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astroroyalscot.bsky.social
Astronomer Royal for Scotland | Catherine Heymans
@astroroyalscot.bsky.social
19K followers 820 following 2.6K posts
Astronomer Royal for Scotland, Professor of Astrophysics, Edinburgh University. Director of the German Centre for Cosmological Lensing, RUB. #LongCovid (She/her)
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Astronomer Royal for Scotland | Catherine Heymans @astroroyalscot.bsky.social · Oct 17
Lovely to wake up to so many new arrivals 🤗 It takes a bit of effort to collate your timeline & find your feeds, but it's 💯worth it!

As a welcome, here is my favourite pic of the May24 #Aurora on Portobello beach #Edinburgh, where I live with my 2 sons, 2 cats & partner (eldest child is at Uni).🔭
It's night and we're looking out over the sea to sparkly lights on the far shore. Up in the sky are curtains of colour, pinks, greens and reds (the aurora) and some stary dots in the sky.
astroroyalscot.bsky.social
Have you e-signed @sciencecentres.bsky.social's letter to the UKGov? Today is your last chance before it goes to Downing St! Join 1000s of us in calling for fairer funding for the UK's science centres currently excluded from UKGov infrastructure funding.🧪🔭
✍️ www.sciencecentres.org.uk/openletter20...
astroroyalscot.bsky.social Astronomer Royal for Scotland | Catherine Heymans @astroroyalscot.bsky.social · Sep 27
The fantastic UK network of science and discovery centres needs your help to survive and thrive! Sign this letter urging the UKGov to stop excluding science from the financial support that is available for other museums, art galleries & theatres 🙏🧪🔭👩‍🔬🎢

👉✉️: www.sciencecentres.org.uk/openletter20...
Catherine having a laugh at the Aberdeen science centre with three girls playing with a powerful fan. Catherine chatting to an interested girl in front of an arch they've just built. Catherine and two kids looking earnestly at some marshmallows in a glass jar that is about to become a vacuum. Catherine looking through a giant lens. She has a mask on.
November 23, 2025 at 11:51 AM
astroroyalscot.bsky.social
Perks of the job: sneak previews of awesome books! This is a beautiful blend of travel & adventure; wonder & awe; 🧪STEM, #histsci, astronomy, art & nature. If you've ever looked up and wondered "what is that?", then the inimitable @drlucyrogers.com has written this for you!
drlucyrogers.com Dr Lucy Rogers @drlucyrogers.com · Aug 13
I am very excited to report that my book is now available for pre-order!!

If you like things that fly – be it aircraft, bugs or birds, then this book is for you!

I am also so delighted with the beautiful cover art by @Rachelhillustrates.bsky.social :)

www.penguin.co.uk/books/461507...
Book cover of "UP" with butterflies, glowworms, bats, condors, a hot air balloon, an aircraft, a kite, stars, clouds and other things that are above us.
November 22, 2025 at 2:55 PM
astroroyalscot.bsky.social
Whole household is buzzing this morning - disagreements however over which one was the greatest 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿Scottish goal of all time! McTominay Scissor kick or McLean from the halfway line? Glorious! #Scotland #WorldCup
www.bbc.co.uk/sport/footba...
November 19, 2025 at 7:53 AM
astroroyalscot.bsky.social
🥳 13yo says he's too excited to ever sleep ever again - what a phenomenal final 10 minutes! 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 #Scotland #WorldCup
theguardian.com The Guardian @theguardian.com · 5d
Tierney and McLean send Scotland to World Cup with thrilling win against Denmark
Tierney and McLean send Scotland to World Cup with thrilling win against Denmark
Hampden Park has hosted seismic, spine-tingling occasions in a storied history dating back to 1903. Add this one to the list. Scotland’s long, long wait is over. Steve Clarke, Andy Robertson, Scott McTominay, John McGinn; you shall go to the ball. So too Kieran Tierney, whose curler from 22 yards seemed to have sealed victory by the odd goal in five before Kenny McLean produced an even more spectacular fourth. Almost three decades of frustration, during which Scotland have peered towards men’s World Cups from afar, were obliterated as Denmark fell to defeat in stoppage time. Grown men in kilts shed tears. Denmark’s participation in next summer’s jamboree depends on March playoffs. Clarke and a suddenly giddy football nation can start making concrete plans. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
November 18, 2025 at 10:31 PM
astroroyalscot.bsky.social
Enquiry from an 8yo asking what the Fulton Orrery planets were? Apparently the #Kelvingrove museum staff didn't know, so he e-mailed the Astronomer Royal to find out! I also didn’t know, but the AstroSociety of #Glasgow did (after watching an old VHS recording on the topic!) 🔭 #histsci 1/2🧵
Old Glasgow Museum: Fulton's Orrery A clockwork machine on an ornate stand, with small orbs (planets) on sticks centred around a large shiny orb in the middle (the Sun) From https://www.theglasgowstory.com/image/?inum=TGSE00101
November 17, 2025 at 10:49 AM
astroroyalscot.bsky.social
Want to make a wish on a shooting star? #DoLookUp! The #Leonids meteor shower is peaking, courtesy of the Earth ploughing through the debris left by Comet 55P/Tempel-Tuttle. 🔭🧪

