iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Carina ☀️ Alden @spacewxrina.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

She probably would be asking "WHY ARE YOU LEAVING NASA?! IT'S ALWAYS BEEN OUR DREAM!?" And I'd smile and say, "yes, it has! And we accomplished that dream. Now it's time to explore another." I can’t wait to share it with you 💗 Until then, ad astra 🚀

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Carina ☀️ Alden @spacewxrina.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

Each year had its fair shares of trials, but gosh it was so worth it. I know the Carina in 2018 would be so proud of the Carina today.

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Carina ☀️ Alden @spacewxrina.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

~ I've worked alongside some of the brightest minds and made some of the greatest friends ~ I've staffed numerous NASA booths at outreach events and conferences ~ I've shared my knowledge through various forms (social media, TV interviews, news articles, etc) ~ I've worked at least one solar maximum

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Carina ☀️ Alden @spacewxrina.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

~ I was part of the team from its start ~ I've learned SO much about space weather, the Sun, aurora, the solar wind and everything in between ~ I've traveled to places I never even imagined I'd be fortunate enough to see (I'm looking at you, Argentina)

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Carina ☀️ Alden @spacewxrina.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

Although my time at NASA has come to an end, it has been an extraordinary journey to say the least. Over the last 6 years, I have grown in more ways than I knew was possible.

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Carina ☀️ Alden @spacewxrina.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

The bigger irony is that after graduating, I would end up moving back to Maryland. And perhaps the most ironic part of it all is that I got my dream job and ended up buying my first home in Maryland. Maryland has been my home for the last 5 years. Now it feels weird to be saying goodbye.

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Carina ☀️ Alden @spacewxrina.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

The irony of being at Goddard was that I absolutely *despised* living in Maryland. To the point where I swore I was never going to come back. Then I came back for the second summer. I still despised it.

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Carina ☀️ Alden @spacewxrina.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

By the time I reached the summer of my sophomore year of undergrad, I was starting internships. The first with the National Solar Observatory, the second with Southwest Research Institute through the LASP REU program, and the third and fourth both at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center.

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Carina ☀️ Alden @spacewxrina.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

I quickly became involved within the space weather community on Twitter, followed by continuous conversations at each conference I had the fortune opportunity of attending (many AMS meetings). Each conversation, each event, each person helped fuel that fire. But I was always desperate for more.

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Carina ☀️ Alden @spacewxrina.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

In 2014, I first learned about Space Weather. I had no idea what the term was or what it meant, but I sat in on multiple days of talks at the AMS annual meeting and after a few talks I was hooked. That passion fueled a fire within me and I couldn't seem to feed fast enough.

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Carina ☀️ Alden @spacewxrina.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

I have a new adventure starting very soon that I'm very excited to tell you all about, but before I share that news I wanted to take a moment to reflect on the incredible journey I've been fortunate enough to have.

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Carina ☀️ Alden @spacewxrina.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

After nearly six years at NASA with the Moon to Mars Space Weather Analysis Office, I have made the bittersweet decision to leave the known and head towards the unknown. Yes, you read that right. My time with NASA and M2M SWAO has come to an end (at least for now 😉).

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Carina ☀️ Alden @spacewxrina.bsky.social · 16/07/2026

It’s scary bad back in my hometown area 😭

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Carina ☀️ Alden @spacewxrina.bsky.social · 16/07/2026

Okay y’all I need your help. My partner is currently healing after his abdominal surgery that he had yesterday and I’m trying to surprise him by getting his Kickstarter for his debut novel funded. We’re only $433 short of his $2K goal. Can you help share it? 🙏🥹 www.kickstarter.com/projects/sin...

kickstarter.com

Ink & Saltwater Publishing Pre-Launch Campaign

See how you can have Ink & Saltwater in your hands.

