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Emma Alexander

@astronemma.bsky.social
639 followers 517 following 119 posts

Research Fellow in Astrophysics @ the University of Leeds. Interested in all things Radio Astronomy! Currently working on Galactic filaments. Owned by two dogs, two cats, and two guinea pigs. 🐶🐱🐹 Will post both science and personal. She/her

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Emma Alexander @astronemma.bsky.social · 18/08/2026
Everyone should know what happened with the Infinite Monkey Cage. One of the best-known science communicators in the UK is married to a prominent transphobe; we can only assume he shares her views. The BBC has a lot to answer for here too.
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Emma Alexander @astronemma.bsky.social · 10/08/2026
Super privileged to be the @gostargazing.bsky.social astronomer on board @fredolsencruise.bsky.social Borealis as we depart from Southampton. We’re heading down to Spain to (hopefully) see the Total Solar Eclipse!! 🇪🇸🛳️🌞🌚
Photo taken from the observation deck of a ship, facing forwards. The sky is blue with a few scattered clouds, and the sea is a darker blue. The front of the boat is visible in white.
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Emma Alexander @astronemma.bsky.social · 28/07/2026
We had a plenary talk on HiPERCAM last week at the National Astronomy Meeting. Some really cool science (and the technology that enables it) — ending on the dismal note that it’s a victim of the cuts.
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Tim O'Brien @proftimob.bsky.social · 27/07/2026
Been a very hectic and devastating day. Many thanks for the very many lovely messages of support for our work. Here's a flash back to 2008 #savejodrellbank youtu.be/cWWbA4OYG3Y?...
youtu.be
The Jodrell Bank Song
YouTube video by silkfm
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Jonathan Pritchard @pritchardjr.bsky.social · 27/07/2026
There’s a long list of long term hurt to core particle physics and astronomy projects in the STFC prioritisation outcome. Mostly small change compared to new money being thrown at Quantum and AI projects. www.ukri.org/publications...
ukri.org
Explainer: STFC prioritisation outcomes 2026 to 2030
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Emma Alexander @astronemma.bsky.social · 27/07/2026
The cuts to STC are outlined here. Grim reading all round. 💔🔭🧪
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Astronomer Royal for Scotland | Catherine Heymans @astroroyalscot.bsky.social · 27/07/2026
I'm absolutely devastated for colleagues at Jodrell Bank who found out this morning that funding for the UK's e-MERLIN radio telescope array will be terminated. This is a short-sighted move, to save a tiny fraction of the overall UK science budget. #SaveJodrellBank 🔭🧪 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.
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Emma Alexander @astronemma.bsky.social · 27/07/2026
“All scientific observations at Jodrell are expected to cease on the 1 April 2028 unless alternative funding can be found.” I don’t know what to say. This is catastrophic. 💔🔭🧪 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.
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Emma Alexander @astronemma.bsky.social · 25/05/2026
The Cat 2009 — 2026 💔🌈 We said goodbye to a much loved member of the family last week. It’s been a tough few weeks as her health declined (chronic kidney disease), but she’s at peace now. We’re gonna miss her so much. ❤️
A tabby cat loafing Tabby cat in a grey tunnelTabby cat lounging on a cat treeClose up shot of a tabby cat’s face
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CosmicRami 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️ @rami.spaceaustralia.com · 26/04/2026
#OTD 93 years ago 📡 An engineer named Karl Jansky gave a 12-min presentation at the US National Committee for the International Union for Radio Science to a small group of people. It marked a significant turning point in our understanding of the Universe. #RadioAstronomy 📸 NRAO/AUI/NSF
black and white photo of Karl Jansky standing next to the large angenna telescope he built The telescope is just beams of metal.
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Luke Charters MP @lukecharters.bsky.social · 15/04/2026
A helpful reminder for anyone who needs one: Reform UK was called the Brexit Party before 2021. In 2019, Farage said there was “no difference between the Brexit Party and UKIP in terms of policy.” Same politics. New branding. Don’t be fooled.
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Emma Alexander @astronemma.bsky.social · 08/04/2026
FYI: the abstract deadline for NAM has been extended until the 16th! Includes a session on radio astronomy and the SKAO (with a particular focus on work by early career researchers).
