iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Dr Megan Argo @astromeg.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

"Starship is orbital" - feels like that's been a long time coming! Can't help feeling conflicted here. I'm looking forward to seeing humans on the Moon, but the prospect of the large number of satellites-per-launch that come with Starship is really not conducive to astronomy...

010

Dr Megan Argo @astromeg.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

I miss the halcyon days of #AcademicTwitter where people would routinely live-tweet conferences. Very sad that I wasn't able to join friends and colleagues in Manchester for the EVN Symposium this week; even more sad that I can't follow along with the exciting science from home! ☹️

020

Dr Megan Argo @astromeg.bsky.social · 30/08/2026

Good luck to NASA’s Roman telescope! Launch looked good, it successfully separated from the rocket, and established communications with the ground. Can’t wait to see the images 🤩 So much fun as a guest on BBC News this afternoon covering the launch 🚀 🥳 (some day I’ll see a launch in person… 🤞)

000

Dr Megan Argo @astromeg.bsky.social · 18/08/2026

@anywaythewind.bsky.social it was pretty good, far busier than we anticipated, and it only clouded over towards the very end - we were lucky! (You know it's a good event when the ice cream man has to call for backup!!!)

020

Dr Megan Argo @astromeg.bsky.social · 18/08/2026

Almost a week on and I'm still processing the bananas whirlwind of eclipse day! The week before was busy with the story about a SpaceX second stage hitting the Moon too, it's been wild. All in all, 22 separate media appearances over two weeks, with an entire morning in Salford 🤯😅

A woman and a man are standing outside in the Sun. An inflatable Earth and a small ball to represent the Moon are being used to demonstrate how solar eclipses work. A caption at the top says "LIVE SALFORD QUAYS". Another caption at the bottom says 08:46.

010

Dr Megan Argo @astromeg.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

Busy afternoon down here at Shropshire Astronomical Society’s eclipse event at Rodington village hall! Filling up with deck chairs, ice cream sold out, and we’re out of eclipse glasses 🤩

030

Dr Megan Argo @astromeg.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

Lovely down here in Shropshire 😝

120

Reposted by Dr Megan Argo

Bath Astronomers @bathastronomers.org.uk · 11/08/2026

Well that's fun. First time I've been asked to do an interview with the opening line "you must bring your own Colander!"

0226

Dr Megan Argo @astromeg.bsky.social · 11/08/2026

In sunny Salford! With probably the oddest assortment of stuff I’ve ever packed in a bag for an overnight stay… 😎 who’s excited for the eclipse tomorrow?!

An inflatable earth, a juggling ball, a large torch, a metal colander, and a spatula with holes. All items are sitting on a wood-effect table.

030

Dr Megan Argo @astromeg.bsky.social · 11/08/2026

I hope the weather gods are on your side 😜

010

Dr Megan Argo @astromeg.bsky.social · 09/08/2026

Excellent! 😎 i hope he has a great time. I wish I was staying for the whole event, it was a lot of fun to visit for the day! I hope the organisers have planned something around the eclipse, would be a shame if they haven’t…

100

Dr Megan Argo @astromeg.bsky.social · 09/08/2026

Spent the morning at Chamboree, a big international Scout and Guide camp in the Cheshire countryside. Was there to do drumming workshops with my samba band - ended up telling anyone who would listen about the eclipse… and how to observe it with a colander! Camp = spag bol = colander 😁

110

Dr Megan Argo @astromeg.bsky.social · 07/08/2026

Following all the interest in the SpaceX rocket impacting the Moon on Wednesday, I wrote an article about it for @theconversation.com, together with Nick Wrigley from Jodrell Bank Observatory (who was watching the event via radar).

theconversation.com

A rocket crashed into the Moon – why this could threaten future lunar bases

The rocket section struck the lunar surface near Einstein crater on the Moon’s near side.

020

Dr Megan Argo @astromeg.bsky.social · 06/08/2026

I've had a busy 24 hours with interviews about it for the BBC News at Six, 5 Live, World Service, Radio Berkshire, The Naked Scientists podcast, and comments in the Independent!

A woman wearing glasses and a black and white top sits in front of bookshelves. The bookshelves are covered in books and model rockets. The woman is talking to the camera. A caption on screen reads "Dr Megan Argo / University of Lancashire / BBC News".

050

Dr Megan Argo @astromeg.bsky.social · 06/08/2026

Incidentally, tracking this stuff by radar is something that, you know, radio telescopes (like those at e-MERLIN / Jodrell Bank Observatory) are pretty good at. Seems like a useful capability to have in this day and age...

