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Jackie Burns

@artistburns.bsky.social
3K followers 719 following 1K posts

Former President of the International Association For Astronomical Artists. Artist & visual science communicator specialising in aerospace & astronomy, keen cook, SF&F literary fan.

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Jackie Burns @artistburns.bsky.social · 12/08/2026
I was sitting in my camping chair, in a car park, next to a field, on top of a hill. My only saving grace was that the car park was facing in the right direction. I did get my iPhone out a couple of times and jury-rigged a few shots with a digital camera solar filter. It was a lovely experience.
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Jackie Burns @artistburns.bsky.social · 11/08/2026
I have the solar glasses and the solar camera lens. I’m looking forward to tomorrow’s solar eclipse.
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The Martian Diaries 👽 The War Of The Worlds Sequel @martiandiaries.bsky.social · 06/08/2026
Almost 14 years roving Mars - on our behalf 👇🔴 #Mars
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Jackie Burns @artistburns.bsky.social · 05/08/2026
NASA's Curiosity rover recently took close-ups of its’ damaged wheels. Almost 14 years on Mars, despite the damage, this rover is still travelling over the Martian terrain and delivering excellent science.
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Jackie Burns @artistburns.bsky.social · 30/07/2026
Space artist here 👋🏻 This is a digital artwork from my Circles Portfolio. Created using Adobe Fresco. I’m always amazed to see an astronaut floating above Earth - it’s amazing because it takes a huge co-operative of humans to get that astronaut into space. We can all work together when we want.
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Jackie Burns @artistburns.bsky.social · 29/07/2026
Oh, look…a squishy delivery has arrived. There are several projects in this pile of loveliness: socks with yellow ducks on a blue background; a neck warmer; and a waistcoat. Can’t wait to get started! #knitting
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Jackie Burns @artistburns.bsky.social · 27/07/2026
I was running late with watering my garden pots last night, it was the back end of dusk, and as I stepped through my back door into the garden a bat flew across my face. Didn’t touch me, but I felt the slight draft and saw the briefest outline of a wing. How cool is that?
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Jackie Burns @artistburns.bsky.social · 23/07/2026
Thought I’d show you the artwork that I use as my iPad screen saver. I created it some years ago, acrylic on stretched canvas. I hope the owners still enjoy it because I still love it
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Paul Byrne @theplanetaryguy.com · 21/07/2026
The U.S. Secretary of Defense just stated that—so far—the war with Iran has cost $37.5 billion dollars. That's since February. That same amount is how much the United States spent on planetary science from FY2013 through FY2026 inclusive. Thirteen years of planetary science or five months of war.
The Curiosity rover on Mars. At about $2.6 billion, it buys you about ten days of Iran war.
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An Unofficial Hugo Book Club Blog @hugobookclub.bsky.social · 11/07/2026
This summer's most entertaining science fiction blockbuster is not in any cinema, it's going door-to-door in a small British seaside town. We'll be nominating "Count Binface's byelection campaign in Clacton-on-Sea" for a Hugo Award.
hugoclub.blogspot.com
Bin it to Win it
Discussion of Hugo Award nominees for best novel, other science fiction novels, and analysis of the awards. We read all the nominees before we vote.
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Jackie Burns @artistburns.bsky.social · 09/06/2026
My town is getting an upgrade on the underground pipeline of the gas system and there’s a car lay-by opposite my home that’s being used to store the dug up soil as the pipework is swapped out. State of the art soil transporters are being used and…1/2 🧵
and.today
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Jackie Burns @artistburns.bsky.social · 08/06/2026
‘Dead Rock, Living Light’. Acrylic on stretched canvas, from my vintage portfolio. One of my personal favourites, I was a little sad to see it go off to its forever home. #space #Art
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Nick Stevens @nick-stevens.com · 04/06/2026
science.nasa.gov/3d-resources... Free NASA model of the HESSI spacecraft. Animation by me.
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Nick Stevens @nick-stevens.com · 03/06/2026
Buran Descending. Previously unpublished, thanks to Lukasevich.
Buran Descending.