1 Get away from streetlights
2 Take blanket ☕
3 Lie back - 10 mins 👁️ dark adapt
4 🌠Wow
www.timeanddate.com/astronomy/me...
Look Up to See the Leonids Light Up the Night Skies
Check out our meteor shower animation to find out how, where, and when to see these shooting stars.
www.timeanddate.com
November 16, 2025 at 4:18 PM
astroroyalscot.bsky.social
Had a few enquiries recently about #Seestar smart-telescopes for #scicomm or xmas gifts for keen-kids. If you are lucky enough to have the cash (£369), these are a great investment & super easy to use.
👇These images were all taken in just a few mins in the light polluted city of Edinburgh. 🤩🔭
The Veil Nebula. A green/red whispy flash across a dark star-studded sky. Text reads: NGC 6992: 6min. Bode and the cigar galaxy Two swirly peachy spirally galaxies on a dark star-studded background Text reads: M81 8min Andromeda and friends A huge galaxy filling the frame with a swirling dust lane across it, surrounding a bright warm core. Text reads M31 4min The dumbbell nebula Looks a little like an open mouth with red lips and green innards, on a dark star studded sky Text reads M27 5min
November 16, 2025 at 9:42 AM
astroroyalscot.bsky.social
What a happy sunshine-filled lunch break with the #Seestar telescope: the Sun is extra spotty today! 🔭🧪
November 14, 2025 at 12:56 PM
astroroyalscot.bsky.social
🥳 Huge congrats to @sherwoodobs.bsky.social! Their hugely successful creation of the Sherwood Observatory and Planetarium has been recognised with a King's Award for Voluntary Service! If you're in the Nottingham/Derby/Sheffield area, they are well worth a visit! 🔭
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Sherwood Observatory volunteers celebrate King's Award
The award goes to a group of volunteers who have helped others experience the wonders of space.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 14, 2025 at 10:02 AM
Reposted by Astronomer Royal for Scotland | Catherine Heymans
trentdupuy.bsky.social
Astrophysics applications for this scholarship are open and due 24 November!
ifa.roe.ac.uk/phds-jobs-fe...
November 13, 2025 at 3:59 PM
astroroyalscot.bsky.social
Fellow #scicomm chums - just discovered this excellent "colour-in mood characters" resource to help you collect feedback on the impact of your activity from primary school classes.

Thanks go to @sciencecentres.bsky.social for sharing this!

ℹ️: inclusion.sciencecentres.org.uk/documents/9/...
A black and white carton of lots of circular characters expressing different emotions on a day out at the beach. At the bottom it says "Explore your Universe"
November 12, 2025 at 3:30 PM
astroroyalscot.bsky.social
The obligatory selfie from this morning's trip to the BBC Studios in Edinburgh: another awesome set of listeners questions answered for BBC Radio 4 Inside Science 🤓
Catherine smiling nervously at the camera with headphones on in front of a microphone. The red "on air" light being her is lit up.
November 11, 2025 at 4:08 PM
astroroyalscot.bsky.social
Baby seal live solar-powered webcam anyone? Only ~one more week before they leave the rocks and head off into the sea.

📽️: www.seabird.org/webcams/crai...