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Katie Mack @astrokatie.com · 03/04/2026
More context on this #Artemis II image: * This is the night side, lit by moonlight. You can see city lights in Spain & Portugal, & a sliver of day at lower right * The Sun is entirely behind Earth, which makes it a kind of solar eclipse, but w/ Earth doing the eclipsing instead of the Moon: ☀️🌍🚀🌕
A full disc image of Earth, as seen from the Orion Crew Module. The planet is a pale blue, swirling with white clouds and glowing slightly lighter blue in place from reflected light. At lower left, a large brown landmass is Africa, with Spain and Portugal with twinkling lights where the planet curves. At top right, auroras glow in a thin green glow, just barely separated from the planet's surface. Earth is set against the black of space (pic: NASA/R.Wiseman)
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Robin Ince @robinince.bsky.social · 03/04/2026
I can’t get excited by our next journey to the Moon when this is what is happening on Earth.
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Pallab Ghosh @pallabg.bsky.social · 18/03/2026
For ⁦‪@SciTechgovuk‬⁩ Lord Vallance says: “"It is not right to portray this as a massive cut. It's not, it’s about managing a budget responsibly". He added that the UK was and would continue to be the second biggest funder experiments @CERN.🧪 www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
bbc.co.uk
Higgs Boson was UK triumph, but British physics faces 'catastrophic' cuts
Britain is preparing to cancel its contribution to one of the Large Hadron Collider's next major upgrades.
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Emma Alexander @astronemma.bsky.social · 18/03/2026
UK folks: tomorrow evening offers an amazing observational challenge. The Moon will be less than 9 degrees elongation at sunset, but other conditions are favourable. The youngest crescent I’ve ever seen was 18 hours old; this will be 17h! 🔭🌙 www.skyatnightmagazine.com/news/moon-ve...
skyatnightmagazine.com
There's a chance to see a wafer-thin Moon with Venus this week. Are you up to the challenge? | BBC Sky at Night Magazine
A chance to see a thin crescent Moon on 19 March 2026 – catch the sweet spot after sunset when the sky is dark before the Moon gets too low.
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Prof Jim Wild @jim-wild.bsky.social · 04/03/2026
Great summary of today's Science, Information & Technology Committee hearing (House of Commons) from @astroroyalscot.bsky.social. It seems pretty clear that there have been serious structural and governance failures at STFC that have led to the current crisis.
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Astronomer Royal for Scotland | Catherine Heymans @astroroyalscot.bsky.social · 04/03/2026
Here is my run-down of today's Science, Information & Technology Committee hearing (House of Commons) where @jonbutterworth.bsky.social @si-wills.bsky.social & I argued for no funding cuts, & Prof. Michele Doughtery explained why they were needed. The public gallery again packed with physicists 🔭👩‍🔬⚛️
Rows of people wearing orange lanyards in a House of Commons committee hearing.  At the front is Catherine sporting her "I'm about to perform an appendectomy" mask and looking particularly snazzy.
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Meg Schwamb @megschwamb.bsky.social · 04/03/2026
Starting at 9:30am "Following reports that the Science & Technology Facilities Council (STFC) is facing significant cost pressures, the Science, Innovation and Technology Committee will hold a one-off evidence session exploring scientific research funding" 🔭 committees.parliament.uk/event/26683/...
committees.parliament.uk
4 March 2026 - Science, Innovation and Technology Committee - Oral evidence session - Committees - UK Parliament
09:00 - The Wilson Room, Portcullis House
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Prof Jim Wild @jim-wild.bsky.social · 01/03/2026
Astronomers take note: The Science, Innovation and Technology Committee are having another session on Wednesday, taking evidence from (among others) the Prof Catherine Heymans @astroroyalscot.bsky.social and STFC Executive Chait Prof Michele Dougherty. committees.parliament.uk/event/26683/...
committees.parliament.uk
4 March 2026 - Science, Innovation and Technology Committee - Oral evidence session - Committees - UK Parliament
09:00 - The Wilson Room, Portcullis House
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Emma Alexander @astronemma.bsky.social · 18/02/2026
Article I co-wrote which covers the astronomy of new crescent Moon visibility in the Islamic calendar! #Ramadan Mubarak to those observing the month ☺️🌙
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John Ilee @johnilee.bsky.social · 11/02/2026
For anyone in London next weekend - get yourself down to this absolutely wonderful combination of art & astronomy. It’s a really special place.
