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Dr Robert Minchin

@robminchin.bsky.social
1K followers 276 following 454 posts

Radio astronomer at NRAO, posting on a personal basis. Affirming Christian (Episcopalian). Alumnus of Durham (MSci) & Cardiff (PhD). He/him.

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Dr Robert Minchin @robminchin.bsky.social · 15/08/2026
Paper Day! The first first-author paper from Vojtech, a PhD student in Prague who's working on the Widefield Arecibo Virgo Extragalactic Survey with Rhys and me. Vojtech was out here in Socorro earlier this summer working on VLA follow-up. #extragalactic #radioastronomy arxiv.org/abs/2608.13411
arxiv.org
Widefield Arecibo Virgo Extragalactic Survey: II. Characterizing the HI properties and environment of the WAVES South region
Context. Galaxy clusters are extreme environments where interactions with the hot intracluster medium drive rapid galaxy evolution. These processes can result in the formation of optically dark gas cl...
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National Radio Astronomy Observatory - NSF NRAO @thenrao.bsky.social · 01/07/2026
News You May Have Missed ⤵️ 3I/ATLAS Contains 30X More Semi-Heavy Water Than Comets In Our Solar System ALMA reveals interstellar comet’s home star system formed under far colder conditions than our own #RadioAstronomy #Astronomy #3iatlas #ALMA
public.nrao.edu
3I/ATLAS Contains 30X More Semi-Heavy Water Than Comets In Our Solar System - National Radio Astronomy Observatory
The latest news from the NSF's National Radio Astronomy Observatory.
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Dr Robert Minchin @robminchin.bsky.social · 16/06/2026
My old #Astronomy tutor is now Sir Carlos!
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Dr Robert Minchin @robminchin.bsky.social · 04/03/2026
I'm quoted mis-quoting the Princess Bride in this CNN article on Li et al.'s discovery of a galaxy that appears to be 99% composed of dark matter. #extragalactic "Mostly dark is slightly bright" www.cnn.com/2026/03/03/s...
cnn.com
Astronomers discover galaxy made of 99% dark matter | CNN
A galaxy made almost entirely of dark matter, an elusive form of matter that doesn’t interact with light, was spotted by Hubble 250 million light-years from Earth.
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Dr Robert Minchin @robminchin.bsky.social · 19/02/2026
Moon, Mercury, M-Mountain and … ashes? Not entirely a coincidence – Easter is always the Sunday after a full Moon, so Ash Wednesday is always within a few days of the new Moon. Mercury was just a random interloper though! #AshWednesday #Conjunction ⚓️
Very thin crescent moon to the left of a mountain silhouetted against the evening.Crescent Moon, with the old Moon visible in the arms of the new. A bright dot just below and to the right of the Moon is the planet Mercury.A man with an ash cross on his forehead.
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Dr Robert Minchin @robminchin.bsky.social · 18/02/2026
If life gives you lemons (and sugar, flour, milk and eggs) make sugar and lemon pancakes! #ShoveTuesday #PancakeDay ⚓️
Pancake on a plate with a sliced lemon Ona smash plate and a sugar bowl
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Dr Robert Minchin @robminchin.bsky.social · 28/01/2026
Paper day! No, you’re not seeing double, it’s a second paper this month! This one is: “High resolution observations of 'dark' neutral hydrogen clouds in the Virgo cluster with the Very Large Array” (Minchin et al. 2026, ApJ, accepted) #RadioAstronomy #ExtragalacticAstronomy arxiv.org/abs/2601.19011
arxiv.org
High resolution observations of 'dark' neutral hydrogen clouds in the Virgo cluster with the Very Large Array
We have observed six `dark' neutral hydrogen (HI) clouds discovered in the Virgo cluster by the Arecibo Galaxy Environment Survey (AGES) with the Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array (VLA), giving higher a...
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Dr Robert Minchin @robminchin.bsky.social · 25/01/2026
Church in the snow this morning in Socorro. ⚓️
Church with snow on the ground with an Episcopal Church flag and a Progress Pride Flag in front and a notice board saying “Epiphany”
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National Radio Astronomy Observatory - NSF NRAO @thenrao.bsky.social · 15/01/2026
The New Mexico Space Trail—a roadtrip of 52 historic sites related to space—includes the NSF #VeryLargeArray! 📡🌌 via AOL #Astronomy #RadioAstronomy #NewMexico
aol.com
This Is One of the Most Unique Road Trips in the U.S.—With 52 Sites Dedicated to Space, Stargazing, and UFOs
New Mexico really can be out of this world.
