Astronomer Royal for Scotland | Catherine Heymans
@astroroyalscot.bsky.social
Astronomer Royal for Scotland, Professor of Astrophysics, Edinburgh University. Author of How to Design a Universe. @astronomerroyal on insta (She/her)
Met office cloud cover forecast for the partial #eclipse 12th Aug 😠 Still time for the weather Gods to change their minds, but if not it'll be a case of all the Northerners heading South for a day trip to Swansea. 🔭
Astronomer Royal for Scotland | Catherine Heymans@astroroyalscot.bsky.social · 3d agoBlueSky: I give you the very grown up and highly professional Astronomer Royal for Scotland, as quoted in the Times. 🤣 #solareclipse 🔭 www.thetimes.com/uk/science/a...
As anyone seeking to create a perfect virtual reality inside a computer will need to know how one actually works, this snippet from the new book comes from Chpt3: The Motherboard. And yes I did sit in on some Informatics lectures to research this one 😂🔭 📹: www.youtube.com/shorts/-9i8-...
Chapter 3: The Motherboard Preorder now!!
YouTube video by Astronomer Royal Scotland Prof Catherine Heymans
youtube.com
Astronomer Royal for Scotland | Catherine Heymans@astroroyalscot.bsky.social · 6d agoIn mainstream and independent book shops: uk.bookshop.org/p/books/how-... Also amazon: www.amazon.co.uk/How-Design-U...
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
BlueSky: I give you the very grown up and highly professional Astronomer Royal for Scotland, as quoted in the Times. 🤣 #solareclipse 🔭 www.thetimes.com/uk/science/a...
Woo-hoo - go @eso.org! Impact confirmed 💥 "The Very Large Telescope spectra taken with the UVES instrument, show emission lines of sodium & lithium. The sodium likely originated from the lunar soil, whereas the lithium could come from the rocket itself." 🔭🧪
ESO@eso.org · 4d agoEarlier today, the discarded upper stage of a Falcon 9 rocket impacted on the Moon. As part of a coordinated observing campaign, our Very Large Telescope detected spectral lines of sodium and lithium gas in the impact plume lasting for 5-10 minutes after impact. 🔭 🧪 📷 ESO/C. Schmidt et al. 1/4
"Well you can't win them all on astronomy events" Heroic efforts by all the live-streamers on YT! Sad that there was nothing visible to see, but here's hoping @eso.org detected something. We wait with excitement for the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter images of the moon's new crater! 🔭
Astronomer Royal for Scotland | Catherine Heymans@astroroyalscot.bsky.social · last wk."Will I be able to see the crash?" Probably not, but that doesn't mean friends in the Americas shouldn't try (daylight for those in Europe): look to the eastern limb of the Einstein crater. The @eso.org VLT will observe it & NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter is taking before and after images! 🔭🧪🛰️
Very kindly @newscientist.com have listed the new book in their "best new popular science books of August 2026" list. The summary made me chuckle - I suppose I kind of always have been a "go big or go home" type of girl. 😂
Astronomer Royal for Scotland | Catherine Heymans@astroroyalscot.bsky.social · 6d agoA Sunday reading for you! Chpt 2 of "How to Design a Universe" opens with the philosophical: do you see colour in the same way I see colour? What even is colour? Queue physics of rainbows & electromagnetism to question if we could ever simulate human sense🤔 #BookSky 🔭 www.youtube.com/shorts/Upkww...
Calling my #astrophotography chums in the Americas: will you be staying up late tonight with your telescopes trained on the Einstein Crater? Impact: 02:34 EDT; 4 tonnes of Space-X metal (15m x 4m diameter) travelling 5400mph Expected: 50km high plume containing ~1Mkg of debris 😲🔭
Astronomer Royal for Scotland | Catherine Heymans@astroroyalscot.bsky.social · last wk."Will I be able to see the crash?" Probably not, but that doesn't mean friends in the Americas shouldn't try (daylight for those in Europe): look to the eastern limb of the Einstein crater. The @eso.org VLT will observe it & NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter is taking before and after images! 🔭🧪🛰️
OOooh google "solar eclipse" - it's joyful 🤩 #Eclipse 12 August! And if you're in #Edinburgh, drop by Dynamic Earth tomorrow to pick up some free solar specs!!
