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Astronomer Royal for Scotland | Catherine Heymans @astroroyalscot.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

🔊 #Edinburgh! Join me to celebrate the launch of my new book at Dynamic Earth. With live music from the Sound Rays + a full-dome planetarium experience, we'll be reconsidering what it means to be real! 🔭 Fri 11th Sept 18:30 Bar opens 19:30 Show + Book signing 🎟️: dynamicearth.org.uk/event/how-to...

A massive purple explosion appears to have occurred above Catherine's head (it's a dark matter map) as she gazes off in to the distance while holding her book. A nice old telescope in propped on the table (not that she'd be able to see the invisible dark matter with it).

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More Stressed Chameleon @mark-nicol.bsky.social · 12/08/2026

An underappreciated part of trying to watch any astronomical phenomenon is the chance to take pictures of clouds #solareclipse

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Astronomer Royal for Scotland | Catherine Heymans @astroroyalscot.bsky.social · 06/08/2026

Today I stumbled across a portal of doom in a book published in 1609 by alchemist Henrico Khunrath 😵‍💫 Amphitheatrum Sapientiae Aeternae (Amphitheater of Eternal Wisdom) This post courtesy of a v special 2hrs volunteering in our Crawford Library of ancient 🔭astro books. #skystorians #histsci

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Tim O'Brien @proftimob.bsky.social · 29/07/2026

Thanks to all for huge support 🙏. Many petitions, change dot org, parliamentary, MEN etc. A few misconceptions about: - Lovell Telescope/e-MERLIN is old tech: NOT TRUE! Continually upgraded. - Cut is not to Lovell Telescope/Jodrell: NOT TRUE! e-MERLIN funding essential to operate all our telescopes.

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More Stressed Chameleon @mark-nicol.bsky.social · 29/07/2026

Long and lovely thread about the history and context of Jodrell Bank by @jonagar.bsky.social Well worth a read all the way through.

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Helen Day @lbflyawayhome.bsky.social · 28/07/2026

‘Great Inventions, 1961’ Jodrell Bank Radio Telescope Artist: Robert Ayton

Illustration from the endpapers of the revised edition of the book showing a detailed illustration of the dish set against a striking dark pink ground

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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.

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Dr Pamela L Gay @starstryder.space · 27/07/2026

My Monday inbox includes email from the Royal Astronomical Society highlighting that Jodrell Banks is at risk of closure. This is both a historic site and a super important research facility. This is one of the few facilities capable of both radio astronomy and radar measurements of space objects.

Mike Peel; Jodrell Bank Centre for Astrophysics, University of Manchester.

Image shows a massive steerable radio dish on a sunny day with puffy clouds. This facility is so big there arew 5 stories of stuff attached to the pivot point!

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Dr Libby Jones @anywaythewind.bsky.social · 27/07/2026

I wouldn’t be a professional astronomer today if not for a school trip to Jodrell Bank as a kid. It’s hard to overstate how much inspiration this place gives future scientists. Devastating news. 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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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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Astronomer Royal for Scotland | Catherine Heymans @astroroyalscot.bsky.social · 26/07/2026

This w/end's little snippet from my new book is from Chpt1 where we're asking "What is light?" Dear 🇺🇸US friends hoping you have a good chuckle at me attempting an American accent, rather than being affronted! #BookSky 🔭 📖: www.bloomsbury.com/uk/how-to-de... 📽️: www.youtube.com/shorts/-RIPE...

youtube.com

Chapter 1: Light Available to Preorder now!

YouTube video by Astronomer Royal Scotland Prof Catherine Heymans

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Astronomer Royal for Scotland | Catherine Heymans @astroroyalscot.bsky.social · 25/07/2026

🔊Calling #Edinburgh: 5th Aug, Dynamic Earth, @astronomyedinburgh.bsky.social and I will be joining forces for a day of free activities to get you ready for the 90% partial solar eclipse 6pm-8pm 12th August! 👩‍🔬🔭🧪 Big thanks to @iop.org for funding the event 🥳 ℹ️: dynamicearth.org.uk/event/get-re...

