 🎂🎬

BD Wong celebrates 66 with a career spanning blockbuster films, long-running television dramas, animation, and some unforgettable villains. He remains instantly recognizable as Dr. Henry Wu from Jurassic Park and the Jurassic World films, while television audiences spent years watching him as forensic psychiatrist Dr. George Huang on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.

His range has taken him in very different directions, from the mysterious Whiterose in Mr. Robot and Professor Hugo Strange in Gotham to Father Ray Mukada in Oz. Animation fans also know his voice as Captain Li Shang in Mulan and Mulan II, alongside more recent roles in Gremlins: Secrets of the Mogwai and The Monkey King.

Some of his most notable roles include:
• Dr. Henry Wu (Jurassic Park / Jurassic World trilogy)
• Dr. George Huang (Law & Order: Special Victims Unit)
• Captain Li Shang (Mulan / Mulan II)
• Whiterose (Mr. Robot)
• Professor Hugo Strange (Gotham)
• Father Ray Mukada (Oz)
• Howard Weinstein (Father of the Bride / Father of the Bride Part II)
• Wally (Awkwafina Is Nora from Queens)
• Greg (Bird Box)
• Liyuan Tse (Focus)
• Hon Wing (Gremlins: Secrets of the Mogwai)
• Buddha (The Monkey King)
• Dr. Stuart Kim (All-American Girl)
• Ngapoi Ngawang Jigme (Seven Years in Tibet)
• Sergeant Louie Jung (Executive Decision)

From brilliant scientists and psychiatrists to complex villains and animated favorites, Wong has built a career defined by versatility and memorable character work.

Happy 66th Birthday, BD Wong! 🎉✨

[Onii Chan @oniichanph]

Game of Thrones Legend Emilia Clarke Celebrates Her 40th Birthday 🐲🎂

Emilia Clarke became a global star as Daenerys Targaryen in Game of Thrones, transforming the Mother of Dragons from a vulnerable young royal into one of television’s most recognizable fantasy characters. She later showed a softer side as Louisa Clark in Me Before You while stepping into blockbuster franchises as Sarah Connor in Terminator Genisys and Qi’ra in Solo: A Star Wars Story.

Her post-Game of Thrones work has taken her in several directions, from the romantic warmth of Last Christmas to the sci-fi worlds of Secret Invasion and The Pod Generation, and more recently to Ponies. She has also steadily expanded into voice acting with The Amazing Maurice, Futurama, The Night Before Christmas in Wonderland, and The Twits.

Some of her standout roles include:
• Daenerys Targaryen (Game of Thrones)
• Louisa Clark (Me Before You)
• Sarah Connor (Terminator Genisys)
• Qi’ra (Solo: A Star Wars Story)
• Katarina “Kate” Andrich (Last Christmas)
• G’iah (Secret Invasion)
• Beatrice “Bea” Grant (Ponies)
• Malicia (The Amazing Maurice)
• Rachel Novy (The Pod Generation)
• Susan Smith (Above Suspicion)
• Verena (Voice from the Stone)
• Evelyn Hemingway (Dom Hemingway)
• Marianne (Futurama)
• Queen of Hearts (The Night Before Christmas in Wonderland)
• Pippa (The Twits)

Happy 40th birthday, Emilia Clarke! Daenerys Targaryen made her an international favorite, while Louisa Clark, Qi’ra, Sarah Connor, and her growing mix of dramatic and voice roles have shown a range that reaches far beyond Westeros. 🎂✨

[RyanWeather.Com @Ryan541]

It is going to be quite cold overnight across the region. Here is a look at what the GFS model is forecasting for lows. Widespread frost and freeze conditions are expected to develop.

[RyanWeather.Com @Ryan541]

It is going to be a cool day across the region. Will see temperatures continue to trend below normal. Here is a look at the latest GFS model run projected highs.

[ABC7 Eyewitness News @ABC7]

Too soon for snow? The wild October storm that brought hail, flooding, wicked winds and thunderstorms to SoCal also left a wintry treat. AIR7 was up over Mt. Baldy with the slopes sporting snow. The big weather change coming - This morning at 6 from ABC7 https://t.co/bm0PrZfc3p

[Aaron Perlman @Aaronsweather]

The Perfect Weekend Forecast... BUT
- Friday: 20% AM shower / mostly cloudy
- Weekend: Sunny w/a high of 75°
- Next Week: 70s and sunny

***HEADS UP*** Rain forecast for #Halloween night!
@bakersfieldnow @NWSHanford
#bakersfield #weather #weekend #ElNiño

[Katie 🌞 California LandBird @CaLandBird]

🌧️🌲 CaLandBird Weather | Thursday Evening Outlook
October 22, 2026 | Frazier Park, California | 5,030 Ft
Good evening from Frazier Mountain!
What an exciting couple of days of mountain weather! Our CaLandBird weather station continues to document the changing conditions as our October storm moves through the region.
After another day of rain, cool temperatures, and gusty winds, we're ending Thursday evening with 0.50 inches of rainfall recorded today and a monthly total of 1.56 inches.
📡 CURRENT CONDITIONS | 7:30 PM