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Lucien Heurtier @lucienheurtier.bsky.social · 04/02/2026
Open letter from Early Career Researchers to the UKRI investment plan. We can't let young people pay the price of "outcome-driven strategies". #stfc #ukri ecr-openletter-stfc.github.io If you are a postdoc or PhD, read and sign! 🧬🔭🔬⚗️🧪📡🛰️
ecr-openletter-stfc.github.io
Early Career Researchers Response to UKRI Investment Approach
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Leigh Fletcher @leighfletcher.bsky.social · 05/02/2026
The peculiar construction of #STFC, funding national labs & international projects, alongside blueskies research (read: jobs for postdocs, fellows, students...), means it lacks the flexibility to respond to rising costs & shifting priorities within a flat budget. www.nature.com/articles/d41...
nature.com
Is UK science in jeopardy? Huge funding reforms spark chaos and anxiety
Major reforms to the United Kingdom’s national research funding agency are aimed at boosting the nation's economy.
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Chris Lintott @chrislintott.bsky.social · 02/02/2026
I've updated my post on the funding crisis heading for British astronomy: docs.google.com/document/d/1.... UKRI made clear that astro and particle physics are being subject to unique cuts due to rising costs elsewhere. This looks like a deliberate decision not to fund fundamental physics. 🔭 🧪
docs.google.com
Funding piece
Modern astronomy is full of marvels. In recent years we have rejoiced in the success of the James Webb Space Telescope, and been puzzled by the surprisingly vibrant early Universe it is showing us. We...
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Richard Alexander @richardalexander.bsky.social · 29/01/2026
Many thoughts about this, but the doublespeak of the phrase "building on last year’s 15% reduction" is mind-boggling. 🔭🧪
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Tim O'Brien @proftimob.bsky.social · 29/01/2026
Grim news for particle physics, astronomy & nuclear physics research in UK. 30% cut overall with projects asked to consider options ranging to a 60% cut. These areas are a huge success for the UK internationally and a great inspiration to the next generation of scientists and engineers.
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Emma Alexander @astronemma.bsky.social · 27/01/2026
@astropotamus.com hi please can you stop following and unfollowing? I already follow you back. Will have to block you otherwise 😬
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University of Leeds @universityofleeds.bsky.social · 15/01/2026
A new project, aiming to provide Muslim communities across the UK with the skills to host local astronomy hubs and moon-gazing events, is being established by the University of Leeds and @cam.ac.uk 🌙 To read more, click the link below 👇 www.leeds.ac.uk/news/article...
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Emma Alexander @astronemma.bsky.social · 14/01/2026
Not sure what specific flavour of lurgies I have right now, but currently very thankful for vaccines and boosters — I dread to think of what state I’d be in right now without them 🤧💉🦠
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Emma Alexander @astronemma.bsky.social · 11/01/2026
Super proud of this project!! 🌙 www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
bbc.co.uk
Leeds University moonsighting project unites science and religion - BBC News
The project hopes to end 'moon wars' between mosques across the UK.
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Dr. Kelley Hess @khesser.bsky.social · 09/01/2026
Breaking: SKA-Mid achieved first fringes last month! This is the first step towards individual dishes becoming an interferometer. It's kind of a big deal. Congrats to the SKA Mid Commissioning Team! Looking forward to first SKA Mid image in 2026. 🔭 📡 🧪 www.skao.int/en/news/693/...
Quoted from the email announcement: "The figure shows the amplitude and phase data averaged over the 5 minute observation period (top panels) and the waterfall plots showing their variation with time.  The phases are flat as a function of frequency, as expected for an isolated point source at the center of the field. Additionally, they are constant in time. This indicates that the system is stable and working as expected. Regions of strong, well-known RFI from geolocation satellites can be clearly seen in the amplitude plots. [Image produced by Shin’ichiro Asayama from data taken by the System AIV team with support from the ATLAS team]"Quoted from the website announcement: "One of the seven SKA-Mid dishes now constructed on site in South Africa's Northern Cape, with SARAO's MeerKAT radio telescope in the background. Credit: SKAO/Max Alexander."
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Emma Alexander @astronemma.bsky.social · 06/01/2026
Amazing!!
