iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Russ “Sprout” Emons @314sprout.bsky.social · 13/10/2026

NASA CRS 35 launch as seen over the DMV from Aldie,VA. Space Jellyfish effect from the rising sun. 0633 EDT 10/13/2026 @capitalweather.com @matthewcappucci.bsky.social #spacex #nasa #jellyfish

Early morning Space jellyfish effect from NASA CRS 35 launch as seen from the Washington DC area

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Russ “Sprout” Emons @314sprout.bsky.social · 06/10/2026

Jupiter preceded by its moons Europa, Callisto, and Io as they Emerge from behind our Moon. Some intervening tree branches from my less-than-ideal setting.

Jupiter, preceded by its moons Europa, Callisto, and Io emerge from behind our Moon

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Russ “Sprout” Emons @314sprout.bsky.social · 06/10/2026

Jupiter emerges from the dark limb of the crescent Moon. Jupiter -Moon occultation 0524 EDT, 6 Oct 2026 Aldie, VA @capitalweather.com

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Russ “Sprout” Emons @314sprout.bsky.social · 04/10/2026

The rays emanating from the saddle of the mountain are amazing. 🤩

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Russ “Sprout” Emons @314sprout.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

The constellation that got 5 y/o me hooked on Astronomy. Something about seeing that first shape that made sense to me. Also the challenge of finding it at first, but then having it “jump out” at me, rang that “reward” bell within and encouraged the search for more elusive sights. (7006 much later!)

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Russ “Sprout” Emons @314sprout.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

The moon chasing Venus as they both sink towards the southwest horizon. Sep 13 2026, from northern Virginia, USA.

Crescent moon and nearby Venus
setting shortly after sunset

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Russ “Sprout” Emons @314sprout.bsky.social · 28/08/2026

As a NoVA based astronomy hobbyist, I’m convinced that a full moon is the only thing that chases away these stubborn clouds. Eclipsed full moon being the obvious exception!

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Russ “Sprout” Emons @314sprout.bsky.social · 17/08/2026

Moon and Venus from Solana Beach, (San Diego) CA 8/16/2026

Crescent moon and Venus hover over the Pacific as seen from Solana Beach (San Diego) CA

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Reposted by Russ “Sprout” Emons

The Atlantic @theatlantic.com · 23/07/2026

Pete Hegseth’s message to pilots—that they can break flight rules without consequences, so long as what they do looks cool—is making an already dangerous job more lethal, @brynntannehill.bsky.social argues:

bit.ly

Pete Hegseth’s Reckless Message to Helicopter Pilots

The secretary of defense is making one of the most dangerous jobs in America more lethal.

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Russ “Sprout” Emons @314sprout.bsky.social · 19/07/2026

What a great capture. At 79F at night, I’m sure that was one hot thirsty bear!

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Russ “Sprout” Emons @314sprout.bsky.social · 10/07/2026

Did someone say “chance of auroras?” Any chance we see them from VA? The weather app says “No!”

An Astronomy forecasting tool shows a weekend full of clouds

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Russ “Sprout” Emons @314sprout.bsky.social · 12/06/2026

In my studies it has been active vs passive, discriminating vs indiscriminate. But everything is a shade of gray, including the definition of autonomy in a weapon context.

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Russ “Sprout” Emons @314sprout.bsky.social · 09/06/2026

A nice, bright, eye-catching “Distrail” in the thinning overcast near Dulles (KIAD) Airport. Likely formed by a jet heading into DC’s Reagan National (KDCA), the aircraft erodes the cloud leaving a void to channel the sunlight from above. @capitalweather.bsky.social

A bright linear hole in the clouds funnels sunlight from above. The sun shines dimly through the overcast skies.

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Russ “Sprout” Emons @314sprout.bsky.social · 05/06/2026

Venus closing the gap with Jupiter, with a little help from Earths motion. Tonight’s shot about 10 minutes earlier than last night and not quite from the same spot, but the trees help spot the change. @capitalweather saying clouds ahead. Maybe one more night?

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Russ “Sprout” Emons @314sprout.bsky.social · 04/06/2026

Jupiter and Venus moving closer to conjunction in the western sky after sunset. Hope we can get a few more cloudless nights as they tighten up their formation! Aldie,VA, USA. @capitalweather.bsky.social

Bright planets Venus(center) and Jupiter (upper left) form a bright close pair just above the trees in the western early night sky

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Russ “Sprout” Emons @314sprout.bsky.social · 12/05/2026

Nice baseball / slash line/ PED analogy, Matt. If we get more than one major, maybe drop an * on that final number?

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Russ “Sprout” Emons @314sprout.bsky.social · 27/04/2026

And the best Squadron in the Marine Corps!

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Russ “Sprout” Emons @314sprout.bsky.social · 07/04/2026

The trick is knowing which way to shoot! Orbital dynamics being what they are…

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Russ “Sprout” Emons @314sprout.bsky.social · 05/04/2026

Check out Waterbury when you get back to CT. 😖

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Russ “Sprout” Emons @314sprout.bsky.social · 23/03/2026

Have the ambulance driver turn on the siren and drive around the arena! #slapshot

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Reposted by Russ “Sprout” Emons

Phil PlAIt @philplait.bsky.social · 23/03/2026

Very cool! I wish we could see a LOT more of this.

