iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Reposted by Eamonn Kerins

Dr. Jessie Christiansen @aussiastronomer.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

We trained a natural language agent to query the archive's tables! Ask a question of AstroFetch and it will do a search of our documentation and ADS, generate the right TAP query, and present the results. Give it a try! exoplanetarchive.ipac.caltech.edu/index.html

Screenshot of the front page of the NASA Exoplanet Archive with a button labeled 'Query AstroFetch AI' circled in red. Squared in red? Highlighted in red.

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Eamonn Kerins @eamonnkerins.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

Roman was designed to operate with a ten year lifetime. Thanks to frugal fuel use so far, it's lifetime is expected now to be 22 years. That will enable it to do surveys that would take Hubble 30 thousand years to complete! science.nasa.gov/blogs/roman/... 🔭🧪

science.nasa.gov

Fuel Savings Double Potential Lifetime for NASA’s Roman Mission - NASA Science

The results are in: NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope’s very accurate first mid-course correction, along with other fuel savings, are expected to more

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Eamonn Kerins @eamonnkerins.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

Despite recent concerns being expressed by AI companies over AI safety, they are working hard to onboard scientists. I argue this is something we need to be concerned about. If you read this thread and agree with it then please repost, not just like, so as to widen discussion. 1/n 🔭🧪

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Eamonn Kerins @eamonnkerins.bsky.social · 12/09/2026

For any BBC 6Music fans out there, I'll be guesting live on Bobby Friction's show tomorrow morning from around 11. We'll be having a big space chat about NASA Roman, exoplanets and who knows what else. Sounds like Bobby's lining up a top space playlist too, so it should be great.

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Eamonn Kerins @eamonnkerins.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

10-year old me would be bowled over! Great to be in the Newsround studio to talk about Roman with Shanequa Paris and to answer some brilliant questions from Newsround viewers www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/vi...

bbc.co.uk

Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope: Mission explained by scientist

Dr Eamonn Kerins, from the Jodrell Bank Centre for Astrophysics at the University of Manchester, talks about being at the launch of the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope.

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Eamonn Kerins @eamonnkerins.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

Having grown up watching Newsround in the 70s and 80s, it's an understatement to say I'm a bit excited about this. Can't wait for all the amazing questions. www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/ar...

bbc.co.uk

Send Your Questions to Dr Eamonn Kerins After Nasa's New Telescope Launch

From exoplanets to dark energy, Nasa's new Roman Space Telescope will explore the universe. Send in your questions!

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Eamonn Kerins @eamonnkerins.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

Roman continuing to make good progress towards L2 where it will join the James Webb Space Telescope and also ESA's Euclid observatory. Roman's coronograph instrument had been successfully powered up. This will be the first instrument capable of directly imaging exoplanets in reflected light.

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Reposted by Eamonn Kerins

The University of Manchester @manchester.ac.uk · 01/09/2026

UOM ASTRONOMER ON NASA MISSION 🚀⬇️ NASA's Roman Space Telescope mission, due to launch on 30 August 2026 is being lead in part by Dr Eamonn Kerins. The mission is expected to discover more than 100,000 planets orbiting other stars, helping to build the most comprehensive picture of our galaxy yet.

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Eamonn Kerins @eamonnkerins.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

Great chatting with Naga Munchetty earlier today on BBC Radio 5 Live about Roman the mission, and Nancy Grace Roman the pioneering astrophysicist. Catch it on BBC Sounds about 2 hrs 15 mins in to the show: www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/... @nancyromansci.bsky.social #Roman #GoRoman 🧪🔭

bbc.co.uk

Naga Munchetty - 01/09/2026 - BBC Sounds

Naga Munchetty features news, experiences, and big name interviews from around the UK.

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Eamonn Kerins @eamonnkerins.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

More good news on the continuing Roman deployment: high gain antenna and sunshade both activated successfully. It's also crossed the Moon's orbit and continues towards L2. science.nasa.gov/blogs/roman/...

science.nasa.gov

NASA Roman Space Telescope’s Antenna, ‘Visor’ Deployed - NASA Science

Roman’s antenna and visor-like sunshade have successfully deployed.