Get ready for the eclipse: funded by the Institute of Physics at Dynamic Earth.

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Astronomer Royal for Scotland | Catherine Heymans @astroroyalscot.bsky.social · 19/07/2026

🔊Calling families in #Edinburgh: it's Space week at National Museums Scotland 🚀. I'll be in the Earth in Space gallery on Mon/Fri morn for "Ask the Astronomer Royal Anything"! Excited to meet the curious young people in your lives. 🔭🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿👩‍🔬 🗓️ Free drop-in 20/24 Jul www.nms.ac.uk/events/summe...

nms.ac.uk

Summer Family Fun | National Museums Scotland

Join us on Mondays and Fridays for a range of exciting, drop-in activities for the whole family. Each week, we’ll explore a new theme – from Scottish stori

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

'A senior member of one of STFC’s advisory bodies told RPN that the..exercise represents “a major crisis for the UK"...all of the outcomes modelled are “shocking”....the government would be “committing an act of national self-harm by imposing these cuts”.' 🙏 @francesjones.bsky.social

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Royal Astronomical Society @royalastrosoc.bsky.social · 15/06/2026

Stars of physics are in Westminster right now to call on the Government to halt funding cuts to astronomy and particle physics research. Professor Brian Cox called them "inexplicable", urging the Government to instead "trust, inspire and continue to invest in the next generation of scientists".

Stars of physics outside the Houses of Parliament.

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Astronomer Royal for Scotland | Catherine Heymans @astroroyalscot.bsky.social · 10/06/2026

The last time the two Astronomer Royals were at loggerheads was back in the 1990s. The Royal Greenwich & Royal Edinburgh Observatories were pitted against each other in a battle where only one would survive. 🔭 Read all about it in Ian Robson's Observatory Wars: 📖: www.obsmag.org/issues/publi...

The Royal Observatory Edinburgh, at night

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Hugh Pumphrey @hughpumphrey.bsky.social · 15/04/2026

Hahahahahahahahaha. Just for once, a thing for which it is worth giving the Faily Heil a few clicks.

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Astronomer Royal for Scotland | Catherine Heymans @astroroyalscot.bsky.social · 20/03/2026

Top #Equinox fact: Today is the day that the Sun rises due East and sets due West. At the December solstice the sun rises in the South East. At the June solstice it rises in the North East. As the days pass between the two, the sunrise position slowly changes passing due East each equinox.🤩 🔭🧪

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Space Telescope Science Institute @stsci.edu · 22/01/2026

Astronomers: Get more robust data! A new version of the Hubble Spectroscopic Legacy Archive is now live: bit.ly/4pKxQs3

Illustration shows large text, HSLA, above smaller text, Hubble Spectroscopic Legacy Archive. Jagged rainbow-colored lines appear behind HSLA. The background is gray with various astronomical targets in black.

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More Stressed Chameleon @mark-nicol.bsky.social · 20/01/2026

From “AI can’t do your job. It can help you do your job, but that does not mean it is going to save anyone money.” to “AI is the asbestos in the walls of our technological society, stuffed there with wild abandon by a finance sector and tech monopolists run amok.” a refreshing take by Cory Doctorow

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More Stressed Chameleon @mark-nicol.bsky.social · 20/09/2025

One of those fascinating wee corners of history via Substack Weekender . Why the FSA great depression photo archives contain these photos with a missing black circle. substack.com/redirect/196...

substack.com

Hole-Punched History

In the FSA archives, photos of The Great Depression are marred by an empty black void, forever obscured by the perfunctory click of a hole-punch.

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Astronomer Royal for Scotland | Catherine Heymans @astroroyalscot.bsky.social · 14/06/2025

🔊Calling #Edinburgh! One of the world's largest telescopes twinned with the world's biggest camera is about to embark on a 10yr mission to survey the Universe! Join us in Dynamic Earth's Planetarium as we unveil the 1st Rubin images🥳🔭🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 🗓️: 23rd Jun@15:30-17:00 £5🎟️ dynamicearth.org.uk/event/rubin-...

