iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

James Curbo @curbo.org · 28/08/2026

It’s a blurry lunar eclipse photo but it’s mine. There is a thin cloud layer here making it hard to focus. Much better view through binoculars.

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James Curbo @curbo.org · 12/08/2026

Partial solar eclipse from Maryland!

The sun partially obscured by the Moon, seen through a solar filter

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James Curbo @curbo.org · 24/05/2026

In Folly Beach, SC this weekend and found a cool way to contribute to science! They have these neat stations where you can submit a photo to help with beach erosion monitoring. www.coastsnap.com/explore/back...

Photo of a beach from a pier looking at a CoastSnap station

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James Curbo @curbo.org · 19/05/2026

I made a trip up to Baltimore yesterday to participate in the @hopkinsengineer.bsky.social doctoral ceremony. Always nice to travel up to the main campus. And get a bit of extra regalia to wear 😀

Photograph of the author standing on a quad at Johns Hopkins University with Schriver Hall in the background

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James Curbo @curbo.org · 04/12/2025

That was unaltered; here’s one adjusted with the default Auto setting. I’m sure I could do better with manual adjustments but I don’t think this is half bad.

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James Curbo @curbo.org · 04/12/2025

The iPhone 17 Pro camera is pretty good! (Pictured: a shot of the nearly full Moon at 40x zoom)

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James Curbo @curbo.org · 07/10/2025

Guest lecturing tonight at JHU SAIS as part of the Space Force program!

The Intersection of Space Systems Engineering and International Public Policy - Space Cybersecurity

A view up the middle of a building from the bottom

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James Curbo @curbo.org · 29/08/2025

My daughter was up early the other day so I took her out to see a lovely view of Venus and Jupiter in the predawn sky.

A view of the morning sky with clouds, stars, Venus and Jupiter.

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James Curbo @curbo.org · 19/07/2025

Neat downdraft on this one. But I can only agree about the tropical airmass.

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James Curbo @curbo.org · 09/07/2025

Since ranking top games of the 21st century is the latest fad, here's mine. With honorable mentions that I cut to make the top 10.

Top Ten
Morrowind 2002
Diablo II 2000
Witcher 3 2015
Rimworld 2018
Civ III 2001
Company of Heroes 2006
Starcraft II 2010
Rainbow Six: Siege 2015
Homeworld: Cataclysm 2000
PUBG 2017

Honorable Mentions
Counter-Strike 2000
Ace Combat 4 2001
Splinter Cell 2002
Battlefield 1942 2002
Jedi Knight II 2002
Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow 2003
Eve Online 2005
Civ IV 2005
Oblivion 2006
Battlefield: Bad Company 2 2010
Skyrim 2011
Minecraft 2012
Kerbal Space Program 2015
Stellaris 2016
Stardew Valley 2016
Doom 2016 2016
Breath of the Wild 2017
Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020
Baldur’s Gate III 2023

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James Curbo @curbo.org · 14/12/2024

Still visible! With bonus Jupiter, and Capella (I think?)

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James Curbo @curbo.org · 07/12/2024

Quite a sunset tonight! If the Moon peeks out it’ll be a nice crescent too.

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James Curbo @curbo.org · 17/10/2024

Finally got a photo of the comet, peeking through some clouds! 4 sec exposure here. It rapidly got way more cloudy so I'll try again tomorrow, now that I know it's above my horizon.

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James Curbo @curbo.org · 11/10/2024

Some more #aurora shots from MD! The pinks are really popping.

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James Curbo @curbo.org · 11/10/2024

Aurora photos from Maryland! Quite visible to the naked eye even from our light polluted skies. Maybe brighter than the one in May.

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James Curbo @curbo.org · 17/09/2024

Hmm, just barely missed the million mark it seems!

BlueSky card saying I was user #1,084,835

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James Curbo @curbo.org · 12/05/2024

Here's high quality images of last night's aurora from my backyard in MD. These were taken with my Canon 7D Mk II (10 s exposures, ISO 800).

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James Curbo @curbo.org · 11/05/2024

Well, it was cloudy earlier but now it’s clear and… wow. These are from my iPhone but I have my Canon snapping away now…

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James Curbo @curbo.org · 09/04/2024

A few shots from the telescope from today

The moon going in front of the sun, about a third blocked

The moon going in front of the sun, about 75% blocked

The moon going in front of the sun, near maximum coverage, close to 90% blocked

The moon going in front of the sun, about 50% blocked on the other side

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James Curbo @curbo.org · 08/04/2024

Just past maximum for the eclipse here in Maryland.

A camera taking a picture of the sun, partially covered up by the Moon during a partial eclipse

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James Curbo @curbo.org · 08/04/2024

I didn’t travel for the eclipse this time around but I still set up my telescope! 89% coverage is still worth some photos. (Not there yet…)

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James Curbo @curbo.org · 27/10/2023

Sundog near Burtonsville, MD around 4:30pm today @capitalweather.bsky.social

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James Curbo @curbo.org · 26/09/2023

Inspired by the book post and the top 25s floating around I did one for games in general. Might have some more tweaks but this captures a lot of my feelings about games. I might do ones where I split PC/console games but I thought I'd force myself into one list here. (this is from topsters.org)

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