From the 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿Scottish Seabird centre team working on the small island of Craigleith, in the Firth of Forth.
A rocky scene with two large grey seals and two little fluffy white ones with big black eyes.
November 6, 2025 at 11:39 AM
astroroyalscot.bsky.social
So what is a #Supermoon? Well, the Moon is typically ~¼ million miles away (30 Earths in a row), but thanks to its elliptical orbit, that distance changes. Tonight the Full Moon is 2-Earths closer than normal (221,823 miles away), making it appear ~15% brighter than usual hence #Supermoon! 🔭🧪
astroroyalscot.bsky.social Astronomer Royal for Scotland | Catherine Heymans @astroroyalscot.bsky.social · Nov 16
If you've got clear skies, go outside and wave at our neighbour who is looking particularly stunning tonight. And if you have them, root out the binoculars to get a closer look at the grey maria: ~3.5 billion years ago these were seas of molten lava 🤓 #supermoon 🔭🧪
A moonlit beach with ripples in the sand. The water is reflecting the moon light with tiny fluffy clouds in the sky. In the foreground is the wooden breaker and a red metal marker with the number 2 on the top of it.
November 5, 2025 at 4:04 PM
astroroyalscot.bsky.social
Your guide to the November night skies courtesy of @astronomyedinburgh.bsky.social. Wishing you all clear skies and lots of lovely #Leonid 'shooting stars' (meteor shower peaks on the 17th)! 🤞🧪🔭🤩
An Infographic from the Astronomical Society of Edinburgh showing the November 2025 Highlights as a list. You can find the text-only format here: https://www.astronomyedinburgh.org/2025/10/24/sky-diary-november-2025/
November 2, 2025 at 12:24 PM
astroroyalscot.bsky.social
🥳My 1st cosmic-comic-collab hits the shelves today in the "Geology Rocks" edition of Aquila Magazine (for 8-14yos). The amazing comic artist Edward Ross created "Galactro the Elder God", a chef who demos his (astrophysically accurate) neutron star recipe to make gold goujons! Dee-licious! #scicomm 🔭
A pink wide-eyed alien is looking at a small shining circle of light. The text reads "This tiny delicacy is only 20km across, craved by star-munching elder gods across the universe! A single teaspoon of this star would weigh more than all the mammals on Planet Earth!" A smaller large-eared green alien is standing in the dark rain with balls flying past him. The text reads "Oi you gotta see this, Chef! The neutrons are crashin' into the atoms in the cloud, turnin' them into different, heavier elements!" And the balls flying past are saying "Copper", "Silver", "Platinum".
November 1, 2025 at 8:25 AM
astroroyalscot.bsky.social
This week I've been e-chatting with photographer Lynn Gilbert who took this stunning portrait of Grace Hopper (1906-1992) legend & pioneer of language-based computer programming. 🧪👩‍🔬
You can read Hopper's own words about her experience in Lynn's wonderful interview: www.lynn-gilbert.com/free-chapters
A stern looking older woman in a Navy uniform stares straight at the camera. Behind her is an old large computer with large circular data tapes along the top. Just about her right shoulder is a badge stuck to the casing with sellotape. It says "You're the Boss" which is exactly what the women's expression is mirroring. She is certainly The Boss!
October 31, 2025 at 5:35 PM
astroroyalscot.bsky.social
Happily drove through Auchtermuchty on the way home from Dundee yesterday….iykyk 🦊🎩

www.youtube.com/watch?v=kb0k...
Fox hat
YouTube video by JZVQ
www.youtube.com
October 30, 2025 at 2:04 PM
astroroyalscot.bsky.social
Mind has been officially blown by seeing Saturn and its moon Titan through the Mills Observatory Victorian 10" Cooke telescope. WOW! Every time I've visited before, the clouds have come too, but not today! This old technology still works perfectly with a clockwork tracking mechanism. Stunning 🥳👌 🔭
A long old and rather large (several meters long) telescope pointing out of an open telescope dome.
October 28, 2025 at 9:13 PM
astroroyalscot.bsky.social
Did I mention how much I love #Dundee! Having a super visit for the #Mills Observatory 90th b'day celebrations. Packed talk at the Steps Theatre last night, 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿STV this morning, Ancrum Rd Primary asking lots of space questions at lunch, & tonight a party at Mills🥳. Crossing fingers for clear skies! 🔭
A picture of the Mills observatory under construction. A man is standing precariously on top of the half-finished dome. Catherine is looking up at it holding a microphone. From Insta@DundeeCulture A film crew filming Catherine in a telescope dome. She is in full flow, arms waving, hair blowing, smiling/laughing, no doubt talking about how much she loves space.
October 28, 2025 at 5:16 PM
astroroyalscot.bsky.social
Anyone looking for some #halloween costume ideas?
weirdscotland.bsky.social Old Weird Scotland @weirdscotland.bsky.social · 29d
Whither Halloween?

