iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Andy Lawrence @e-astronomer.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

More office archaeology. Twenty six years ago, these were the consortium votes for the name of what then became the UKIRT Infrared Deep Sky Survey (UKIDSS). I think the acronym won because it was unique in a Google search. Anybody want to own up to voting for the others?

Extract from email. Says
(1) UKIDSS=23 (3113323313)
(2) UNIS=18 (3332322)
(3) UKISS=12 (222222)

(4) UDIS=8 (1313)
(5=) DISCovery=6 (33)
(5=) DISCO=6 (1131)
(7) SCUDS=5 (23)
(8) DISCUSS=1 (1)

WUSSIES and COSSIES nil points (sorry Laurence)

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Chuck Darwin @cdarwin.c.im.ap.brid.gy · 12/09/2026

Astronomers spent decades designing the Square Kilometre Array Low (SKA-Low) to hear the faintest whisper in the observable universe — neutral hydrogen signals from the cosmic dawn, when the first stars flickered on roughly 13 billion years ago. What they’re picking up instead is electronic […]

c.im

Original post on c.im

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Andy Lawrence @e-astronomer.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

oh I like this so much. I especially like “weighted networks”. I hadn’t understood why the term “neural networks” has always made me uncomfortable

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Emily M. Bender @emilymbender.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

5. Finally, beware of mathiness. If some Anthropic defector gains notoreity for claming a 10% chance of "AI" annihilating humanity within the decade ... I mean this shouldn't be news, but at the very least someone should ask him how he calculated that. >>

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Andy Lawrence @e-astronomer.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

Groin Pub and Beach Cafe. I like living here.

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Andy Lawrence @e-astronomer.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

Just discovered - if you have press reader app, and U.Ed. email, can read loads of newspapers free, cos library already subscribes. Ditto City Library. Presumably true for other Universities and Libraries. Amazing! But I will carry on paying for the Guardian. They deserve it. www.pressreader.com

pressreader.com

PressReader - Connecting People Through News

Get an unlimited stream of top news stories in your home feed — no sign up required.

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Andy Lawrence @e-astronomer.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

empty office!! There are now five names on the door. This must be the professor-pdra exchange rate

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Dr Space Junk (Alice Gorman) @drspacejunk.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

Starlink is trying to block its geostationary competitors. We should be monitoring this very closely. 🧪 🔭

satnews.com

SpaceX Petitions FCC to Block Viasat Satellite Authorization Over Starlink Interference Concerns – SatNews

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Andy Lawrence @e-astronomer.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

In case my previous post seemed too self important, I note that also on my office wall has been my donkey derby winner’s certificate from Mawgan Porth, Cornwall 2008

pink cardboard mounted under glass. Bottom left, cartoon sketch ofcdonkey. Top says “Rotary Club of St Columb. Donkey Derby CERTIFICATE. This is to certify that” Then written in biro underneath is “ANDREW LAWRENCE”. Under this says “Who rode the winning donkey in the Rotary Club’s annual Donkey Derby, held at Mawgan Porth, Cornwall”. Under that is signed “Alex Shapland” then “President, St Columb Rotary Club, 2007/2008”

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Andy Lawrence @e-astronomer.bsky.social · 30/08/2026

More office clearance. Ahem, my royal warrant as Regius Prof. @astroroyalscot.bsky.social will have something similar. This front page ends “… abilities and good endowments of Our”. On the next page, under the glass, it continues “trusty and well beloved Andrew Lawrence”. Me Mum loved that.

wooden frame around glass case for containing typed document tied with green ribbon. At top is signed “Elizabeth R”.Typed words say “ELIZABETH THE SECOND, by the Grace of God of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and of of our other Realms and Territories QUEEN, Head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith, to all whom these presents do or may concern GREETINGS.

