David Blanchflower BSc
@davidbflower.bsky.social
Astronomer and Astrophotographer. Pictures of space appearing in posts, magazines and on the telly.
It's 5.08am and I've just looked outside. My sky isn't clear but I can see some stars. Rare. 🔭 🧪
January 28, 2026 at 5:08 AM
It's 5.08am and I've just looked outside. My sky isn't clear but I can see some stars. Rare. 🔭 🧪
Reposted by David Blanchflower BSc
Occultation! Tonight's Moon has covered the first of the seven sisters!
January 27, 2026 at 9:59 PM
Occultation! Tonight's Moon has covered the first of the seven sisters!
Reposted by David Blanchflower BSc
The cloud has dropped back in here. Just as the Moon was about to occult the first of the sisters! Hopefully they'll lift but I'm not confident!
January 27, 2026 at 9:37 PM
The cloud has dropped back in here. Just as the Moon was about to occult the first of the sisters! Hopefully they'll lift but I'm not confident!
Brilliant news!
The power of persistence and community unity! What a great win for #Astronomy
American company (AES Andes) was planning on building an industrial facility in the Atacama desert. This would've produced light pollution affecting the pristine skies where some big telescopes are.
Well .... no more!
🔭
American company (AES Andes) was planning on building an industrial facility in the Atacama desert. This would've produced light pollution affecting the pristine skies where some big telescopes are.
Well .... no more!
🔭
Paranal: Night Sky Secured – A Triumph for the Astronomers’ Protest
The planned industrial facility near ESO Paranal has been halted, ensuring the protection of the unique night sky for astronomical research.
www.mpe.mpg.de
January 27, 2026 at 9:13 PM
Brilliant news!
I've been keeping an eye on my sky but the weather is still horrible. Looks like my chances of seeing the Moon/Pleiades occultation are reducing rapidly. 🔭 🧪
January 27, 2026 at 8:17 PM
I've been keeping an eye on my sky but the weather is still horrible. Looks like my chances of seeing the Moon/Pleiades occultation are reducing rapidly. 🔭 🧪
Reposted by David Blanchflower BSc
The 68% Moon and the Seven Sisters of the Pleiades right now. A few more hours till they meet! #astronomy #astrophotography @stormhour.com @photohour.bsky.social
January 27, 2026 at 6:53 PM
The 68% Moon and the Seven Sisters of the Pleiades right now. A few more hours till they meet! #astronomy #astrophotography @stormhour.com @photohour.bsky.social
January 2024 I was capturing the Moon around Full. 🔭 🧪 🎨 #astrophotography #SciArt #photography #StormHour #ThePhotoHour
January 27, 2026 at 6:11 PM
January 2024 I was capturing the Moon around Full. 🔭 🧪 🎨 #astrophotography #SciArt #photography #StormHour #ThePhotoHour
Intriguing. 🔭 🧪
University of Bern: Streaks on Mercury Show: Mercury Is Not a “Dead Planet” mediarelations.unibe.ch/media_releas...
Streaks on Mercury show: Mercury is not a "dead planet"
A new study led by the University of Bern has discovered a large number of bright streaks, also known as "lineae", on Mercury, which are presumably caused by the outgassing of volatile material from t...
mediarelations.unibe.ch
January 27, 2026 at 5:51 PM
Intriguing. 🔭 🧪
Reposted by David Blanchflower BSc
As expected, the content farms nonsense around this comet has vanished, with no follow ups… as noise always does.
What remains is an unprecedented effort to gather data using every possible instrument on the ground, in space and on Mars!
A reminder to follow real scientists, not dodgy clicks.
What remains is an unprecedented effort to gather data using every possible instrument on the ground, in space and on Mars!
A reminder to follow real scientists, not dodgy clicks.
Say goodbye to Comet 3I/ATLAS! Watch it head for interstellar space in real-time with this free Jan. 16 livestream www.space.com/astronomy/co...
Say goodbye to Comet 3I/ATLAS! Watch it head for interstellar space in real-time with this free Jan. 16 livestream
3I/ATLAS is heading away from the sun on an escape trajectory from our solar system.
www.space.com
January 17, 2026 at 11:18 AM
As expected, the content farms nonsense around this comet has vanished, with no follow ups… as noise always does.
What remains is an unprecedented effort to gather data using every possible instrument on the ground, in space and on Mars!
A reminder to follow real scientists, not dodgy clicks.
What remains is an unprecedented effort to gather data using every possible instrument on the ground, in space and on Mars!
A reminder to follow real scientists, not dodgy clicks.
Reposted by David Blanchflower BSc
An afternoon Moon, two thirds full (67%)! Blue sky briefly in between wet weather clouds from Storm Chandra.
#astronomy #astrophotography @stormhour.com @photohour.bsky.social
#astronomy #astrophotography @stormhour.com @photohour.bsky.social
January 27, 2026 at 4:43 PM
An afternoon Moon, two thirds full (67%)! Blue sky briefly in between wet weather clouds from Storm Chandra.
