iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Eric the Heliophysicist @eric-helio.bsky.social · 09/08/2026

I got out in my kayak Saturday morning (my combination of exercise and relaxation) right at daybreak. Quiet, but beautiful. Central Maryland.

Daybreak over the reservoir. The glow on the horizon is distant clouds lit up by the Sun that is still below the horizon.

Great Blue Heron gliding across the water.

020

Eric the Heliophysicist @eric-helio.bsky.social · 05/08/2026

My IMAP (Interstellar Mapping and Acceleration Probe) mission has just released its first set of public data: imap.princeton.edu/news/imap-re... We launched on 24 Sep 2025 and were on station at the Sun-Earth L1 point on 1 Feb 2026. I'm Deputy PI and the lead for the HIT instrument.⚛️🧪

imap.princeton.edu

IMAP Releases First Set of Science Data

NASA’s Interstellar Mapping and Acceleration Probe released its first set of science data today, July 29, 2026. After its successful launch on September 24, 2025, and arrival at L1, IMAP’s prime missi...

194

Eric the Heliophysicist @eric-helio.bsky.social · 18/05/2026

Early morning kayaking is one of the ways I get both exercise and relaxation. I bring a reasonable camera (Canon EOS 80D with a Canon EFS 18-200 zoom). Here are some photos from this morning (5/17/26) on the Rocky Gorge Reservoir in Maryland. Descriptions in the ALT text.

The upper portion of the Rocky Gorge Reservoir is really the Patuxent River.

010

Eric the Heliophysicist @eric-helio.bsky.social · 28/01/2026

I’ve finally gotten around to reading @scalzi.com’s “When the Moon hits your Eye” (it’s been busy). I’m really enjoying it, but as a NASA Heliophysicist, I especially liked the SNL musical group, the Carrington Event ( it’s in Wikipedia). 🧪⚛️

071

Eric the Heliophysicist @eric-helio.bsky.social · 24/12/2025

We had a whole flock of Cedar Waxwings descend on a bush with berries next to our deck. It wasn't easy taking pictures through a window at a sharp angle, but some of them came out. Howard County, MD.

Cedar Waxwing twisting around to get a berry.

030

Eric the Heliophysicist @eric-helio.bsky.social · 16/12/2025

A new #NASA press release on our #IMAPMission first light science.nasa.gov/science-rese... . Everything is looking very good. I'm expecting great science out of IMAP - Interstellar Mapping and Acceleration Probe over the next few years. ⚛️🧪

science.nasa.gov

NASA’s IMAP Mission Captures ‘First Light,’ Looks Back at Earth - NASA Science

All 10 instruments aboard NASA’s newly launched IMAP (Interstellar Mapping and Acceleration Probe) mission have successfully recorded their first measurements

152

Eric the Heliophysicist @eric-helio.bsky.social · 26/09/2025

My Interstellar Mapping and Acceleration Probe (#IMAPMission) launched Wednesday morning (9/24)on a Falcon 9 from KSC (Pad 39A). It also had two secondary payloads, Carruthers and SWFO-L1. A fantastic launch. I'm Deputy PI and one of the instrument leads. ⚛️🧪

Pre-dawn, pre-launch of the #IMAPMission.

040

Eric the Heliophysicist @eric-helio.bsky.social · 24/08/2025

Another early morning kayaking on the Rocky Gorge Reservoir. Daybreak is coming later (6 AM is still quite dark). But any trip where I see otters is a good trip.

Family of four river otters on the Rocky Gorge Reservoir, Maryland.

The juvenile river otter is wearing a leaf cap, rakishly off on one side, while the adult is wondering what I am up to. Rocky Gorge Reservoir, Maryland.

Green Heron in the early morning light (the golden hour). Rocky Gorge Reservoir, Maryland.

010

Eric the Heliophysicist @eric-helio.bsky.social · 20/08/2025

Cool pictures of #IMAPmission (Interstellar Mapping and Acceleration Probe) being fueled will follow, but here's the latest blog from NASA. #IMAPLaunch is a little more than a month. Go IMAP! ⚛️🧪https://science.nasa.gov/blogs/imap/2025/08/19/nasa-moves-heliosphere-mapping-spacecraft-for-fueling/

science.nasa.gov

NASA Moves Heliosphere Mapping Spacecraft for Fueling - NASA Science

Technicians continue preparing NASA’s IMAP (Interstellar Mapping and Acceleration Probe) mission for its upcoming launch. The team moved the observatory to

040

Eric the Heliophysicist @eric-helio.bsky.social · 06/08/2025

Currently working in a cleanroom near Kennedy Space Center on my instrument (HIT, the High-energy Ion Telescope) for the Interstellar Mapping and Acceleration Probe (#IMAPMission). My instrument is right above my shoulder. #IMAPLaunch is less than fifty days away! 🧪⚛️ imap.princeton.edu

Eric Christian (wearing 'bunny suit') in a clean room in Florida, working on his High-energy Ion Telescope (HIT) instrument for the Interstellar Mapping and Acceleration Probe (IMAP) mission.