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Reposted by Eamonn Kerins

Teresa Anderson @teresa-anderson.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

In the house today, the Prime Minister said: 'Everyone of my generation...went on a school trip to Jodrell Bank and there is no way we can see its demise and it won't happen under my government..... ' 😯🥳 Thank you @andyburnham.bsky.social 🙏

parliament.tv

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Eamonn Kerins @eamonnkerins.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

Roman looks to be making good progress after the first mid course correction. Currently roughly 3/4 of the way to lunar orbit. But its final destination is the Earth-Sun L2 point - well beyond the Moon. Trajectory via NASA Eyes: eyes.nasa.gov/apps/solar-s... 🧪🔭🚀

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Eamonn Kerins @eamonnkerins.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

Today has been a memorable one for me. Here's a 12 min video starting 3 mins before launch. Unfortunately my mic noise suppression was so effective that you can't really hear the rocket or the crowd. Take it from me - they were both loud! Anyway the visuals remain. 🔭🧪🚀 youtu.be/EFKRZei_wDg?...

youtu.be

Falcon Heavy Launch of the NASA Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope from Banana Creek

YouTube video by Eamonn Kerins

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Eamonn Kerins @eamonnkerins.bsky.social · 30/08/2026

Me with Roman colleague Ryan Hickox a few minutes after launch. I think it's fair to say we're feeling pretty good 😁 #GoRoman #RomanLaunch 🧪🔭🚀

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Eamonn Kerins @eamonnkerins.bsky.social · 30/08/2026

It's not a great feeling to see 15 years of work (and many more years of work by Goddard engineers) sitting on top of a great big bomb. But it feels utterly amazing to see it break free from the bonds of Earth and head off to its permanent home. #RomanLaunch 🚀🔭🧪 (picture credit: Kate Kerins)

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Eamonn Kerins @eamonnkerins.bsky.social · 30/08/2026

OMG!! There are no words! Except perhaps... GO ROMAN!!! #RomanLaunch

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Eamonn Kerins @eamonnkerins.bsky.social · 30/08/2026

T-minus 40 minutes. Weather looks good and right now the Roman Senior Project Scientist, the awesome Julie McEnery, is on the big screen at Banana Creek, and unflappable as ever.

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Eamonn Kerins @eamonnkerins.bsky.social · 30/08/2026

I'm gobsmacked right now. This is like some kind of dreamscape #RomanLaunch 🧪🔭🚀

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Eamonn Kerins @eamonnkerins.bsky.social · 30/08/2026

Jupiter putting on a beautiful show with 1.5 hours to launch. Lightning fears have receded. Go Roman! #RomanLaunch 🔭🧪🚀

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Eamonn Kerins @eamonnkerins.bsky.social · 30/08/2026

Grrr, may have spoken too soon. There is lightning in the area. Hopefully we'll dodge it.

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Eamonn Kerins @eamonnkerins.bsky.social · 30/08/2026

Not a bad view! And weather looks ok 👍

Cape Canaveral Pad 39A where the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope sits atop a Falcon Heavy awaiting launch. Local time is 3:30 - t-minus 4 hours to launch.

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Eamonn Kerins @eamonnkerins.bsky.social · 29/08/2026

Roman is safe and snug inside the Falcon Heavy at launchpad LC39A, Kennedy. But the weather forecast is looking mixed for tomorrow's launch. Officially a 50% chance of launch. Fingers and toes all crossed. Go Roman! #RomanLaunch

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Eamonn Kerins @eamonnkerins.bsky.social · 28/08/2026

Like an excited little boy doing my tourist thing around #Kennedy Space Center today. Buzzed to be invited to the #RomanLaunch on Sunday. Yesterday was the science team's last pre-launch meet. Everyone super-excited after the launch brief from Roman Launch Director, Missie Vess. Go Roman!