For 🏴exam results day this year, super-chilled-middle-child has gone away camping for a week and "will just find out when I'm back on Friday". I'm going to be looking at an unopened letter for 3 whole days 🫣😬😮💨
Astronomer Royal for Scotland | Catherine Heymans@astroroyalscot.bsky.social · last yr."The pith o' sense, an pride o' worth, Are higher rank than a' that." On this exam results day, I'm loving the Scottish Qualifications Authority Crest mix of wise old owls and Rabbie #Burns. Middle child got the results they wanted! #ProudParent 🏴
I mean, just look at these beauties.... 🤩
Astronomer Royal for Scotland | Catherine Heymans@astroroyalscot.bsky.social · 6d agoJarvis Cocker, New Order, Elbow, Dr Who (v. Eccleston), @daraobriain.bsky.social, Kraftwerk, Mogwai, Brian May, 2 astronauts (Peake & Hadfield), the Poet Laureate, the Lovell family & many more. Heartwarming to see how much the UK loves Jodrell Bank & astronomy🔭🙏 www.theguardian.com/science/2026...
Jarvis Cocker, New Order, Elbow, Dr Who (v. Eccleston), @daraobriain.bsky.social, Kraftwerk, Mogwai, Brian May, 2 astronauts (Peake & Hadfield), the Poet Laureate, the Lovell family & many more. Heartwarming to see how much the UK loves Jodrell Bank & astronomy🔭🙏 www.theguardian.com/science/2026...
Artists, writers and scientists urge UK government to save Jodrell Bank Observatory
New Order and Simon Armitage among more than 100 signatories to criticise ‘foolish and shortsighted’ cuts
theguardian.com
A Sunday reading for you! Chpt 2 of "How to Design a Universe" opens with the philosophical: do you see colour in the same way I see colour? What even is colour? Queue physics of rainbows & electromagnetism to question if we could ever simulate human sense🤔 #BookSky 🔭 www.youtube.com/shorts/Upkww...
Chapter 2: Senses Preorder Now!!
YouTube video by Astronomer Royal Scotland Prof Catherine Heymans
youtube.com
"There are shades of the departed Starmer government in this saga: @ukri.org wants to tell a big story about science funding going up, but instead is mired in a row over a fairly minor sum.... One does not have to be an astronomer to know that optics matter." 👌🔭 www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
The Guardian view on the Lovell telescope: budget cuts to physics are bad science and worse politics | Editorial
Editorial: Funders have picked a damaging fight with scientists and the public. They should reconsider their plans
theguardian.com
"Will I be able to see the crash?" Probably not, but that doesn't mean friends in the Americas shouldn't try (daylight for those in Europe): look to the eastern limb of the Einstein crater. The @eso.org VLT will observe it & NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter is taking before and after images! 🔭🧪🛰️
Astronomer Royal for Scotland | Catherine Heymans@astroroyalscot.bsky.social · last wk.Scientists do love turning accidents into discovery! Wed 5th Aug 06:34UTC: 4 tonnes of Space-X debris will crash into the moon 😮 This sim shows what will happen, if we understand the moon as well as we think we do. If we see something different, we learn something new! 👏 🧪🔭🛰️ 🎥 William Jo/UT Austin
Scientists do love turning accidents into discovery! Wed 5th Aug 06:34UTC: 4 tonnes of Space-X debris will crash into the moon 😮 This sim shows what will happen, if we understand the moon as well as we think we do. If we see something different, we learn something new! 👏 🧪🔭🛰️ 🎥 William Jo/UT Austin
Had a dream last night that a Mama Bear was calmly giving birth in the corner of our kitchen while my two cats were her midwifes 🤷♀️.... they seem quite exhausted this morning from the weight of all that responsibility. #Caturday
The new UkGov "may be more willing to hold UKRI to account for its specific prioritisation decisions based on the reality that they are political choices with political consequences". 🤞 #SaveUKAstronomy #SaveJodrellBank
Research Professional News@resprofnews.bsky.social · last wk.Jodrell Bank cuts first test to Burnham’s regional ambitions. Key sector figures hope there could be ways to restore funding for ‘iconic’ observatory as Greater Manchester MP says decision undermines PM's devolution message. www.researchprofessionalnews.com/rr-news-uk-r...