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Reposted by Russ “Sprout” Emons

ESO @eso.org · 16/03/2026

Reflect Orbital and SpaceX have filed proposals with the US Federal Communications Commission that threaten ground-based astronomy. We submitted replies and collaborated with the UK Royal Astronomical Society & the International Astronomical Union for their responses 🔭🧪

A blurried view of a starry night sky above a desert landscape with the Milky Way visible. On the right, a globe of Earth is surrounded by thousands of colored dots representing satellites in orbit. Overlaid text reads: “ESO files response to new threats to dark skies.”

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Reposted by Russ “Sprout” Emons

Derrell Durrett @derrelldurrett.bsky.social · 15/03/2026

This is depressing because we know exactly what's needed to provide power when the sun doesn't shine and the answer is batteries, not space mirrors. www.nytimes.com/2026/03/09/c...

nytimes.com

A Big Night Light in the Sky? Start-Up Wants to Launch a Space Mirror.

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Reposted by Russ “Sprout” Emons

Naomi Mittet @naolimit.bsky.social · 22/03/2026

"Sign DarkSky’s open letter to Reflect Orbital, calling on the company to conduct a full environmental review of reflective in-space mirror technology before any systems are launched." darksky.org

darksky.org

DarkSky International

DarkSky International restores the nighttime environment and protects communities from the harmful effects of light pollution through outreach, advocacy, and conservation.

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Reposted by Russ “Sprout” Emons

Save Standard Time @savestandard.bsky.social · 19/03/2026

Permanent Standard Time brings us closer to nature’s rhythms. #DitchDST

A photo of the sun near the horizon, captioned “The sun tells the time”. A photo of the moon’s phases, captioned “The moon tells the day”. A photo of the star-filled sky, captioned “The stars tell the month”. Final caption “We are living inside a beautiful cosmic clock”.

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Russ “Sprout” Emons @314sprout.bsky.social · 22/02/2026

An hour later, 1806, and we have the same total despite a pretty good rate of large flakes. Compaction? Melting? Either way, looks like snow is tapering off and not much accumulation likely.

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Russ “Sprout” Emons @314sprout.bsky.social · 22/02/2026

@capitalweather.bsky.social one hour since first flakes here in Aldie. One inch on the snow board. Even I can do that math!

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Russ “Sprout” Emons @314sprout.bsky.social · 14/02/2026

Why can every aviation question be satisfactorily be answered with “it depends” or “a shit load?”

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Russ “Sprout” Emons @314sprout.bsky.social · 26/01/2026

5pm snow sleet total after compaction at 6 inches. At 8am before the sleet we were at about 4 1/2 inches. Aldie, VA

5pm total snow and sleet shows six inches after compaction

8am snow total just prior to snow sleet mix shows about 4 1/2 inches.

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Russ “Sprout” Emons @314sprout.bsky.social · 19/01/2026

Maybe the landing lights of an aircraft? I didn’t read about the clouds closely enough before replying. But if you see something like this on a clear night, I got you covered 🤣

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Russ “Sprout” Emons @314sprout.bsky.social · 19/01/2026

The ring is either fuel venting or the reflection from thruster firing.

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Russ “Sprout” Emons @314sprout.bsky.social · 12/01/2026

LOL. I had an ally like that. You don’t need a telescope, you need a car!

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Russ “Sprout” Emons @314sprout.bsky.social · 10/01/2026

Hang in there Ward. DBFM, don’t even give up. A former squadron mate of mine used “Humor and anger as chaff and flares.” We’re still laughing together all these years later.

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Russ “Sprout” Emons @314sprout.bsky.social · 04/01/2026

Flashback to my youth! New England (WHA) / Hartford (NHL) Whalers were my team. Brass Bonanza plays in my head whenever I finish a big task. Was just in Quebec City and the Nordique jerseys are everywhere. Happy they do these throwbacks.

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Russ “Sprout” Emons @314sprout.bsky.social · 09/12/2025

A few (many) years back when I was Rivers’ age my neighbor was the closer for the Padres. Made insane money at a time the Pads weren’t that great. I asked if I could get hired to close the blow out games at league minimum. He was warm to the intro. There IS hope! Ironically Rivers was also close by.

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Russ “Sprout” Emons @314sprout.bsky.social · 06/12/2025

Supermoon-set over hay bales at Manassas National Battlefield Park Thursday morning December 4th. @capitalweather.bsky.social

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Russ “Sprout” Emons @314sprout.bsky.social · 13/11/2025

From Aldie, VA at 9:56. Hard visually in the light pollution but ok with iPhone.

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Russ “Sprout” Emons @314sprout.bsky.social · 13/11/2025

#aurora from Aldie, VA. Weakly visible to the naked eye in the light pollution, but show up ok here in the iPhone. 2153(L) 12Nov.

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Russ “Sprout” Emons @314sprout.bsky.social · 23/10/2025

Can’t wait to see this White House Ornament on a tree.

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Russ “Sprout” Emons @314sprout.bsky.social · 22/10/2025

One of those nights when I’m looking up at stars and getting rain drops in my eyes. Looking for meteor flashes and also getting lightning flashes. #Starshowers @capitalweather.bsky.social

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Russ “Sprout” Emons @314sprout.bsky.social · 09/10/2025

Wolcott, but to be fair, if your there and mispronouncing it, you’re just plain lost. No tourist would ever…

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Reposted by Russ “Sprout” Emons

Doctor Logic @saraluckelman.bsky.social · 07/10/2025

A fascinating read.

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