130

Dr Megan Argo @astromeg.bsky.social · 06/08/2026

Anyone launching stuff into space really ought to take responsibility and dispose of it thoughtfully.

120

Dr Megan Argo @astromeg.bsky.social · 06/08/2026

We don't want a future crewed base to be damaged by rogue rocket parts (or asteroids, for that matter!). Important lunar science might be lost through contamination with man-made materials. It would be pretty sad to see Neil Armstrong's first footprint obliterated accidentally.

110

Dr Megan Argo @astromeg.bsky.social · 06/08/2026

More space junk ending up in places it shouldn't. There is less of this stuff around the Moon than there is in low Earth orbit, and not much of vital importance on the Moon (yet), but still, yesterday's accidental crash of a SpaceX Falcon 9 upper stage illustrates a growing problem.

120

Reposted by Dr Megan Argo

Astronomer Royal for Scotland | Catherine Heymans @astroroyalscot.bsky.social · 05/08/2026

Woo-hoo - go @eso.org! Impact confirmed 💥 "The Very Large Telescope spectra taken with the UVES instrument, show emission lines of sodium & lithium. The sodium likely originated from the lunar soil, whereas the lithium could come from the rocket itself." 🔭🧪

3619

Dr Megan Argo @astromeg.bsky.social · 05/08/2026

Those days where events come along, smash in your office door, tear up your plans and throw them out of the window… that’s today! 🚀 💥 🌖 😂

020

Dr Megan Argo @astromeg.bsky.social · 03/08/2026

They are particularly photogenic scientific discovery machines! I’ve been using them in my research for more than 20 years, and I still look out for each and every one of them whenever I’m nearby 🤩

030

Reposted by Dr Megan Argo

Astronomer Royal for Scotland | Catherine Heymans @astroroyalscot.bsky.social · 01/08/2026

"There are shades of the departed Starmer government in this saga: @ukri.org wants to tell a big story about science funding going up, but instead is mired in a row over a fairly minor sum.... One does not have to be an astronomer to know that optics matter." 👌🔭 www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

theguardian.com

The Guardian view on the Lovell telescope: budget cuts to physics are bad science and worse politics | Editorial

Editorial: Funders have picked a damaging fight with scientists and the public. They should reconsider their plans

38928

Reposted by Dr Megan Argo

Astronomer Royal for Scotland | Catherine Heymans @astroroyalscot.bsky.social · 31/07/2026

The new UkGov "may be more willing to hold UKRI to account for its specific prioritisation decisions based on the reality that they are political choices with political consequences". 🤞 #SaveUKAstronomy #SaveJodrellBank

2356

Dr Megan Argo @astromeg.bsky.social · 29/07/2026

And there is the table-top radio telescope from the SKAO, you can find build instructions here: www.skao.int/en/resources...

skao.int

AR, VR & Fun Stuff | SKAO

042

Dr Megan Argo @astromeg.bsky.social · 29/07/2026

You've now got me wondering what other random items in my house I can try using to watch the eclipse.... 🤣

020

Dr Megan Argo @astromeg.bsky.social · 29/07/2026

Brilliant, thank you! The ones without people are ideal - will credit you 😊

010

Dr Megan Argo @astromeg.bsky.social · 29/07/2026

🤩 we have a couple hopping around the garden at the moment, can watch them for hours 😁

110

Dr Megan Argo @astromeg.bsky.social · 29/07/2026

Or you could play with PICTOR, that's always fun: pictortelescope.com

pictortelescope.com

PICTOR: A free-to-use Radio Telescope

134

Dr Megan Argo @astromeg.bsky.social · 29/07/2026

"Getting started in radio astronomy: beginner projects for the amateur" is good if you want some project ideas with guides. "An Introduction to Radio Astronomy" is a more academic book but covers a lot of science uses. Or you could look at something like RadioJOVE or radio meteor detection - fun!

010

Dr Megan Argo @astromeg.bsky.social · 29/07/2026

Hello lovely people! Does anybody have a photograph of a partial solar eclipse viewed through a colander that they would be prepared to let me use please? Ping me here or drop me an email if you can help. Thanks! 🌞

234

Dr Megan Argo @astromeg.bsky.social · 28/07/2026

There’s a learning curve, but it’s worth it!