Every monarch will soon be wanting their own shining ethereal lunar crown 🤩 #BuckMoon As ever - top photography @tomduffinphotos.bsky.social
Tom Duffin Photographer@tomduffinphotos.bsky.social · last wk.Queen Victoria wire the Buck Moon on her crown last night on the RSA gallery on Princes St #edinburgh
Chuckle o'clock: over on stargazers lounge (ace place for 🔭chat) someone got v confused about the whole 🇬🇧Astronomer Royal vs 🏴Astronomer Royal thing, accusing me of closing #JodrellBank to undermine the UK for Scottish supremacy (paraphrased). The response was mighty & furious 💪 poster apologised 🙏
Meet the team of interviewees, fighting to #SaveJodrellBank on BBC Breakfast this morning.💪 L:Dr David Williams-Baldwin @davidw-b.bsky.social top black hole expert, linking the smallest to the supermassive C:Simon Garrington - Prof Boss! R:Phoebe Ryder - amazing PhD student imaging space debris 🥳🔭
Astronomer Royal for Scotland | Catherine Heymans@astroroyalscot.bsky.social · 2w agoDid I travel all the way to #JodrellBank this morning for a 5min TV interview? Yes reader, I did. Did I then persuade the fab e-MERLIN Director Simon Garrington to let me climb inside the Lovell Telescope? Well, if you can't flex a Royal title occasionally, then what is the point of having it? 😇🔭🧪
Did I travel all the way to #JodrellBank this morning for a 5min TV interview? Yes reader, I did. Did I then persuade the fab e-MERLIN Director Simon Garrington to let me climb inside the Lovell Telescope? Well, if you can't flex a Royal title occasionally, then what is the point of having it? 😇🔭🧪
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...
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.
zmescience.com
A busy morning filming with BBC Breakfast at Jodrell Bank! Photos/vids to follow, but in the meantime enjoy me locked inside @philbull.bsky.social's RHINO cage: a brand new radio telescope designed to detect the light emitted by neutral hydrogen gas, between galaxies, in the v v early Universe 🤗🔭👩🔬
I'm going to start off on the right foot and spend most of my time posting about the prototype 21cm global signal horn we're building at Jodrell Bank. Here's one of the 4 main panels.
Think of all the awesome science-ing we could do with an extra £20M......🧪
Kirsty Grainger @kirstygrainger.bsky.social · 2w agoEarlier this year UKRI launched a funding call to invest £40M in ONE AI lab. www.ukri.org/opportunity/... For some unknown reason they decided to fund TWO AI labs at the cost of £60M. An extra £20M. Just found. That's the equivalent of 7 more years of Jodrell Bank. www.ukri.org/news/ukri-la...
Just off #BBCR4 World at One, arguing the importance of discovery science (like Jodrell) for long-term economic growth. I said I was heartbroken at the news: evidence just look at how exceptionally excited me & @mamaphysikerin.bsky.social were when we got to stand inside Lovell back in 2017 🥰 🔭🧪
Astronomer Royal for Scotland | Catherine Heymans@astroroyalscot.bsky.social · 2w agoI'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...
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...
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.
bbc.co.uk
Astronomer Royal for Scotland | Catherine Heymans@astroroyalscot.bsky.social · 3w ago“What will the Lovell Telescope discover/enable 20 yrs from now? I can’t tell you, and that’s the point. It will either be something extraordinary that none of us can yet predict, or we will defund it and leave Cheshire with a rusting monument to unfulfilled potential and discoveries never made.” 🔭🧪
Did she sleep through the rare "night-shining" clouds again? Yes reader she did. Sighs.... 🥺 Noctilucent clouds are the highest clouds in the atmosphere ( ~50 miles up) which reflect sunlight from below the horizon. One day I will see them! 🔭 ℹ️: www.rmg.co.uk/stories/spac...
Andrea Luck@andrealuck.bsky.social · 2w agoLast night’s Noctilucent clouds over Glasgow
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...
Chapter 1: Light Available to Preorder now!
YouTube video by Astronomer Royal Scotland Prof Catherine Heymans
youtube.com
🔊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...
Astronomical Society of Edinburgh@astronomyedinburgh.bsky.social · 2w agowww.astronomyedinburgh.org/event/partia... We'll be holding an event on Calton Hill to view the partial solar eclipse on 12th August. We'll have some solar telescopes with us and lots of eclipse glasses so that people can view the eclipse safely. Remember THE SUN IS DANGEROUS TO OBSERVE.