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Jackie Burns @artistburns.bsky.social · 02/06/2026
Astronauts will often say how they feel connected to humanity whenever they gaze down towards the Earth. This is my digital artwork celebrating that intense feeling of connection. Created using Adobe Fresco. #space #Astronaut #Digital #Art
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Jackie Burns @artistburns.bsky.social · 01/06/2026
June is Pride Month. I am an Ally. {{{Hugs}}} and waves to everyone who celebrates. Artwork is my own from my digital portfolio. #Pride
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Jackie Burns @artistburns.bsky.social · 27/05/2026
I’m listening to Nil Frahm’s album, Spaces, and whilst ‘Says’ is standout favourite, ‘For-Peter-Toilet Brushes-More’ comes in at a very close second. #Music
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Jackie Burns @artistburns.bsky.social · 26/05/2026
This is an unpaid opportunity. Really sad that NASA is going down this route. Using your own personal funding to cover the cost of the materials/software/equipment/training used means you’ll be subsidising NASA. Just proposing this is disrespectful to all creatives. www.nasa.gov/news-release...
nasa.gov
Call for Creatives: NASA Seeks Help Illuminating Mission Storytelling - NASA
As NASA pushes the boundaries of exploration and innovation for the benefit of humanity, the agency is looking for partners to share mission stories covering
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Jackie Burns @artistburns.bsky.social · 26/05/2026
*Sigh* English weather! We wanted sun but then we get the boiling pits of hell.
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Jackie Burns @artistburns.bsky.social · 24/05/2026
@martiandiaries.bsky.social This is a good book to start with.
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Jackie Burns @artistburns.bsky.social · 24/05/2026
Today’s dinner had quite a few ‘welcome back’ items on my plate: Jersey Royal Potatoes, coleslaw, freshly cooked and sliced beetroot, baby tomatoes. Oh, & sausages - but they don’t count as I have those fairly regularly. I love eating seasonally. Sorry, no dinner plate tax as I couldn’t wait to eat.
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Jackie Burns @artistburns.bsky.social · 24/05/2026
35 years ago Helen Sharman became the 1st British woman in space, 1st British Cosmonaut, & 1st woman on the Russian MIR space station. I was delighted to meet & chat with her at the Royal Society’s 2023 Summer Exhibition in London. She’s an awesome science communicator. www.bbc.co.uk/culture/arti...
bbc.co.uk
'Astronaut wanted. No experience necessary' - the surprising story behind the first British person in space
It's 35 years since Helen Sharman boarded a space capsule heading into orbit, all thanks to a job ad that she had stumbled upon.
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Jackie Burns @artistburns.bsky.social · 24/05/2026
Today is Towel Day for you Nubes out there.
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The Martian Diaries 👽 The War Of The Worlds Sequel @martiandiaries.bsky.social · 23/05/2026
An excellent person to follow for authentic and honest Mars images 🔴 Stuart occasionally writes for Sky At Night magazine 🔭 and is also the author of several fiction and non-fiction books 📚👇 #Mars #Astronomy #Space
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International Association of Astronomical Artists @iaaa.org · 23/05/2026
Looks like the UK magazine Astronomy Now is free to read online: astronomynowdigital.com/platform/web...
astronomynowdigital.com
Astronomy Now
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Jackie Burns @artistburns.bsky.social · 22/05/2026
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Jackie Burns @artistburns.bsky.social · 21/05/2026
‘Poppy’ Watercolour on 300gsm paper. Well, I thoroughly enjoyed creating that 😊 #wayercolour #watercolor #Art
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Jackie Burns @artistburns.bsky.social · 21/05/2026
Oh, my…just look at the way the Permanent Alizarin Crimson is drying. This isn’t me being arty-farty, it’s the evaporation and the pigment that’s doing the heavy lifting. Daniel Smith watercolour. #watercolour #watercolor #Art
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Jackie Burns @artistburns.bsky.social · 21/05/2026
Another watercolour sketch completed. I have a ¼ pan of a David Smith white/stone colour which actually dried out as a very pale pink, bit of a surprise that one, but it did work out well on the flowers.
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Jackie Burns @artistburns.bsky.social · 21/05/2026
Still playing with my watercolours. Using a combination of Windsor & Newton, Daniel Smith, and indie hand made pans on 300gsm paper. #watercolour #watercolor #Art
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Jackie Burns @artistburns.bsky.social · 21/05/2026
I’ve been playing around with watercolours this week and today I’m partying with my Daniel Smith colours. Just look at that lovely texture now that the first layer has dried. #watercolour #watercolor #Art
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Jackie Burns @artistburns.bsky.social · 19/05/2026
I’ve been playing around with watercolour today, trying to keep everything loose and spontaneous with wet on wet. Very much not my usual style but I’ve enjoyed myself. #watercolour #wayercolor
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Nick Stevens @nick-stevens.com · 19/05/2026
Salyut over a Russian city, by Alexei Leonov.