Nobody takes the time to carve lanterns out of neeps nowadays, and nobody takes the time to scrape out a sheepskin and skull for their costume. Sigh.
#OldWeirdScotland

South Uist guisers, 1932
(📷Margaret Fay Shaw)
a black and white photo of two children wearing sheepskins over their faces and bodies, heavy boots, and holding shepherds' crooks. a black and white photo of two children wearing loose heavy clothes and masks made from sheepskin.
October 25, 2025 at 4:29 PM
Reposted by Astronomer Royal for Scotland | Catherine Heymans
astroroyalscot.bsky.social
🔊Calling #Dundee! Mills, the UK's 1st public observatory, is about to turn 90! This time last year looming budget cuts threatened its closure forever, but overwhelming public support saved it🥳. Do join us for the 90th🎂birthday celebrations on the 27th Oct! 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🔭

🎟️: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/professor-...
astroroyalscot.bsky.social Astronomer Royal for Scotland | Catherine Heymans @astroroyalscot.bsky.social · Dec 2
Hot-off-the-press news: this evening Dundee City Council voted to formally approve the recommendation that the Mills Observatory remains open for the public to use! Huge thanks go to Dr Gilchrist, chair of the Dundee Astronomical Society, who has worked tirelessly to secure this win 🥳🔭🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿
October 5, 2025 at 7:34 AM
astroroyalscot.bsky.social
Started learning about the 1935 opening of Mills Observatory. Left knowing all about Lady Georgiana (the Earls' daughter), who was forced into a loveless marriage with Lieut Home Kidston instead of her true love Roger Bushell who masterminded the "Great Escape" from a WW2 POW camp. #ThanksBlueSky 🤗
astroroyalscot.bsky.social Astronomer Royal for Scotland | Catherine Heymans @astroroyalscot.bsky.social · Oct 24
Searching 1935 Newspaper archives in prep for the 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿Mills Observatory 90th bday party & 😲 it was opened with a kitty of £4000 (£¼ million today)! Philanthropist John Mills sure gave #Dundee a fine gift. Also 🥰 the Earl's glamourous daughter!🔭
Mon 27th Oct 🎟️: www.dundeecity.gov.uk/events/event...
An old newspaper clipping from 1935. On the right a story "Opening of the Mills Observatory. Formally handed Over with £4000 to Council. Highly Efficient and Going Concern." On the left "People in the News; Earl Howe's Daughter Engaged" with an image of a glamorous woman, in a hat, with a large mink fur ruff adorning her shoulders. It says "Motor Racing Families' Romance" - which sounds very racy!
October 24, 2025 at 5:20 PM
astroroyalscot.bsky.social
Searching 1935 Newspaper archives in prep for the 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿Mills Observatory 90th bday party & 😲 it was opened with a kitty of £4000 (£¼ million today)! Philanthropist John Mills sure gave #Dundee a fine gift. Also 🥰 the Earl's glamourous daughter!🔭
Mon 27th Oct 🎟️: www.dundeecity.gov.uk/events/event...
An old newspaper clipping from 1935. On the right a story "Opening of the Mills Observatory. Formally handed Over with £4000 to Council. Highly Efficient and Going Concern." On the left "People in the News; Earl Howe's Daughter Engaged" with an image of a glamorous woman, in a hat, with a large mink fur ruff adorning her shoulders. It says "Motor Racing Families' Romance" - which sounds very racy!
October 24, 2025 at 3:25 PM
astroroyalscot.bsky.social
"What would happen if you were to gather a mole (unit of measurement) of moles (the furry critter) in one place?" On Mole Day, enjoy @xkcd.com's classic what-if: A Mole of moles 🔗: what-if.xkcd.com/4/

"If these moles were released onto the Earth’s surface, they’d fill it up to 80 km deep" 🤔🤓
A sketch showing the Earth's Mantel, thin crust, a small blip (Mount Everest), a think layer of Moles, displaced air, Space and in the top right corned the International Space Station. From https://what-if.xkcd.com/4/
October 23, 2025 at 3:30 PM