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Astronomer Royal for Scotland | Catherine Heymans @astroroyalscot.bsky.social · 11/06/2025

The amazingly talented photographer @tomduffinphotos.bsky.social and I turned my #StrawberryMoon skeet-thread into a piece for the 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 #Edinburgh Reporter. Check out Tom's many superb photos and don't forget, #DoLookUp tonight! 🔭 🗞️: theedinburghreporter.co.uk/2025/06/look...

theedinburghreporter.co.uk

Look up tonight! Lunar Standstill

The full moon in every month of the year has an American nickname. In November it’s called the Beaver Moon, in March the Worm Moon, and in June we have the Strawberry Moon. Most of the time these nic...

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More Stressed Chameleon @mark-nicol.bsky.social · 30/05/2025

What if we containerised the teams rather than the software? New portacabin arrives on site.

Yellow portacabin on the back of a lorry being carefully moved into place behind the lodge at the ROE.

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Astronomer Royal for Scotland | Catherine Heymans @astroroyalscot.bsky.social · 23/05/2025

🥳 This is proper EXCITING people!! Mark June 23rd in your diary for the world wide release of the first images from the wonderful and amazing Vera Rubin Observatory. 🔭🧪 Join the celebration at a Rubin Watch party near you! 👉: rubinobservatory.org/news/rubin-f...

Drone view of Rubin Observatory on top of its summit site on Cerro Pachón against a sunset scene. The observatory building is an angular silver dome on top of a long building extending to the left. The observatory sits against a yellow and orange sky and gray clouds, with rolling mountain ridges in varying shades of purple and pink fading into the background. From https://Rubin.canto.com/b/JHADL

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More Stressed Chameleon @mark-nicol.bsky.social · 22/05/2025

Thanks coffee, I couldn't have summed up my work mood any better.

Cappuccino with two dark patches that look a bit like cursed or haunted eye sockets.

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More Stressed Chameleon @mark-nicol.bsky.social · 22/05/2025

A long read and a rewarding one. How the Business Idiot culture has messed up everything about work and life in pursuit of sound bites and vibes.

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More Stressed Chameleon @mark-nicol.bsky.social · 17/05/2025

Fresh breakfast muffins made by my lovely wife - loves x What a lovely way to start the weekend.

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More Stressed Chameleon @mark-nicol.bsky.social · 16/05/2025

This run of nice weather really is lovely. Hope it lasts through the weekend. Whatever you are doing today as George says "it is going to take patience and time to do it right" 😀

Blue sky seen through an archway the inscription on the arch reads:

"THIS ARCH IS ERECTED 12th SEPTEMBER 1888 TO COMMEMORATE THE WORK & CHARACTER.OF GEORGE HARRISON Kt. MP. LLD WHOSE LIFE WAS DEVOTED TO THE PUBLIC GOOD BORN 1812 : DIED I885"

Never realised the beatles were that long ago.

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Lev Parikian @levparikian.bsky.social · 15/05/2025

It’s the time of year when you might find a baby bird and want to help. Most often (and slightly counterintuitively) it’s best to do nothing. Here’s a useful guide.

An infographic with information on what to do if you find a baby bird.
Is it visibly injured? If yes, contact an animal welfare organisation. If no: does it have feathers? If yes, it’s a fledgling. If it’s in immediate danger, move it to a sheltered spot nearby. If no, do nothing.
If it doesn’t have feathers, it’s a nestling. If you can see a nest, put it back in the nest. If not, contact an animal welfare organisation.

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More Stressed Chameleon @mark-nicol.bsky.social · 14/05/2025

Achievement of the day. I've been limited to one dad joke per team meeting. If I'd known I wouldn't have wasted it on a crack about quantum computing working and not working at the same time.

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Oliver Morton, Eater of Sun @eaterofsun.bsky.social · 13/05/2025

Ask not for whom the bell tolls

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More Stressed Chameleon @mark-nicol.bsky.social · 09/05/2025

Morning. Good skies on the way to the office. Almost makes up for the climb.

