iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

John Maclean FRAS FRGS @exeterobservatory.com · 26/09/2026

Brilliant. You need to write more poetry, or at least publish it.

John Maclean FRAS FRGS @exeterobservatory.com · 12/09/2026

As a cruise ship astronomer, I get to travel the world and show guests the night sky. I have created an app to help people find objects in the night sky from their ship. It's totally free and safe! Check it out at www.exeterobservatory.com/astrocruise

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John Maclean FRAS FRGS @exeterobservatory.com · 10/09/2026

More from the Dwarf 3 smartscope tonight. HD 237023 area. 120 subs at 60/60. Processed in Astro Wizard and Pixinsight.

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John Maclean FRAS FRGS @exeterobservatory.com · 09/09/2026

NGC 6910 taken with the Dwarf 3. Lots of thin cloud around so the seeing was poor. 120 subs at 60/60. Duo Band filter and f processed in Astro Wizard and Pixinsight.

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John Maclean FRAS FRGS @exeterobservatory.com · 05/09/2026

The Gulf of Mexico Nebula. Dwarf 3 - 120 subs, Gain 60, Shutter 60. Stacked in Stacking Wizard abd processed in Astro Wizard and Pixinsight. Taken from Exeter Observatory.

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John Maclean FRAS FRGS @exeterobservatory.com · 28/08/2026

Got up for the Lunar eclipse last night and it stayed mostly clear until just after maximum. Beautiful sight. I took a timelapse using the Dwarf Mini smartscope.

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John Maclean FRAS FRGS @exeterobservatory.com · 21/08/2026

Total Eclipse sequence taken from Saga Spirit of Adventure off the coast of Santander, Spain on August 12th 2026.

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John Maclean FRAS FRGS @exeterobservatory.com · 13/08/2026

Well, the eclipse event on Saga Spirit of Adventure was a roaring success with our guests experiencing a wonderful celestial event. I chose a position north of Santander and the Captain got us there in good time. Unfortunately, as I was commentating from the bridge, I actually missed totality!

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John Maclean FRAS FRGS @exeterobservatory.com · 11/08/2026

Thank goodness he's not supervising astrophysics. I couldn't manage two!

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John Maclean FRAS FRGS @exeterobservatory.com · 11/08/2026

Well, it's nearly here. After a great deal of work on behalf of myself, Captain Simon Moore and Chief Officer Craig McLeod, we finally have a plan as to where we will position the ship to maximise our chances of seeing the Total Solar Eclipse. The weather is looking great so, fingers crossed.

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John Maclean FRAS FRGS @exeterobservatory.com · 06/08/2026

I've retired 5 times. Couldn't handle it. I'm now 73 and spend 10 months of the year at sea, lecturing on astronomy and astrophysics to guests! Currently on a ship to Spain for the Total Solar Eclipse!

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John Maclean FRAS FRGS @exeterobservatory.com · 05/08/2026

It means that the lockdown was less severe in the USA but in other countries that applied restrictions more rigorously, there were fewer deaths.

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John Maclean FRAS FRGS @exeterobservatory.com · 04/08/2026

An interesting life, well lived, is always worth recording.

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John Maclean FRAS FRGS @exeterobservatory.com · 03/08/2026

Welcome in to our home Jayfo! He's a trainee guide dog for the blind that our son Steven is fostering while he goes through his training. As you can see, he is a beautiful Golden Retriever who is 20 months old.

Bayford, a beautiful Golden Retriever we are fostering on behalf of the Guide Dogs for the Blind.

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John Maclean FRAS FRGS @exeterobservatory.com · 02/08/2026

I've been a bit quiet on here recently, mainly because I've been travelling the world doing what I do on cruise ships. On Tuesday I set off to join Saga's Spirit of Adventure for the Total Solar Eclipse off the coast of Spain. I've just completed my talk on the subject and I'm ready! But, am I?

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John Maclean FRAS FRGS @exeterobservatory.com · 30/05/2026

Excellent article outlining why UKRI funding is vital.

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John Maclean FRAS FRGS @exeterobservatory.com · 30/05/2026

I highly doubt it. He would probably declare that he has bigger and better rings than Saturn. The biggliest!

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Reposted by John Maclean FRAS FRGS

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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John Maclean FRAS FRGS @exeterobservatory.com · 30/05/2026

I had the same offer from the producers of Ancient Aliens, to be the "voice of reason." Itold them I'd rather stick pins in my eyes.

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John Maclean FRAS FRGS @exeterobservatory.com · 09/05/2026

It stems from the Anglo-Saxon word for "dirt, soil or earth" which is "Erda."