0181

Eric the Heliophysicist @eric-helio.bsky.social · 26/07/2025

The mother raccoon has been coming to our bird feeders for a couple of weeks. This evening, she brought her three kids.

Four raccoons (mother, tail down, and three young) on our deck rail.

Two young raccoon siblings competing over water dish.

020

Eric the Heliophysicist @eric-helio.bsky.social · 15/07/2025

⚛️🧪 The Exploratorium has put out a great new video talking about their 25 years of solar eclipse shows. I've been lucky to work with them on a number of eclipse shows and it's been a blast! www.exploratorium.edu/video/explor...

exploratorium.edu

The Exploratorium brings total solar eclipses to audiences around the world. | Exploratorium

050

Eric the Heliophysicist @eric-helio.bsky.social · 12/07/2025

Another trip to NASA's Kennedy Space Center this week, so more wildlife photos (Black Point Wildlife Drive). It's the first time I've seen wild pigs. Descriptions with photos. Go IMAP - Interstellar Mapping and Acceleration Probe!

I got within 4 or 5 feet of this gator. It's a good thing it was only about 2 foot long.

010

Eric the Heliophysicist @eric-helio.bsky.social · 13/06/2025

I was at Kennedy Space Center for my IMAP - Interstellar Mapping and Acceleration Probe mission this week. I did get one morning to take the Black Point Wildlife Drive, which I always try to do when I'm down there.

An immature (still has brown) White Ibis.

020

Eric the Heliophysicist @eric-helio.bsky.social · 03/06/2025

A new NASA blog post on our Interstellar Mapping and Acceleration Probe (IMAP #IMAPMission) as we arrive in Florida for final launch prep. I'll be down there next week and launch is scheduled for September. ⚛️🧪 science.nasa.gov/blogs/imap/2...

science.nasa.gov

NASA’s IMAP Spacecraft Readied for Launch Preparations - NASA Science

Technicians removed NASA’s IMAP (Interstellar Mapping and Acceleration Probe) spacecraft from its shipping container on Thursday, May 29, after transferring

021

Eric the Heliophysicist @eric-helio.bsky.social · 01/06/2025

We very occasionally get a Flying Squirrel coming to our deck feeders (at night). This is one of the better clips.

000

Eric the Heliophysicist @eric-helio.bsky.social · 18/05/2025

A beautiful morning to go kayaking (Rocky Gorge Reservoir, Maryland). Didn't take too many photos. The best was a Killdeer in the early morning light.

Killdeer on the shore of the Rocky Gorge Reservoir

000

Eric the Heliophysicist @eric-helio.bsky.social · 29/01/2025

Sometimes the net gives you something you didn't know you needed. Here is "Everybody want to rule the world" in Classic Latin. www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xtt7...

youtube.com

Everybody wants to rule the world cover in Classical Latin (SOFTBARDCORE)

YouTube video by the_miracle_aligner

030

Eric the Heliophysicist @eric-helio.bsky.social · 27/12/2024

We received the signal that the Parker Solar Probe spacecraft went through closest approach to the Sun with no problems. The data will start getting transmitted in less than a week. blogs.nasa.gov/parkersolarp...

blogs.nasa.gov

NASA’s Parker Solar Probe Reports Successful Closest Approach to Sun – Parker Solar Probe

020

Eric the Heliophysicist @eric-helio.bsky.social · 26/12/2024

Xkcd has another take on the closest perihelion of Parker Solar Probe on December 24. But a miss is still a miss :-) xkcd.com/3029/

xkcd.com

Sun Avoidance

000

Eric the Heliophysicist @eric-helio.bsky.social · 24/12/2024

Early this morning, #ParkerSolarProbe did its first closest approach (perihelion) to the Sun, 3.8 million miles from the surface. Perihelion will stay at this distance unless we change it. Friday, we will get the all-clear message, with the data in a couple of weeks. blogs.nasa.gov/parkersolarp...

blogs.nasa.gov

Parker Solar Probe

000

Eric the Heliophysicist @eric-helio.bsky.social · 21/12/2024

We've got an official date for the launch of my IMAP - Interstellar Mapping and Acceleration Probe mission. blogs.nasa.gov/imap/2024/12...

blogs.nasa.gov

NASA Targets September 2025 Launch for Heliophysics Missions – IMAP Mission

000

Eric the Heliophysicist @eric-helio.bsky.social · 25/11/2024

Last night we finally got a movie on our backyard deckcam of something I've been wanting to see for a while: a flying squirrel! Howard County, MD.

020