diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index c95fdb4b1f..1dfcbba705 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -127,6 +127,7 @@ docs/examples-rendered/*.py
 
 # VSCode wants to put virtualenvs here
 .env
+.venv
 
 # pintpublish output
 *.tex
diff --git a/tests/test_erfautils.py b/tests/test_erfautils.py
index c836ff85cf..8de6ce5e7f 100644
--- a/tests/test_erfautils.py
+++ b/tests/test_erfautils.py
@@ -59,22 +59,13 @@ def test_scalar():
     assert posvel.pos.shape == (3,)
 
 
-@pytest.mark.skip(
-    "I don't know why this test exists but it no longer fails after changing to astropy version of gcrs_posvel_from_itrf() -- paulr"
-)
-def test_matrix():
-    """Confirm higher-dimensional arrays raise an exception"""
-    with pytest.raises(ValueError):
-        o = "Arecibo"
-        loc = Observatory.get(o).earth_location_itrf()
-        t = Time(56000 * np.ones((4, 5)), scale="tdb", format="mjd")
-        erfautils.gcrs_posvel_from_itrf(loc, t, obsname=o)
-
-
 # The below explore why astropy might disagree with PINT internal code
 
 
-@pytest.mark.xfail(reason="astropy doesn't include up-to-date IERS B")
+# This test checks for a bug that was in Astropy; is it fixed in the oldest version we support?
+@pytest.mark.xfail(
+    reason="astropy doesn't include up-to-date IERS B", raises=AssertionError
+)
 def test_IERS_B_all_in_IERS_Auto():
     B = IERS_B.open(download_file(IERS_B_URL, cache=True))
     mjd = B["MJD"].to(u.day).value
@@ -84,7 +75,12 @@ def test_IERS_B_all_in_IERS_Auto():
     assert_equal(A["dX_2000A_B"][i_A], B["dX_2000A"])
 
 
-@pytest.mark.xfail(reason="IERS changes old values in new versions of the B table")
+# This test checks for a bug that was in Astropy; is it fixed in the oldest version we support?
+# I think this might be the IERS that changes the old versions?
+@pytest.mark.xfail(
+    reason="IERS changes old values in new versions of the B table",
+    raises=AssertionError,
+)
 def test_IERS_B_agree_with_IERS_Auto_dX():
     A = IERS_Auto.open()
     B = IERS_B.open(download_file(IERS_B_URL, cache=True))
@@ -113,9 +109,11 @@ def test_IERS_B_agree_with_IERS_Auto_dX():
         )
 
 
-@pytest.mark.xfail(
-    reason="IERS changes old values in new versions of the B table in astropy 4"
-)
+# This test checks for a bug that was in Astropy; is it fixed in the oldest version we support?
+# @pytest.mark.xfail(
+#     reason="IERS changes old values in new versions of the B table in astropy 4",
+#     raises=AssertionError,
+# )
 def test_IERS_B_agree_with_IERS_Auto():
     A = IERS_Auto.open()
     B = IERS_B.open(download_file(IERS_B_URL, cache=True))
@@ -146,6 +144,7 @@ def test_IERS_B_agree_with_IERS_Auto():
         )
 
 
+# This test checks for a bug that was in Astropy; is it fixed in the oldest version we support?
 # @pytest.mark.xfail(reason="disagreement in current astropy")
 def test_IERS_B_builtin_agree_with_IERS_Auto_dX():
     A = IERS_Auto.open()
@@ -177,7 +176,8 @@ def test_IERS_B_builtin_agree_with_IERS_Auto_dX():
     )
 
 
-@pytest.mark.skip
+# This test checks for a bug that was in Astropy; is it fixed in the oldest version we support?
+# @pytest.mark.skip
 def test_IERS_B_builtin_agree_with_IERS_Auto():
     """The UT1-UTC, PM_X, and PM_Y values are correctly copied"""
     A = IERS_Auto.open()
@@ -219,15 +219,18 @@ def test_IERS_B_builtin_agree_with_IERS_Auto():
     ("PM_x", "PM_X_B"),
     ("PM_y", "PM_Y_B"),
     pytest.param(
-        "dX_2000A", "dX_2000A_B", marks=pytest.mark.xfail(reason="Bug in astropy")
+        "dX_2000A",
+        "dX_2000A_B",  # marks=pytest.mark.xfail(reason="Bug in astropy")
     ),
     pytest.param(
-        "dY_2000A", "dY_2000A_B", marks=pytest.mark.xfail(reason="Bug in astropy")
+        "dY_2000A",
+        "dY_2000A_B",  # marks=pytest.mark.xfail(reason="Bug in astropy")
     ),
 ]
 
 
-@pytest.mark.skip
+# This test checks for a bug that was in Astropy; is it fixed in the oldest version we support?
+# @pytest.mark.skip
 @pytest.mark.parametrize("b_name,a_name", copy_columns)
 def test_IERS_B_parameters_loaded_into_IERS_Auto(b_name, a_name):
     A = IERS_Auto.open()