Forasmuch as We, taking into Our Royal Consideration that the Office and Place of Regius Professor of Astronomy in the University of Edinburgh became vacant on the 31st day of December 1990 and is at our Gift and Disposal through the resignation of Professor Malcolm Sim Longair and We being well informed of the abilities and good endowments of Our”

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Dr Space Junk (Alice Gorman) @drspacejunk.bsky.social · 21/08/2026

The US and SpaceX are going to destroy Earth orbit, the atmosphere, and the night sky for every living thing on Earth. 🔭🧪

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Andy Lawrence @e-astronomer.bsky.social · 18/08/2026

claimed pragmatic argument for more drilling is to keep companies/skills in place that will be part of green transition. Can we hold them to this by making license conditional on a timed concrete plan of additional renewable build? #ClimateSky Lets see the whole plan @andyburnham.bsky.social

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Andy Lawrence @e-astronomer.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

Here is my grid of eclipse progress plots from yesterday at the event on Calton Hill organised by @astronomyedinburgh.bsky.social #astronomy There were thoosands of people! All taken with Seestar S50.

grid of ten pictures of the Sun during the eclipse, proceeding from full sun top left to 90% coverage bottom left and then halfway out by bottom right. Patchy cloud on most of the pictures, but makes it look more dramatic.

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Andy Lawrence @e-astronomer.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

My Seestar practice pic. Scudding clouds but at least you can see sunspots #astronomy

orange disc of Sun with patchy clouds. Two sunspot groups lower left

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Andy Lawrence @e-astronomer.bsky.social · 10/08/2026

Do you think this might be worth some money soon?

picture of 15 piece chicken nuggets sliding tile puzzle featuring picture of Jodrell Bank Mk I telescope

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Andy Lawrence @e-astronomer.bsky.social · 09/07/2026

As we await the bad news in this afternoon's STFC "Town Hall" webinar, we are thinking fondly of PPARC days. (Particle Physics and Astronomy Research Council). However, we did not always think so kindly of PPARC. In my ongoing office clear-out, just found this ancient viewgraph #astronomy

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Reposted by Andy Lawrence

emmalawrence.bsky.social @emmalawrence.bsky.social · 07/07/2026

The scale, the amounts, the neck. Clacton you deserve better.

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Andy Lawrence @e-astronomer.bsky.social · 03/07/2026

The UK Infrared Telescope (UKIRT) is finally hitting the end of the road. I have spent many many nights inside that dome! End of a glorious history #astronomy www.hawaii.edu/news/article...

hawaii.edu

System: UPDATED VNR WITH VIDEO: UH continues UKIRT decommissioning; science operations to end this fall | University of Hawaii News

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Leila Belkora PhD, astrophysics @leilabelkora.bsky.social · 02/07/2026

Came across this gem today: a replica of Isaac Newton’s telescope, placed on a pedestal below the 200-inch Palomar telescope, for comparison. (Look closely!) 🔭 1958 photo from the Observatories of the Carnegie Institution for Science collection at the Huntington Library, San Marino, CA.

A minuscule-looking telescope dwarfed by one end of the Palomar telescope. The inside of the Palomar dome is visible in the background.

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Andy Lawrence @e-astronomer.bsky.social · 26/06/2026

came into my office today to find this on my table. I trust it refers to the furniture not the occupant

picture of sticker on office table. Says “Corporate Moves. Location U13. TO BE DISPOSED OF”

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Andy Lawrence @e-astronomer.bsky.social · 24/06/2026

melting in oxfordshire. I love Scotland and need to go home :)

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Andy Lawrence @e-astronomer.bsky.social · 17/06/2026

Moon Venus Clouds and Neighbours. As an astronomer I should hate clouds. But actually, well, they’re gorgeous #astronomy

Lower two thirds is dark silhouettes of houses, with here and there a brightly lit window. Upper third is late twilight sky, striped by clouds of various shades, some apricot colour still just visible on the horizon. Top centre is the crescent moon, with venus visible just up to the right.

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Andy Lawrence @e-astronomer.bsky.social · 16/06/2026

The Satellite Strewn Sky. An impressive video made by Youtube user “Amazing Sky” in Alberta #astronomy youtu.be/yZpbJJLk1ug

youtu.be

The Satellite Strewn Sky

YouTube video by AmazingSky

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Astronomer Royal for Scotland | Catherine Heymans @astroroyalscot.bsky.social · 14/06/2026

Obligatory #selfie from the East Coast Main Line, rocking the I'm-about-to-sand-your-floors look 😷! Heading back to Westminster to ask MPs for their help in halting the impending catastrophic funding cuts to UK astro and particle physics. #SaveUKAstronomy 🔭

Catherine looking a little tired (it was the Scotland match last night) in a 3M Aura mask with the blurred landscape out the train window.

A view down to Berwick upon Tweed. The sea is in the background, houses in the foreground and a river with an arching bridge crossing it.

