diff --git a/src/articles/articles.ts b/src/articles/articles.ts
index 9c9d67d..c752ef3 100644
--- a/src/articles/articles.ts
+++ b/src/articles/articles.ts
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ export const ARTICLES: Article[] = [
     name: "My high school experience",
     description: "My first program, winning two senior superlatives, and why (and how) I chose Georgia Tech",
     thumbnail: allBlack,
-    published: new Date(Date.parse("3/15/2026")),
+    published: new Date("3/15/2026"),
     article: lazy(() => import("./mdx/high-school.mdx"))
   }
 ]
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/index/Canvas.tsx b/src/index/Canvas.tsx
index 15fd0db..ba1eb44 100644
--- a/src/index/Canvas.tsx
+++ b/src/index/Canvas.tsx
@@ -14,6 +14,8 @@ import {useRef} from "react";
 import type {Mesh} from "three";
 import * as THREE from "three";
 
+useTexture.preload([Jupiter, Makemake, Ceres, Haumea, MilkyWay, SaturnRings]);
+
 export default function Canvas() {
 
   // fade animation sync with loading