Me standing beside Space Shuttle Atlantis at the Kennedy Space Center.

A selfie with a life-sized mock-up of Mars Rover Perseverance.

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Eamonn Kerins @eamonnkerins.bsky.social · 20/08/2026

Am I excited? You bet! Ten days until #NASARoman launches, and I'll be there to see it. It'll be an awesome telescope. In just over two weeks of operations, it'll amass more data than Hubble gathered over 30 years. By the end of its first year it'll have almost 4x the data volume of James Webb. 🧪🔭

My invite to Kennedy Space Center to see the launch of Roman on August 30th 2026.

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Reposted by Eamonn Kerins

Prof. Abel Méndez @profabelmendez.bsky.social · 15/08/2026

Today marks the 49th anniversary of the Wow! Signal. Over the past two years, we’ve revisited the original observations and uncovered new clues about its nature. Here’s a summary of the latest properties we’ve determined. #AreciboWow (1/n)

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Eamonn Kerins @eamonnkerins.bsky.social · 13/08/2026

The view from #LymePark in Disley near Manchester yesterday evening. Couldn't tell if the sheep were wearing eclipse glasses.

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Eamonn Kerins @eamonnkerins.bsky.social · 28/07/2026

The UK science community as a whole should be concerned by the funding news around Jodrell Bank. Why? What other UK based facility carries as much scientific soft power with the public? What an own goal if we mothball something that connects the pubic so passionately to science. 🔭🧪

A screenshot of trending topics on Bluesky on July 27th, when news broke of funding cuts to e-Merlin, which includes Jodrell Bank telescopes.

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Eamonn Kerins @eamonnkerins.bsky.social · 27/07/2026

What we need from #UKRI right now aren't funding buckets, it's buckets of common sense. My views on the funding crisis for Jodrell Bank and other facilities on @bbc5live.bsky.social this afternoon: www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/... (around 1hr 46 into the show) 🔭🧪

bbc.co.uk

5 Live Drive - 27/07/2026 - BBC Sounds

A round-up of the day's top news and sport with Clare McDonnell and Chris Warburton.

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Eamonn Kerins @eamonnkerins.bsky.social · 27/07/2026

There are facilities that do world leading science and there are facilities that inspire the young to dream big and pursue a career in science. The Lovell telescope does both like no other facility I can think of in the UK. I hope sense will prevail 🧪🔭 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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Reposted by Eamonn Kerins

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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Reposted by Eamonn Kerins

Astronomer Royal for Scotland | Catherine Heymans @astroroyalscot.bsky.social · 08/07/2026

On display this morning, parliamentary scrutiny at its very best with @chionwurah.bsky.social and her committee questioning Secretary of State Liz Kendall about the STFC funding cuts. Worth watching in full, but here are some of the highlights! 1: Doctoring the minutes!

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Eamonn Kerins @eamonnkerins.bsky.social · 25/06/2026

Wild to see the detail revealed by the #Euclid #Galactic Bulge Survey. Right side of the ESASKY image below shows a zoomed in edge of the EGBS area on the right, with adjoining Gaia DR3 data to the left. EGBS gives HST WFC3 level detail, but over an area 2000 larger! @eucliduk.bsky.social 🧪🔭

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Reposted by Eamonn Kerins

ESA Space Science @science.esa.int · 25/06/2026

You've seen Euclid's dazzling image of the Milky Way’s crowded heart. Now explore it yourself. Zoom in, zoom out, go wherever your curiosity takes you 🤩 – in #ESAsky 👇 sky.esa.int/esasky/?targ... 🔭 🧪 ☄️

A very dense field of tiny, closely packed points of light fills the image. The colour is almost uniform, dominated by bright yellow and gold tones across the entire frame. Small white points appear slightly brighter here and there, with a few faint bluish points scattered among them. No large dark patches or strong colour variations are visible, giving the image a smooth, grain‑like appearance.