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John Maclean FRAS FRGS @exeterobservatory.com · 06/05/2026

In four days I'll be flying to Hong Kong to join Viking Orion for nearly two months as Resident Astronomer. We'll be sailing from HK to Vancouver via Japan and the North West Passage. #VikingCruises #VilingOrion #MyVikingJourney

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John Maclean FRAS FRGS @exeterobservatory.com · 05/05/2026

I once got totally pissed with Emperor Palpatine, Ian Mc Diarmid. It was some night out!

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John Maclean FRAS FRGS @exeterobservatory.com · 28/04/2026

Nice starfield taken with the Dwarf 3. NGC 1931, NGC 1960 and IC 417 all present in the image.

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John Maclean FRAS FRGS @exeterobservatory.com · 26/04/2026

Get your kids involved in astrophotography and they'll never have enough money for drugs.

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John Maclean FRAS FRGS @exeterobservatory.com · 11/04/2026

An [almost] perfect mission from NASA/ESA and Artemis. If only Microsoft Outlook, Toilets and Sat Phones worked, eh? 🤪

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John Maclean FRAS FRGS @exeterobservatory.com · 10/04/2026

The Flame Nebula taken from Exeter using the Dwarf 3 smart telescope. 120x60secs, Astro filter.

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John Maclean FRAS FRGS @exeterobservatory.com · 07/04/2026

Nice day to image the Sun with my Dwarf 3 from Exeter.

Image of the Sun usin g the Dwarf 3 smart scope.

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John Maclean FRAS FRGS @exeterobservatory.com · 10/03/2026

We got the Northern Lights tonight as we sail towards Narvik. #myvikingjourney #VikingVela

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John Maclean FRAS FRGS @exeterobservatory.com · 03/03/2026

What? No he hasn't. He is supporting the illegal war by claiming "defensive actions." Total crap. He is so far up Trumps arse, he could see his teeth from the inside.

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John Maclean FRAS FRGS @exeterobservatory.com · 03/03/2026

Churchill would have pissed on Trump. If Starmer had any balls, he would tell him to fuck off. I served through the Gulf War and I don't want anymore British troops to die for American hubris.

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John Maclean FRAS FRGS @exeterobservatory.com · 03/03/2026

I try to stay silent on politics on this a count but I have had enough of the madman Trump. He is a deranged lunatic and the most dangerous man in the World. The sooner he's gone, the better. If only American voters had some balls.

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John Maclean FRAS FRGS @exeterobservatory.com · 03/03/2026

Trumps latest attack on the UK and Sadiq Khan is deplorable. We fought for the USA after 9/11. We lost souls to the USA's illegal war. Now he spouts lies about the UK and degrades his closest ally. His crazy statements about the UK "taking back the North Sea" are the words of a deranged lunatic.

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Reposted by John Maclean FRAS FRGS

Canadian Liberal @cliff229.bsky.social · 02/03/2026

Chris Murphy: "It won't be the billionaire children of Donald Trump and his buddies that die. It's going to be the children of middle class and poor families all across this country that are gonna die for a war of choice, a war of vanity, an illegal war."

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Reposted by John Maclean FRAS FRGS

Ian Sollom MP 🔶 @iansollom.bsky.social · 02/03/2026

I am concerned to see the escalation of conflict in the Middle East, and that the UK has allowed the US to use its bases for strikes on Iran. No matter how the Prime Minister tries to redefine offensive as defensive, this is a mistake.

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John Maclean FRAS FRGS @exeterobservatory.com · 02/03/2026

The Sun imaged from a moving ship in Norway today. The Dwarf 3 is awesome!

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John Maclean FRAS FRGS @exeterobservatory.com · 01/03/2026

We had a good show of the Northern Lights in Tromso, Norway tonight. Quite a few guests joined me on Deck 9 of the wonderful #VikingVela #VikingOcean #myvikingjourney

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Reposted by John Maclean FRAS FRGS

Dan "Mr. Bones and Me" Greene @dmgreene.bsky.social · 22/02/2026

It's so cool that the fbi is basically the make a wish foundation for one podcaster

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Reposted by John Maclean FRAS FRGS

Reece Dinsdale @reecedinsdale.bsky.social · 13/02/2026

I have no problem with anyone making a nuclear holocaust film for the modern age. I do have a problem with them calling it Threads. Threads is a film made in 1984 that still speaks to this day. There can only ever be one. Make your film… but find your own story and call it something else.

and.it

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