110

Dr Megan Argo @astromeg.bsky.social · 28/07/2026

Come to the dark side - it’s fun 😁

120

Reposted by Dr Megan Argo

Astronomer Royal for Scotland | Catherine Heymans @astroroyalscot.bsky.social · 28/07/2026

Sadly it's not just #JodrellBank losing funding, with deep cuts across the board for UK astronomy. One example is the HiPERCAM project whose funding has been entirely cut to save £50K/yr - peanut-levels of £s. Spectacular fast transient science lost, for what? 🔭😡 www.zmescience.com/science/astr...

zmescience.com

One of Astronomy’s Fastest Cameras May Stop Operating Over a $67,000 Funding Gap

The camera that checked JWST’s clock is losing its funding.

18354160

Dr Megan Argo @astromeg.bsky.social · 28/07/2026

I think this would be a sensible exception! (The Lovell looks like it’s parked at the moment, in any case.)

100

Dr Megan Argo @astromeg.bsky.social · 28/07/2026

Good to see the STFC funding cuts getting more coverage today - BBC Breakfast was at Jodrell Bank this morning, and I’m quoted in an article in the Telegraph!

Three people stand on the grass outdoors under a cloudy sky. The grass is looking rather brown. In the background is the large structure of the Lovell radio telescope, 76 metres in diameter, supported on a large structure of metal girders and towers, all painted white. The telescope is looking away from the camera at an angle of about 45 degrees elevation.

350

Reposted by Dr Megan Argo

Dara O Briain @daraobriain.bsky.social · 27/07/2026

Well, you can imagine how dreadful I think this is. In the meantime, you should all go and visit their brand new excellent, excellent visitor centre. www.theguardian.com/science/2026...

theguardian.com

Jodrell Bank Observatory facing closure after major funder cuts support

Scientists say decision is blow to UK astronomy as deep space observatory is home to world-leading facilities

25444114

Reposted by Dr Megan Argo

Prof Jim Wild @jim-wild.bsky.social · 27/07/2026

Like many colleagues across our community, I’m dismayed by these cuts. The UK should be building on its scientific strengths, not retreating from them, especially as a new government and new science minister seek to define the country’s future ambitions.

14214

Dr Megan Argo @astromeg.bsky.social · 27/07/2026

Yep, that pretty much sums it up. If you want graduates with high tech skills to solve big, challenging, wicked problems, you need to give them opportunities and facilities on which they can train.

010

Dr Megan Argo @astromeg.bsky.social · 27/07/2026

I've taught those experiments! It's an inspiring place, isn't it? Stopping funding e-MERLIN doesn't mean the Lovell telescope will disappear from Cheshire overnight, but it will still cost a lot to maintain - whether operational or not. And who pays that bill? Not STFC.

101

Dr Megan Argo @astromeg.bsky.social · 27/07/2026

My thoughts go out to everyone who works there, many of them old friends. Anyone know a rich person who would like to help save a national facility?!

110

Dr Megan Argo @astromeg.bsky.social · 27/07/2026

BBC News headline: “UK's iconic Jodrell Bank telescope faces axe in science cuts”. Devastating news for UK radio astronomy and really shortsighted. These facilities train large numbers of very capable people who make a difference in a wide variety of careers www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

bbc.co.uk

Jodrell Bank's Lovell telescope faces axe in science cuts, BBC understands

Astronomers warn it would tear the heart out of UK science, and leave a generation untrained.

172

Dr Megan Argo @astromeg.bsky.social · 23/07/2026

Another awesome example of easy eclipse viewing techniques! Thanks @seanmcp.bsky.social 😀

120

Dr Megan Argo @astromeg.bsky.social · 23/07/2026

Hosting, not “hosing” 🤭

000

Dr Megan Argo @astromeg.bsky.social · 23/07/2026

If you fancy watching the August 12th 2026 partial eclipse and are in the west midlands, Shropshire Astronomical Society are hosing a family-friendly viewing party from 12pm! Rodington Village Hall (nr Shrewsbury) with safe eclipse viewing, planetariums show, arts and crafts, raffle, and lots more.

132

Dr Megan Argo @astromeg.bsky.social · 23/07/2026

Here’s a great example of what you see during a partial solar eclipse using a tree canopy as a makeshift pinhole camera 🤩

020

Dr Megan Argo @astromeg.bsky.social · 23/07/2026

The August 12th solar eclipse is less than three weeks away! The easiest and safest way to watch is to find some trees and watch the shadows - here’s an example, each little patch of light is an image of the sun! During the eclipse the moon will obscure part of the sun and the shape will change.

253