Salyut over a Russian city, by Alexei Leonov.
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Nick Stevens @nick-stevens.com · 18/05/2026
vimeo.com/285323573?sh... 4k edge render of a spinning "Aries" from "2001". Model and animation by me.
vimeo.com
4k / UHD Edge render of the Orion from 2001 a Space Odyssey
Everything done in Lightwave3d
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Mark Stewart @markstewart2001.bsky.social · 18/05/2026
"The English Cosmonaut": Celebrating Helen Sharman’s record breaking spaceflight and the Soyuz TM-12 mission which launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome on 18 May 1991. Helen spent eight days in space, six of them onboard the Mir Space Station: markdestewart.wixsite.com/the-metaphor... #OTD
markdestewart.wixsite.com
The English Cosmonaut
Celebrating Helen’s Sharman’s record breaking spaceflight and the Soyuz TM-12 mission which launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome on 18 May 1991. Helen spent eight days in space, six of them onboard t...
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Jackie Burns @artistburns.bsky.social · 18/05/2026
My latest glass dip pen & ink drawing, on 300gsm watercolour paper. It’s a stylised New Zealand Tūī.
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Jackie Burns @artistburns.bsky.social · 18/05/2026
A long standing client commissioned me to paint her cardboard coffin in a medieval style with dragons. I made it a condition that she wasn’t allowed to drop off her perch until after I’d exhibited it at an exhibition the following year. She survived that coffin for 8 years before it had to be used.
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Jackie Burns @artistburns.bsky.social · 18/05/2026
Oooo…they’re back! Heard my first Swallow this morning.
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Nick Stevens @nick-stevens.com · 16/05/2026
Another Leonov / Sokolov favourite. Venera probe on Venus.
Venera probe on Venus.
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Jackie Burns @artistburns.bsky.social · 16/05/2026
Another pen & ink artwork completed yesterday. The paper is A5 300gms hot press watercolour paper. The dip pen is handmade glass with double ends, which I’m enjoying using but not cleaning - those swirling groves are surprisingly difficult to get into.
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Jackie Burns @artistburns.bsky.social · 15/05/2026
A glass dip pen and ink colour sketch. #art #pen&ink
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Jackie Burns @artistburns.bsky.social · 14/05/2026
Today’s artwork, the ink is just about dry. Prancing Pony. Glass dip pen on watercolour paper. #Art #Pen&Ink
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Jackie Burns @artistburns.bsky.social · 14/05/2026
*sigh* Change is inevitable, but would it kill Adobe to talk to artists/users on what is about to change before they change it? I’ve spent an hour trying to find a particular tool in Fresco that I use frequently then digging through layers of Adobe Community questions before I found my answer.
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Jackie Burns @artistburns.bsky.social · 13/05/2026
My artwork for today: Hei Matau - a Māori symbol meant to bring prosperity, good health and safe travel across water. My own design and created using a glass dip pen and acrylic ink.
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Pops @pops131.bsky.social · 13/05/2026
A woman demonstrating her exceptional intelligence in contrast to a wealthy but arrogant individual.
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Jackie Burns @artistburns.bsky.social · 12/05/2026
That smug feeling you get when you’ve timed something just right. I got the washing in before the rain started. 😊
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Jackie Burns @artistburns.bsky.social · 12/05/2026
Planetary scientist, James O’Donoghue from Reading University, has won the prestigious 2926 Carl Sagan Medal. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
bbc.co.uk
Award for Reading scientist who brought space to millions
James O'Donoghue, from the University of Reading, is awarded the 2026 Carl Sagan medal.
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Jackie Burns @artistburns.bsky.social · 10/05/2026
My latest practice session with a glass dip pen and ink.
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Jackie Burns @artistburns.bsky.social · 08/05/2026
Warm up sketch, using inks and a glass dip pen. #Art #ink
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Nick Stevens @nick-stevens.com · 07/05/2026
Leonov / Sokolov. Towards the Moon.
Leonov / Sokolov.
Towards the Moon.
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