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Carina ☀️ Alden @spacewxrina.bsky.social · 27/06/2026

Happy pride month y’all 🥹 I’m here to ask for help supporting my partner 🫶 he’s got a gender affirming surgery coming up next month!! Yay!! I’m trying to surprise him so he doesn’t have to work without pay for a few weeks. So if you see this and are willing to share or donate, it would be amazing 🥹

gofund.me

Donate to Help KJ Heal Without Worry After Surgery, organized by Carina Alden

I’m raising funds to surprise my partner to help pay for his (FTM) hysterectomy!… Carina Alden needs your support for Help KJ Heal Without Worry After Surgery

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Carina ☀️ Alden @spacewxrina.bsky.social · 13/04/2026

If you also got to support Artemis II can you share what you got to do? I was supporting monitoring and analyzing the space weather conditions for the mission! ☀️🚀 #ArtemisII #STEM #SpaceWx

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Carina ☀️ Alden @spacewxrina.bsky.social · 07/04/2026

What an honor to be featured during the Artemis II live broadcast during their space weather segment 🥹 #ArtemisII #SpaceWeather

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Carina ☀️ Alden @spacewxrina.bsky.social · 02/02/2026

ICYMI: The Sun has been releasing flares all day today, including numerous X-class and M-class flares. I had the pleasure of entering 17 of the M-class flares and an X-class flare into the DONKI today during shift. Reminding me of May 2024's AR 13664 😅🤪 If only I could claim the X8.1 too! 😉😂

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Vincent Ledvina @vincentledvina.bsky.social · 20/01/2026

Not sure I have ever seen this color of aurora before - literally pure blue and indigo. This is happening now over central Canada in Rabbit Lake, SK. The camera is accessible and linked on my webcam list: go.theauroraguy.com/webcams

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Carina ☀️ Alden @spacewxrina.bsky.social · 20/01/2026

And report them to Aurorasaurus to help citizen science!

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Carina ☀️ Alden @spacewxrina.bsky.social · 19/12/2025

I’d like to introduce you all to my foster (who will likely be a fail) Parker. 🥹 he has fallen in love with Eclipse and it’s so cute 💜 Parker has a name with two connections (Parker Solar Probe and Peter Parker) 🤣💜

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Vincent Ledvina @vincentledvina.bsky.social · 24/11/2025

There's a bit of glow on the Isle Royale cam in Michigan right now! This is likely due to the elevated IMF and some recent south Bz conditions. Take a look at live webcams and if you're along the U.S-Canada border, you have a shot at activity right now. go.theauroraguy.com/webcams

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Carina ☀️ Alden @spacewxrina.bsky.social · 12/11/2025

Still seeing some color, but fighting the clouds and light pollution! @capitalweather.bsky.social

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Carina ☀️ Alden @spacewxrina.bsky.social · 12/11/2025

Trying to fight light pollution but got some faint to the eye pink and green hues and some nice colors via camera in Odenton, MD!

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Carina ☀️ Alden @spacewxrina.bsky.social · 28/10/2025

Convening our TDM for #ESWW2025 virtually was a success! I am so proud of how well it went. Giving forecasters an opportunity to have conversations with the #SpaceWeather community is something I will continue to strive for. Special thanks to those who helped make today's TDM such a success! ❤️

Carina Alden on the large projector screen in a red shirt with the Carina Nebula image from JWST as her background, cheesing hard, with the in person conveners and panelists below and to the right of the screen in green comfy looking bucket type chairs and some circular possibly fuzzy carpets underneath them. An empty chair on the left starts the panel semicircle followed by Claudio Corti (co-convener) holding a microphone, then Tiffany 'Tiff' Day (forecaster), Yana Maneva (forecaster), Chris Lock (forecaster), David Themens (modeler/forecaster), and in the last chair Krista Hammond (co-convener).

Similar setup to the previous picture, however Claudio Corti is missing as he's running around handing the mic to those in the audience for questions. On the large screen is Carina grinning because her cat Salem is on her lap asking for boops on his nose. This is not new for Salem. He must get attention at all times and his nickname is fittingly boop-a-doo's.

Picture of panelists from left to right sitting in green bucket chairs: Tiffany 'Tiff' Day (forecaster) speaking with microphone in hand, then Yana Maneva (forecaster), Chris Lock (forecaster), and David Themens (modeler/forecaster). There is a white table in front of the panelists with 5 seemingly empty water glasses, two already opened glass water bottles, and a fruit basket for some pizzaz.

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Carina ☀️ Alden @spacewxrina.bsky.social · 28/10/2025

Nothing better than being a virtual convener and having your cat decide now is the time I'd like to sit in your lap, but I'm going to keep my tail in your face...🤪 #ESWW2025

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Carina ☀️ Alden @spacewxrina.bsky.social · 10/09/2025

I recognize that second slide 👀😂 wish I could’ve been in person!