🌡️ Temperature: 45.9°F
🍃 Feels Like: 41.5°F
💧 Humidity: 83%
💧 Dew Point: 41.0°F
🌬️ Wind: NNW (341°) at 8.5 mph
💨 Current Gust: 9.4 mph
💨 Peak Gust Today: 23.9 mph
���️ Absolute Pressure: 24.91 inHg
🌧️ Rainfall Today: 0.50 inches
🌧️ Storm Event Total: 1.48 inches
🌧️ Monthly Rainfall: 1.56 inches
🌧️ Yearly Rainfall: 1.56 inches
☀️ UV Index: 0
☀️ Solar Radiation: 0.0 W/m²

🌡️ THURSDAY'S WEATHER HIGHLIGHTS

High Temperature: 52.5°F
Low Temperature: 40.6°F
Highest Humidity: 98%
Lowest Humidity: 57%
Peak Wind Gust: 23.9 mph

🌧️ RAINFALL | AN OCTOBER STORM TO REMEMBER
Our station has recorded:

• Wednesday, October 21: 0.78 inches
• Thursday, October 22: 0.50 inches as of 7:30 PM
• Current storm event total: 1.48 inches
• October rainfall total: 1.56 inches
These are measurements from our station at 5,030 feet. Rainfall totals may differ throughout Frazier Park, Lebec, Gorman, Pine Mountain Club, and the Grapevine.
💨 WIND & TEMPERATURE CHANGES
Our winds have shifted through several directions during this storm.
This evening, winds are coming from the north-northwest at 8.5 mph, with today's highest recorded gust reaching 23.9 mph.
Temperatures remain chilly at 45.9°F, with a feels-like temperature of 41.5°F.
Humidity has decreased from yesterday evening's 98% to 83%, while absolute barometric pressure has risen from 24.82 to 24.91 inHg.
🌙 TONIGHT'S OUTLOOK
As the storm system moves through and away from our mountain communities, we'll continue watching for additional showers, changing winds, and falling temperatures.
With the ground already saturated in places, additional rainfall could still create localized drainage problems.
We'll also be watching for official updates affecting mountain roads and the I-5 Grapevine.
⛰️ GRAPEVINE & MOUNTAIN ROAD WATCH
Please remain alert for standing water, loose rocks, mud, and debris on mountain roads, especially near steep slopes and previous wildfire burn scars.
Road conditions can change quickly following periods of heavy rainfall.

🚗 Caltrans QuickMap:
https://t.co/o3tP415jm7

🌧️ National Weather Service Hanford:
https://t.co/Vh6DRG0yTc
🌧️ National Weather Service Los Angeles:
https://t.co/JI35r8xgQ5
📡 OUR WEATHER STATION JOURNEY
We officially launched our CaLandBird weather station on October 5, and less than three weeks later, we're already documenting our first significant fall storm!
Every rainfall measurement, wind gust, temperature change, and observation becomes part of our growing weather history here on Frazier Mountain.

And we're just getting started!
🌲 Forecasts tell us what could happen. Observations tell us what did happen.

There is always something to discover, if we never stop looking.

Wishing everyone a safe, warm, and peaceful Thursday evening from Frazier Mountain! 🩷🌧️
#CaLandBird #CLBLP #FrazierPark #FrazierMountain #Grapevine #Lebec #Gorman #PineMountainClub #LosPadresNF #CAwx #California #MountainWeather #Rainfall
@NWSHanford @ecowittweather @CaltransHQ

[Black Hole @konstructivizm]

NASA just shared this insane new shot of the Grand Canyon from space 💥

From orbit, the Grand Canyon still looks immense—a vast, winding scar sliced into the Colorado Plateau by the Colorado River over roughly 5–6 million years. Stretching 277 miles long, up to 18 miles wide, and more than a mile deep, its layered walls and dramatic depth remain unmistakable even from hundreds of miles above Earth.

Yet the view is also a quiet reminder of scale: what feels monumental to us on the ground shrinks into a single, striking detail when seen against the full curve of the planet.

[Michael Shanks @MichaelShanks]

We are finally available to ALL——still working out lotsa kinks ❤️
#AFullCirclePodcast
#SaveStargate

[FBI Cyber Division @FBICyberDiv]

Two critical vulnerabilities have been identified in PHP, a widely used programming language that powers websites and web applications. These vulnerabilities (CVE-2026-109618 and CVE-2026-109619) could allow malicious cyber actors to remotely execute code in PHP core, potentially compromising sensitive data and networks.

The FBI urges organizations to take the following steps now:

➡️ If an immediate update is not feasible it is recommended that organizations take the system offline until it can be fully mitigated.

➡️ Immediately update affected PHP installations following the guidance on https://t.co/rDrPSxB3zX. Inventory where PHP runs in your environment, prioritizing internet-facing systems and vendor products that bundle PHP.

➡️ Monitor web servers for suspicious activity, including PHP processes unexpectedly launching command shells or downloading files. Ensure appropriate process-monitoring capabilities are in place to help identify potential exploitation.

➡️ If you find signs of compromise, isolate affected systems, preserve your web server and PHP logs, and report it to your local FBI field office or https://t.co/iqgVZIbCru. Those reports help us identify the actors involved and warn other organizations before they become victims.

For the latest information, follow PHP’s announcement on https://t.co/rDrPSxB3zX, CERT-EU Security Advisory 2026-018, and CISA’s Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog.

[SoCalWeather.net @SoCalweathernet]

@NWSSanDiego snowing up at Palm Spring Tram 8400ft

[NWS Hanford @NWSHanford]

A special weather statement has been issued for Shafter CA, Buttonwillow CA and Smith Corner CA until 5:15 PM PDT