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Dr Robert Minchin @robminchin.bsky.social · 16/01/2026
Paper day! “Ultra Diffuse Galaxies in clusters : the peculiar gas loss of VCC 1964”, Taylor, Partík & Minchin (2026), A&A, accepted. arxiv.org/abs/2601.05948 (Actually came out on Monday, but I was down with a post-#AAS247 cold) #Extragalctic #Radioastronomy
arxiv.org
Ultra Diffuse Galaxies in clusters : the peculiar gas loss of VCC 1964
Context : Ultra Diffuse Galaxies are low surface brightness systems which have been detected in HI in the field, where their line widths sometimes indicate significant dark matter deficits. They are r...
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AAS Press Office @press.aas.org · 08/01/2026
National Radio Astronomy Observatory: Radio Telescopes Uncover “Invisible” Gas Around Record-Shattering Cosmic Explosion public.nrao.edu/news/radio-t... #AAS247
public.nrao.edu
Radio telescopes uncover “invisible” gas around record-shattering cosmic explosion - National Radio Astronomy Observatory
Astronomers using the NSF Very Large Array and ALMA have uncovered dense, “invisible” gas surrounding AT2024wpp—the brightest known fast blue optical transient—revealing that a massive star was torn a...
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Dr Robert Minchin @robminchin.bsky.social · 08/01/2026
Maura McLaughlin’s plenary talk on low frequency gravitational wave astronomy (ie, pulsar timing arrays) getting under way at #AAS247, preceded by the award of the 2025 Bruno Rossi Award to Maura and Xavi Siemens for NANOGrav
Award being handed to MauraMaura speaking with slides on a large screen to the left
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Dr Robert Minchin @robminchin.bsky.social · 08/01/2026
I’m by my poster on the nuclear outburst in NGC 660, at terminal 110 in the #AAS247 exhibit hall.
Man in front of a TV screen showing a poster
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Dr Robert Minchin @robminchin.bsky.social · 07/01/2026
Christian Astronomers dinner at #AAS247. Meet at the notice board at 18:30–18:45 or 19:00 at Majerle’s sports bar (2nd and Washington), in a back room.
Notice pinned to board, giving the information given in the post
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Dr Robert Minchin @robminchin.bsky.social · 07/01/2026
Adam Leroy’s plenary talk on PHANGS and the VLA Local Group L-band Survey getting underway at #AAS247.
Speaker on stage to the right with a slide on a large screen to the left
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The Onion @theonion.com · 06/01/2026
NASA Discovers Distant Planet With Conditions That Could Sustain Rocks theonion.com/nasa-discovers-distant…
NASA Discovers Distant Planet With Conditions That Could Sustain Rocks
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Dr Robert Minchin @robminchin.bsky.social · 07/01/2026
The @thenrao.bsky.social townhall is about to start at #AAS247, in room301c. Brian is giving out the drink tickets!
Poster for the townhall outside the room, with a man standing behind it
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Dr Robert Minchin @robminchin.bsky.social · 06/01/2026
NSF townhall at #AAS247 – they’re moving to the USPTO, but it’s not ready yet so everyone is teleworking
Slide with a picture of the old NSF office and an arrow to a picture of the USPTO
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Dr Robert Minchin @robminchin.bsky.social · 05/01/2026
1,800 hours of VLA observations condensed into 5 minutes at #AAS247 by @thenrao.bsky.social ‘s Cosima Eibensteiner!
Speaker giving a talk
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Dr Robert Minchin @robminchin.bsky.social · 05/01/2026
James Binney about to give the #RAS Gold Medal talk at the #AAS247 meeting.
Man on stage in front of a large crowd with his image shown on a large screen to the left
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Dr Robert Minchin @robminchin.bsky.social · 05/01/2026
You can’t miss @thenrao.bsky.social booth as you enter the hall at #AAS247. I’ll be here during the opening reception tonight – stop by and say hi!
Conference booth with NRAO in big letters
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Dr Robert Minchin @robminchin.bsky.social · 04/01/2026
The @thenrao.bsky.social booth looking (almost*) ready to go at #AAS247. See you all this evening at the opening reception! *The Very Large TV is still waiting to be put up
Conference booth with pictures of radio telescopes
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Dr Robert Minchin @robminchin.bsky.social · 04/01/2026
Use the 3rd St entrance to the Convention Center – other doors are locked. Then just keep climbing (escalators are out of order) and eventually you find #AAS247 registration on the 3rd floor (same level as the bridge).