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Christian Möstl @chrisoutofspace.bsky.social · 09/09/2025

Some impressions from the UK 🇬🇧💂‍♂️ Space Weather and Space Environment Meeting III in Sheffield this week - I talked about research to operations to research at @aswogeosphere.bsky.social and the usage for spacecraft measuring solar storm magnetic fields closer to the Sun ☀️ (so called sub-L1 monitors).

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Carina ☀️ Alden @spacewxrina.bsky.social · 05/08/2025

Do you consider yourself as a modeler/developer, forecaster, or end-user of space weather? Are you interested in helping advance the O2R cycle in space weather? If so, please consider submitting a response to our survey! Find the survey here: bit.ly/O2RSurvey Deadline: August 18th, 23:59pm ET.

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TJ Cooney @tjcooney.com · 18/06/2025

tired

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Sarah Kendrew @sarahkendrew.bsky.social · 11/06/2025

First views of the Sun's poles, from @esa.int 's Solar Orbiter mission! 🔭😍

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Rika Klassen @rikaklassen.northsky.social · 04/06/2025

yeah, someone made the sunset lesbian flag inspired by your design www.tumblr.com/lgbtqa-aesth...

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Laurie Raye @alraye.bsky.social · 03/06/2025

(These were made so long ago, I'm not even sure all of these flags are in use anymore! I've seen other people make galaxy versions of these new designs though, as well as other flags I didn't get around to doing - they are out there!)

Bigender flag made from photos of galaxies

Lipstick lesbian flag made from photos of galaxies

Polysexual flag made from photos of galaxies

Transgender and non-binary flag made from photos of galaxies, including a central stripe for indigenous people and people of colour

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Laurie Raye @alraye.bsky.social · 03/06/2025

Genderqueer flag made from photos of galaxies

Leather flag made from photos of galaxies

Polyamorous flag made from photos of galaxies

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Laurie Raye @alraye.bsky.social · 03/06/2025

Abrosexual flag made from photos of galaxies

Agender flag made from photos of galaxies

Demisexual flag made from photos of galaxies

Intersex flag made from photos of galaxies

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Laurie Raye @alraye.bsky.social · 03/06/2025

Aromantic flag made from photos of galaxies

Demiromantic flag made from photos of galaxies

Labrys lesbian flag made from photos of galaxies

(Old?) Lesbian flag made from photos of galaxies

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Laurie Raye @alraye.bsky.social · 03/06/2025

Bisexual flag made from photos of galaxies

Genderfluid flag made from photos of galaxies

Pansexual flag made from photos of galaxies

Rainbow flag made from photos of galaxies

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Laurie Raye @alraye.bsky.social · 03/06/2025

Happy Pride month, all! Way back in 2018 I made these galaxy pride flags. They were shared many thousands of times, featured on Vice, and even made their way onto book covers and into video games. Here are the original ones I created (in no particular order!) so Bluesky can have them too. 💙

Asexual flag made from photos of galaxies

Non-binary flag made from photos of galaxies

New Pride flag made from photos of galaxies

Transgender flag made from photos of galaxies

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Reposted by Carina ☀️ Alden

Kristin Pratt @prattkristin.bsky.social · 06/05/2025

I have 3 pieces by Amy (Martian mug & yarn bowl are commissions, the bowl is one of her original designs). Highly recommend her work & working with her, she is amazing! I adore my pieces and use them frequently. Get on her newsletter & make yourself an alert for beautiful space themed ceramics!

A yarn bowl with an astronaut reaching out to a blue planet.

A orange The Martian Fonzie double thumbs up pose mug, a green nebula bowl with an astronaut reaching toward you, and a yarn bowl with an astronaut pointing toward a blue planet.

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Carina ☀️ Alden @spacewxrina.bsky.social · 19/04/2025

I needed to see this. I’ve been up since 5am, working on a PowerPoint since 6am. With breaks on and off, but struggling to focus long enough to be happy with it. I want to take a break, but I also want to be able to be done with it.

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Mathew Owens @mathewjowens.bsky.social · 03/03/2025

An exciting opportunity here to build a new data assimilation scheme for the unique (but underused) heliospheric imager data. This could be huge for space-weather forecasting.

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Alejandra Caraballo @esqueer.net · 19/02/2025

Public comments are open for gender marker changes for trans people on passports. DS-11 Application for passport: www.federalregister.gov/documents/20... DS-82 Passport Renewal: www.federalregister.gov/documents/20... DS-5504 Name Change and Corrections. www.federalregister.gov/documents/20...

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