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Eamonn Kerins @eamonnkerins.bsky.social · 24/06/2026

On the left: a 2014 mock weather forecast on French channel TF1 for a day in August 2050, based on climate forecast models of the time. On the right: the ACTUAL TF1 weather forecast for yesterday. Now try to tell yourself that climate change isn't happening.

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Eamonn Kerins @eamonnkerins.bsky.social · 24/06/2026

Proud of the team I led during 2023-2025 when this survey was designed and executed. Very grateful to my @ec-euclid.bsky.social and @esa.int colleagues for allowing us to do something a little different from Euclid's day-to-day work. youtu.be/2DtFRq1cgcc?... Sound on, and ideally use a 4k screen!

youtu.be

Euclid captures the Milky Way’s crowded heart

YouTube video by European Space Agency, ESA

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Reposted by Eamonn Kerins

Euclid Consortium @ec-euclid.bsky.social · 24/06/2026

What ESA says:

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Reposted by Eamonn Kerins

Astronomer Royal for Scotland | Catherine Heymans @astroroyalscot.bsky.social · 24/06/2026

🤩 Gorgeous image drop from @ec-euclid.bsky.social! 60 million stars = (roughly) >60 million exoplanets too.... Anyone else gazing at this image wondering what might be out there gazing back? 🤗 🥳 Huge congratulations to @science.esa.int and the whole Euclid team! 🧪🛰️🔭

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Reposted by Eamonn Kerins

Euclid UK @eucliduk.bsky.social · 23/06/2026

🚨 Clear space in your diary for 11:00 BST tomorrow… 🤩 #newimage

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Eamonn Kerins @eamonnkerins.bsky.social · 13/06/2026

Just about recovered from last week's exertions at the #Bolton #Ironman 70.3. Struggled on the run with an IT Band flare up. Clearly need to work on strengthening and stretching the leg muscles. But an absolutely fab day and great atmosphere.

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Reposted by Eamonn Kerins

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

Space projects running ahead of schedule? This is rare! Huge celebratory high-5's all round to the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope team, due for early launch this August 🥳 This beast will discover >100,000 planets orbiting distant stars and so so much more 🤩🧪🔭🛰️ ℹ️: science.nasa.gov/blogs/roman/...

Two tiny people in clean-room gear (top to toe in white) look up at a huge piece of kit with solar panels on the side. This is the Nancy Grace Roman telescope.

Upon arrival at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, the Optical Telescope Assembly for the agency’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope was lifted out of the shipping fixture and placed with other mission hardware in Goddard’s largest clean room.

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Eamonn Kerins @eamonnkerins.bsky.social · 06/06/2026

Bike racked, transition bags dropped off, ankle chip collected. I've munched my way through several thousand calories of sugary carbs (my favourite part of the prep). Now to try and get a decent sleep before a 3:30am alarm. In the morning I'll be taking part in the #Bolton Half #Ironman.

The swim start on Pennington Flash for the 2026 Bolton Half Ironman.

Bikes being racked up in the transition area ready for tomorrow's 2026 Bolton Half Ironman.

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Eamonn Kerins @eamonnkerins.bsky.social · 25/05/2026

Not bothered to find out the root to all these nested posts? Will issue.

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Eamonn Kerins @eamonnkerins.bsky.social · 27/04/2026

#Triathlon day yesterday. The #Wilmslow Spring Triathlon. Entered the double sprint: 800m pool swim, 48 km bike leg and 13 km run. Got round and felt not too bad. A good snapshot for training towards the #Bolton half #Ironman in June and then an attempt at my first full Ironman in #Leeds in August.

Me during the pool swim leg of the Wilmslow double sprint triathlon on April 26th 2026.

Me during the bike leg of the Wilmslow double sprint triathlon on April 26th 2026.

Me during the run leg of the Wilmslow double sprint triathlon on April 26th 2026.

Me looking happy, having crossed the line and got my bling (finishers medal) at the Wilmslow Spring Triathlon 2026.

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