View north up 3rd street from the Convention Center bridge. A very wide street with a ludicrously big Sheraton hotel filling half of the view.
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Dr Robert Minchin @robminchin.bsky.social · 04/01/2026
Good evening Phoenix #AAS247
Cityscape at dusk. Some high-rise buildings. Lots of roofs. Could be anywhere.
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Dr Robert Minchin @robminchin.bsky.social · 01/01/2026
Happy New Year! ¡Prospero Año Nuevo! Blwydden Newydd Dda!
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Dr Robert Minchin @robminchin.bsky.social · 30/12/2025
Okay, I understand (even if I don't agree with) pushing Holy Innocents to the 29th. But why is Venite still doing Holly Innocents today (the 30th)? Too many Becket fans insisting it can't have the 29th? ⚓
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Dr Robert Minchin @robminchin.bsky.social · 25/12/2025
Merry Christmas!
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Dr Robert Minchin @robminchin.bsky.social · 03/12/2025
Having been to a number of parties in Ireland, the image contoured up by the phrase "Irish goodbye" is saying goodbye to everyone at least twice, with interactions such as: Have I already said goodbye to you? Oh yes. Twice. Better make it a third time for luck then. Bye!
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Dr Robert Minchin @robminchin.bsky.social · 01/12/2025
We're back in the time of year for Lessons and Carols, and for once again remembering that the rubrics in the Book of Occasional Services insist that this ends with a blessing, even when led by a lay person. How do others deal with this (and can we get it fixed)? ⚓
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Dr Robert Minchin @robminchin.bsky.social · 04/11/2025
Time to post this again it looks like⚓
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National Radio Astronomy Observatory - NSF NRAO @thenrao.bsky.social · 26/09/2025
NEW: NRAO to Outfit the VLBA with New Ultra Wideband Receivers A major upgrade is coming to the NSF Very Long Baseline Array (NSF VLBA) – state-of-the-art ultra wideband receivers capable of operating across the frequency range of 8 - 40 gigahertz (GHz). #RadioAstronomy #Astronomy #NRAO #VLBA
public.nrao.edu
National Radio Astronomy Observatory to Outfit the VLBA with New Ultra Wideband Receivers - National Radio Astronomy Observatory
The National Radio Astronomy Observatory is upgrading the NSF Very Long Baseline Array with new ultra wideband receivers spanning 8–40 GHz, expanding its scientific reach and enabling Ka-band observat...
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Dr Robert Minchin @robminchin.bsky.social · 15/09/2025
High altitude balloon seen to the north of #Socorro this evening. Without the telephoto lens it was just a bright object hovering high in the sky at dusk.
White balloon with something below it against a grey background
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Dr Robert Minchin @robminchin.bsky.social · 23/08/2025
Great Horned Owl at the Bosque del Apache this evening #Socorro
Owl on a dead tree branchOwl on a dead tree branch flapping its wingsOwl on a dead tree branchOwl on a different dead tree branch
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National Radio Astronomy Observatory - NSF NRAO @thenrao.bsky.social · 08/08/2025
NEW: ALMA Sheds Light on “the Cosmic Grapes” Super high-resolution #ALMA and #JWST observations unveil unexpected details of rapid growth in a faint, newborn “grape-like” galaxy, similar to galaxies in the early universe following the Big Bang. 🍇 #RadioAstronomy #Astronomy #NRAO
public.nrao.edu
The Universe’s Secret Harvest: ALMA Sheds Light on “the Cosmic Grapes” - National Radio Astronomy Observatory
Astronomers have discovered a remarkably clumpy rotating galaxy that existed just 900 million years after the Big Bang, shedding...
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Dr Robert Minchin @robminchin.bsky.social · 01/08/2025
Today is Lammas, the cross-quarter day marking the end of summer and the start of the harvest. The name comes from “loaf-mass”, when a freshly-baked loaf was blessed as the first fruits of the wheat harvest.
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Dr Robert Minchin @robminchin.bsky.social · 29/07/2025
24 hours left to submit your NRAO proposals! Deadline is 5pm ET (21:00 UT) tomorrow (Wednesday 30 July). #RadioAstronomy
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H. Minchin @hminchin.bsky.social · 27/07/2025
Proud of @robminchin.bsky.social for preaching on bread as part of lay preacher training. He linked it to Lammas (coming on Friday), Christ the first fruits from the dead, and sharing the bread of our faith when it'd be easier to just not. Really well co-ordinated hymns as well!
