Artemis I, Crew-4, & Starlink Rockets on the Pad
Space news

SpaceX went public at $1.77 trillion — what that means for the night sky

On June 12, SpaceX raised $75 billion in the largest initial public offering in history. The company listed on the Nasdaq at $135 per share, valuing the business at approximately $1.77 trillion — putting it among the ten most valuable public companies on Earth. Within hours of the listing, a Falcon 9 carrying 29 Starlink satellites lifted off from Cape Canaveral. The symbolism wasn’t accidental. The reason SpaceX commands that valuation isn’t Starship, and it isn’t the Artemis HLS contract. It’s 10,400 satellites already in orbit, beaming internet to paying subscribers in 75+ countries. Starlink generates an estimated 58% of SpaceX’s total revenue. When public investors bought SpaceX stock this week, they bought a satellite internet company that also happens to build rockets. ...

June 14, 2026 · 6 min · Andreas Ioannou
JWST near-infrared image of the Cosmic Cliffs in the Carina Nebula, showing towering pillars of gas and dust backlit by young stars
Gear

Light pollution filters from a Bortle 7 balcony: what actually helps and what doesn't

I shoot from a fourth-floor balcony in Nicosia. Bortle 7 on a clear night, Bortle 8 when the football pitch lights are on. Every spring, someone in the astrophotography forums asks: “Which filter should I buy for light-polluted skies?” The answers range from “get an L-Pro” to “move to the countryside.” Neither is particularly useful if you’re standing on a balcony with a one-shot colour camera and two hours before the neighbour’s security light comes on. ...

June 6, 2026 · 8 min · Andreas Ioannou