#astronomy #astrophotography @stormhour.com @photohour.bsky.social
#astronomy #astrophotography @stormhour.com @photohour.bsky.social
Infant formula batch recall over toxin discovery. 🧪 www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Aptamil infant formula batch recalled in UK over toxin discovery
Parents are warned to return any of the specific product affected because it is not safe for babies to consume.
www.bbc.co.uk
January 27, 2026 at 4:37 PM
Infant formula batch recall over toxin discovery. 🧪 www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Reposted by David Blanchflower BSc
Chantry Island lighthouse being dwarfed by a dramatic giant sun pillar for the #AlphabetChallenge #WeekDforDramatic
#BruceCounty #EastCoastKin #photography #clouds #sunset
#BruceCounty #EastCoastKin #photography #clouds #sunset
January 27, 2026 at 12:37 PM
Chantry Island lighthouse being dwarfed by a dramatic giant sun pillar for the #AlphabetChallenge #WeekDforDramatic
#BruceCounty #EastCoastKin #photography #clouds #sunset
#BruceCounty #EastCoastKin #photography #clouds #sunset
Reposted by David Blanchflower BSc
Very soon I will be
✨available for work✨
If you’re interested in who I am and what it is I do/have done then here’s a little introduction thread about myself and my work.
✨available for work✨
If you’re interested in who I am and what it is I do/have done then here’s a little introduction thread about myself and my work.
I’m Holly- a writer, narrative designer and historian. Recently got my PhD (19th & 20thC social cultural history through the lens of play & board games) and currently working in game development. I do a lot of things but I particularly love applying historical approaches to interactive storytelling.
January 5, 2026 at 4:29 PM
Very soon I will be
✨available for work✨
If you’re interested in who I am and what it is I do/have done then here’s a little introduction thread about myself and my work.
✨available for work✨
If you’re interested in who I am and what it is I do/have done then here’s a little introduction thread about myself and my work.
The rain is running rivers down the road. Soggy it is.
January 27, 2026 at 10:52 AM
The rain is running rivers down the road. Soggy it is.
Reposted by David Blanchflower BSc
My attempt on Maffei 2 - a pretty sizeable disk galaxy, but hidden behind the Galactic dust curtain - so only very few images can be found on astrobin. I had to stretch it rather aggressively to get the faint structure show up prominently. bit.ly/4lB3t68 🔭#astrophotography 🔭📷
January 27, 2026 at 9:26 AM
My attempt on Maffei 2 - a pretty sizeable disk galaxy, but hidden behind the Galactic dust curtain - so only very few images can be found on astrobin. I had to stretch it rather aggressively to get the faint structure show up prominently. bit.ly/4lB3t68 🔭#astrophotography 🔭📷
Reposted by David Blanchflower BSc
I hope village/hamlet dwellers count as well 🤨🔭
January 27, 2026 at 9:29 AM
I hope village/hamlet dwellers count as well 🤨🔭
City dwellers urged to take photos of the stars. 🧪 🔭 #astrophotography www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Urban astrophotographer's photos beamed inside Bristol Museum
Lee Pullen's stunning photos are being displayed on the walls and ceilings at a Bristol museum.
www.bbc.co.uk
January 27, 2026 at 9:22 AM
City dwellers urged to take photos of the stars. 🧪 🔭 #astrophotography www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Dig discovers earlier hill-living evidence. 🧪 www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Cheviot Hills dig discovers earlier hill-living evidence
Discoveries in Northumberland suggest hill farming is older than historians previously believed.
www.bbc.co.uk
January 27, 2026 at 9:20 AM
Dig discovers earlier hill-living evidence. 🧪 www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Tonight the Waxing Crescent Moon will pass through the Pleiades, as seen from the UK and the rest of Europe. The 'action' starts from around 9pm UK time. Need decent weather. 🔭 🧪
January 27, 2026 at 9:01 AM
Tonight the Waxing Crescent Moon will pass through the Pleiades, as seen from the UK and the rest of Europe. The 'action' starts from around 9pm UK time. Need decent weather. 🔭 🧪
Reposted by David Blanchflower BSc
Reposted by David Blanchflower BSc
The 53% illuminated moon at 6.14 PM (UTC+7) on Monday.
January 26, 2026 at 10:00 PM
The 53% illuminated moon at 6.14 PM (UTC+7) on Monday.
I've just been outside. Clouds, clouds, and more clouds as far as the eye can see. Been a frustrating astronomical month. Hoping for better luck with tomorrow night's Moon/Pleiades occultation. 🔭 🧪
January 26, 2026 at 8:47 PM
I've just been outside. Clouds, clouds, and more clouds as far as the eye can see. Been a frustrating astronomical month. Hoping for better luck with tomorrow night's Moon/Pleiades occultation. 🔭 🧪
The next 'major' meteor shower we've got to look forward to is the Lyrids. Become active around 14th April, with peak 22-23 April. 🔭 🧪
January 26, 2026 at 5:34 PM
The next 'major' meteor shower we've got to look forward to is the Lyrids. Become active around 14th April, with peak 22-23 April. 🔭 🧪
Good weather luck to all stargazers tonight. I've got a horrible sky so forced to stay in and eat chocolate. Lots of chocolate. 🔭 🧪
January 26, 2026 at 5:32 PM
Good weather luck to all stargazers tonight. I've got a horrible sky so forced to stay in and eat chocolate. Lots of chocolate. 🔭 🧪
UK loses measles elimination status. 🧪 www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
UK loses measles elimination status
Decision made after outbreaks in 2024, when there were nearly 3,000 cases in England and Wales.
www.bbc.co.uk
January 26, 2026 at 4:01 PM
UK loses measles elimination status. 🧪 www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...