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Dr Robert Minchin @robminchin.bsky.social · 05/07/2025
Lots of bombs bursting in the air here as the Americans check their flags are still there.
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Susan Brown Snook @susanbsnook.bsky.social · 20/06/2025
These are the three Roman Catholic bishops of San Diego. I was glad to join them and other faith leaders at immigration court today to offer compassion and presence.
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Dr Robert Minchin @robminchin.bsky.social · 13/06/2025
Odd moment in the Morning Office podcast this morning when the OT reading was introduced as being from the Wisdom despite being from Sirach (aka Ecclesiasticus). Yes, the full title is the Wisdom of Jesus Ben Sira, but the Book of Wisdom is a separate book.⚓️
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WeRateDogs @weratedogs.com · 11/06/2025
These rescuers attached a sausage to a drone to lure a stranded dog named Millie back to safety. 14/10 for everybody
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SpaceAustralia.com @spaceaustralia.com · 05/06/2025
An Emerging Risk To #RadioAstronomy 📡 Using a prototype SKA-Low instrument, a new analysis from @icrar.bsky.social has detected Starlink signals leaking into protected radio bands. @cosmicrami.com writes about this new study. www.spaceaustralia.com/news/emergin... 📸 Astro_Work 🔭 #SpaceAustralia
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National Radio Astronomy Observatory - NSF NRAO @thenrao.bsky.social · 05/06/2025
What are we looking at? 📡 Check out NRAO's Mission Control Feature to see what's being observed by the Very Large Array, Green Bank Telescope, and ALMA Observatory in real time: public.nrao.edu/explore/miss... *Current VLA Observation: Supernovae with Luminous Radio Counterparts* #RadioAstronomy
Screenshot of the NRAO's Mission Control feature. It is an oval-shaped map of the sky surrounding Earth, and the color-coded shapes mark amongst the stars where each telescope is pointing in real time.
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Dr Robert Minchin @robminchin.bsky.social · 28/04/2025
Bosque fire in #Socorro! 🔥 #nmwx
Fires burning in trees behind a townTall flames with black smoke
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Dr Robert Minchin @robminchin.bsky.social · 20/04/2025
Now the green blade riseth from the buried grain, Wheat that in the dark earth many days has lain; Love lives again, that with the dead has been: Love is come again like wheat that springeth green.
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National Radio Astronomy Observatory - NSF NRAO @thenrao.bsky.social · 01/04/2025
ALMA Cycle 12 Call for Proposals Now Open! For scientific observations to be scheduled from October 2025 to September 2026 🚨 Submission deadline is Thursday, April 25, 2025, at 15:00 UT 🚨 More info: almascience.nrao.edu/proposing/ca... #RadioAstronomy #Astronomy #ALMA
A large white ALMA radio telescope pointed upwards against a vivid blue sky.
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Dr Robert Minchin @robminchin.bsky.social · 01/04/2025
I read an article that mentioned the "Pareto Principle" I didn't know what the Pareto Principle was, so I looked it up. Now I know that the people who wrote the article didn't know what the Pareto Principle was either!
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Dr Robert Minchin @robminchin.bsky.social · 29/03/2025
“We are trying to be a good neighbor, a loving neighbor, a compassionate neighbor; not a neighbor who has to check ID before we decide whether you’re worthy of our help.”—Bishop Hunn ⚓ www.krqe.com/news/albuque...
krqe.com
Albuquerque church gets letter from Homeland Security over El Paso shelter
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – The Episcopal Diocese of the Rio Grande is getting in caught up in the crosshairs of politics at the border. Bishop Michael Hunn of the Episcopal Diocese of the Rio …
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TransEpiscopal @transepiscopal.bsky.social · 28/03/2025
Episcopal Church beloveds, please join us in celebrating Transgender Day of Visibility! ⚓️ episcopalnewsservice.org/2025/03/28/e...
episcopalnewsservice.org
Episcopalians to observe Transgender Day of Visibility in celebration of trans, nonbinary people
[Episcopal News Service] Over the next week, some Episcopal churches are recognizing International Transgender Day of Visibility, March 31, with special worship services and educational events to c…
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WeyShran @weyshran.bsky.social · 26/03/2025
The Episcopal church stands against Christian Nationalism. “Christian nationalism is theologically illegitimate and must be called by its proper names: idolatry, blasphemy and heresy.” -Bishop Robert Wright
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