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Chris Lintott @chrislintott.bsky.social · 24/12/2025
Parents & anyone else up early on Christmas morning: there’s a bright pass of the International Space Station over the UK, just after 6.15. Well, I say it’s the ISS. Could be Santa heading home… Exact timings for where you are at www.heavens-above.com/PassSummary....
heavens-above.com
ISS - Visible Passes
Satellite predictions and other astronomical data customised for your location.
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Emily Hunt @emily.space · 19/12/2025
The first SPHEREx full-sky images are out! This is an awesome new mission that's super under-rated. It has a really interesting way to take data in 100 different colours 🔭☄️
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Emma Alexander @astronemma.bsky.social · 18/12/2025
Experiments in @solarcan.bsky.social (~Dec 2024 to ~June 2025, only just processed) ☀️🔭
A long exposure solargraph showing the Sun’s paths across the sky, from Winter to Summer solstice. The lines start on the left of the image and rise up in an arc, before moving down and to the right. In the foreground the silhouettes of trees are visible.
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Emma Alexander @astronemma.bsky.social · 17/12/2025
Made the mistake of sending a parcel with Evri which has now got lost. Their customer service appears to only consist of AI, which gives up on trying to help me and closes the conversation without passing me onto a human. Any tips?
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CosmicRami 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️ @rami.spaceaustralia.com · 15/12/2025
Sharing this again for US friends who are just waking up. I saw some posts saying that our 1996 gun law reforms failed, as evidenced by the horrors at Bondi Beach this weekend. This is not true. These incidents are rare for us. It *can* be done. It *must* be done, if you want a normal society.
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Emma Alexander @astronemma.bsky.social · 02/12/2025
Hi folks — quick question about undergraduate admission interviews. I’ve not done them myself, although I have done interviews as part of teaching (eg after lab experiments). I’ve offered to do a mock one for a family member who has an interview for Natsci at Cambridge. Any tips or resources?
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Prof Lucie Green @luciegreen.bsky.social · 19/11/2025
Space weather isn’t just about lovely displays of the aurora. There is a very real impact on our technology too.
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Phil Plait @philplait.bsky.social · 13/11/2025
Scientist Lawrence Krauss had close ties to Epstein. This article has some of it, but look to @skepchick.org's feed for details.
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Emma Alexander @astronemma.bsky.social · 12/11/2025
I’m on a boat just south of Tromsø, Norway, and have just seen the most insane aurora!! It’s 4.30am for me now and I need to sleep but if it’s night for you right now, go outside and look!!
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Emma Alexander @astronemma.bsky.social · 06/11/2025
Hei from Ålesund! 🇳🇴 I’m currently working my way up the Norwegian coast on @fredolsencruise.bsky.social Bolette as one of the on-board @gostargazing.bsky.social astronomers. Keeping our fingers crossed for clear skies and Northern Lights! ✨☺️
A photo of Ålesund harbour. The day is grey and cloudy. The foreground has calm water, and colourful buildings are in the background.
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Emma Alexander @astronemma.bsky.social · 31/10/2025
Back visiting my old department @manchester.ac.uk today! Very happy to report that the guinea pig picture I left on my old office window 2 years ago is still in place 🐹
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Emma Alexander @astronemma.bsky.social · 21/10/2025
Took my phone in for a battery replacement today and the Apple person said my iPhone 13 mini was “cute” and she’d not seen one in ages. It only came out in 2021! Surely I’m not the only one who’s kept their phone for 3+ years?
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Joshi Herrmann @joshih.bsky.social · 05/10/2025
Jews and Muslims in North Manchester: A personal story. Fantastic piece by @ophiraophira.bsky.social, who has covered the attack for @manchestermill.bsky.social like no other journalist. Read this alongside the other news coverage. manchestermill.co.uk/jews-and-mus...
manchestermill.co.uk
Jews and Muslims in North Manchester: A personal story
‘We thought we were the luckiest people in the world to be born in Manchester’
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Chanda Prescod-Weinstein 🌌 @chanda.blacksky.app · 26/09/2025
STOP THE GENOCIDE
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mothcub @mothcub.bsky.social · 04/09/2025
Iconic moment at the Downton Abbey premiere
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Megan Eaves-Egenes @meganeaves.com · 26/07/2025
Signed last night. It was pointed out that, even if you don't think petitions work, this will force the government to debate it and therefore they can later be held accountable for genocide if they do not act.
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