Pensive cloudy skies, green meadow, and Holy island in the sea in the middle.

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Astronomer Royal for Scotland | Catherine Heymans @astroroyalscot.bsky.social · 29/05/2026

"Someone, somewhere, has taken the decision to defund astrophysics research in the UK, but no-one seems quite sure who that was, or why." The latest on the impact of the catastrophic funding cuts to UK astrophysics, by me, in @natastron.nature.com 👩‍🔬🧪🔭 ✒️ www.nature.com/articles/s41...

World View: A change in UK policy jeopadizes the future of UK astrophysics - By Catherine Heymans

The latest budget proposal announced by the largest UK science funding agency threatens to severely affect UK astrophysics research. My colleagues and I are fighting back.

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Andy Lawrence @e-astronomer.bsky.social · 27/05/2026

Twilight Venus and Jupiter over the Portobello chimneys. What a treat #astronomy

Dark blue twilight sky grading to orange towards the bottom of the picture, with silhouetted rooftops. Bright dot middle right, and slightly less bright dot upper left.

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Andy Lawrence @e-astronomer.bsky.social · 09/05/2026

The UK party landscape may be fractured, but you can divide into nasty and not-nasty. Thursday’s results show not-nasty 53% in England, 58% in Wales, and 78% in Scotland. We are lovely of course in Scotland, but it’s mostly about the voting system

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Alex Cochran @cannotbegrouped.bsky.social · 13/04/2026

Every time a #reform councillor goes to jail, an angel gets its... No, hold on, a green councillor wins. #Green #Party wins Cliftonville by-election called after councillor jailed - BBC News share.google/Feevc7blaV5b...

share.google

Green Party wins Cliftonville by-election called after councillor jailed

The by-election was called after the Cliftonville division's serving councillor was jailed for coercive behaviour.

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Andy Lawrence @e-astronomer.bsky.social · 03/04/2026

eek - that a member’s picture?

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Keith Smith @drkeithsmith.bsky.social · 31/03/2026

Why bother doing astronomy and other blue-skies research? @e-astronomer.bsky.social discusses funding crises in the US & UK, and how researchers should (and shouldn't) justify the required investment. ☄️🔭🧪⚛️ www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...

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Andy Lawrence @e-astronomer.bsky.social · 18/03/2026

Excellent job done by @robertmassey.bsky.social on Beeb R4 this morning talking about the crazy Reflect Orbital plans for big shiny mirrors in space #astronomy

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Royal Astronomical Society @royalastrosoc.bsky.social · 16/03/2026

The RAS is alarmed by the threat to ground-based astronomy posed by proposals put forward by Elon Musk's SpaceX and Reflect Orbital. We have opposed the plans with @eso.org and the International Astronomical Union. Find out more at: ras.ac.uk/news-and-pre...

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Alex Turnbull @alejandroturnbull.space · 22/02/2026

The FCC just opened public comments on SpaceX's plan to launch a million satellites to do AI compute in space. Under the current proposal, an environmental review won't be required. Please consider submitting a public comment to oppose this damaging plan. darksky.org/news/two-sat...

darksky.org

Satellite proposals threaten the night sky

In the United States, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), the agency responsible for authorizing satellite launches and operations…

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Andy Lawrence @e-astronomer.bsky.social · 20/02/2026

Atmospheric pollution from falling SpaceX debris. Nice write up, with quote from yours truly squeezed in at end www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

bbc.co.uk

SpaceX rocket fireball linked to plume of lithium

A SpaceX Falcon 9 crashed to Earth last year. Now scientists have measured the pollution it caused.

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Andy Lawrence @e-astronomer.bsky.social · 17/02/2026

We urgently need public friendly terms that separate Machine Learning from LLMs etc, which these days all just get called "AI". The AI industry is conflating the two for greenwashing purposes www.theguardian.com/technology/2...

theguardian.com

Claims that AI can help fix climate dismissed as greenwashing

Industry using ‘diversionary’ tactics, says analyst, as energy-hungry complex functions such as video generation and deep research proliferate

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Andy Lawrence @e-astronomer.bsky.social · 15/02/2026

excellent shop window, Glasgow Southside.

shop window with sign saying “get off the internet, destroy the right wing”. Sign above the door says “Queer Books. All Welcome”.

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