Picture of the dome of the Royal Observatory Edinburgh. Most of the photo is a blue sky with mackerel clouds.

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Dr Libby Jones @anywaythewind.bsky.social · 07/05/2025

#Astro-bluesky I am talking to 11-13 year olds next week about astronomy-related careers. If you have a cool picture of you doing your job (especially from women) be it in science, engineering, IT, business support, project management etc. I would love to have a picture to show what we do. 🔭🧪

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More Stressed Chameleon @mark-nicol.bsky.social · 03/05/2025

Happy Astronomy Day to those that observe.

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More Stressed Chameleon @mark-nicol.bsky.social · 02/05/2025

Evidently, Friday starts here. Have a good weekend folks.

A glass of what is surprisingly a non alcohol pims substitute. After all it is work time for another hour.

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More Stressed Chameleon @mark-nicol.bsky.social · 02/05/2025

The 'after burnout' series of articles by @kvlly.com are just lovely and thoughtful and human - well worth a read: "Progress doesn’t always feel like winning. Sometimes it feels like not quitting. And that counts, too." modernleader.is/p/tiny-signs...

modernleader.is

Tiny signs you're making progress (even when it feels like you're not)

All wins are good wins!

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Tony Mroczkowski @tonymroczkowski.bsky.social · 28/04/2025

Kicking off the AtLAST2 kickoff! @atlastdesign.bsky.social

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Tom Gauld @tomgauld.bsky.social · 28/04/2025

My latest @newscientist.com cartoon

Title:
SOME GRAMMATICAL VOICES FOR USE IN SCIENTIFIC WRITING

ACTIVE VOICE
e.g.
Our team collected samples and then we tested them.

CLICKBAIT VOICE
e.g.
We collected some samples...
You won't believe what happened next!

PASSIVE VOICE
e.g.
Samples were collected and tested.

HAIKU VOICE
e.g.
Quiet science lab.
Workers arrive with samples.
The testing begins.

PASSIVE-AGGRESSIVE VOICE
e.g. We did all the collecting and testing.
No need to thank us.
Just doing our job.

CONSPIRACY VOICE
e.g.
Mysterious "Samples" were harvested and covertly "tested" by so-called scientists.

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More Stressed Chameleon @mark-nicol.bsky.social · 28/04/2025

Good morning Sardinia. Here at the lovely Lazzeretto di Cagliari for the ATLAST2 Telescope kick off meeting.

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Hugh Pumphrey @hughpumphrey.bsky.social · 31/03/2025

This is a fascinating thread about how important COBOL continues to be in banking. I know no banking or COBOL, but to a fair extent you can s/COBOL/Fortran/ s/banking/physics/ and the concept remains true. (1/2)

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More Stressed Chameleon @mark-nicol.bsky.social · 30/03/2025

After the wind and the rain East Lothian looking lovely in the sunshine this morning.

Tynigham beach looking out across stone and rock pools with a blue sky above.

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More Stressed Chameleon @mark-nicol.bsky.social · 29/03/2025

Dear God - No and WTF in equal measure!

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Astronomer Royal for Scotland | Catherine Heymans @astroroyalscot.bsky.social · 28/03/2025

📻 BBC Radio Scotland: "and that was Prof Catherine Heymans with good advice about colanders" 😂 The Scottish weather Gods aren't playing ball, but it's looking fine for England. If you don't have eclipse glasses, raid the kitchen cupboard! Partial Solar Eclipse: 29th March! 🔭🧪 📷D. Samuels

The shadow of a colander. The light through the holes is not circular, it has a little bite taken out of it (the moon, blocking out the sunlight).

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More Stressed Chameleon @mark-nicol.bsky.social · 28/03/2025

One of those showers where you appreciate the sun coming out again. Even if part of you feels pranked by being drenched all the way through your commute, only for it to stop once you reach the office.

Sunshine and clouds looking over a hillside with East Lothian in the distance shot through a gap between a wall and a building.

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