Keir Birchall
@keirbirchall.bsky.social
Astronomer and science writer focused on using my training to spread the wonders of the stars to all.
Written for numerous publications including Advanced Science News, Massive and Astrobites
Find out more at http://keirbirchall.space
Written for numerous publications including Advanced Science News, Massive and Astrobites
Find out more at http://keirbirchall.space
I wrote a little piece about an exciting intervention in the ‘Little Red Dots’ debate that has been swirling for a few years now
'Little Red Dots' may actually be Massive Black Holes
Could this work resolve a years-long controversy about their inner workings?
keirbirchall.substack.com
January 14, 2026 at 6:02 PM
I wrote a little piece about an exciting intervention in the ‘Little Red Dots’ debate that has been swirling for a few years now
Space-based astronomy is not safe from light pollution!
My summary of a shocking paper simulating the effects of light trails from rapidly expanding satellite mega-constellations
My summary of a shocking paper simulating the effects of light trails from rapidly expanding satellite mega-constellations
Space-based Astronomy is not safe from Light Pollution
Light trails from rapidly expanding satellites constellations could significantly impact telescopes orbiting the Earth
keirbirchall.substack.com
December 11, 2025 at 4:11 PM
Space-based astronomy is not safe from light pollution!
My summary of a shocking paper simulating the effects of light trails from rapidly expanding satellite mega-constellations
My summary of a shocking paper simulating the effects of light trails from rapidly expanding satellite mega-constellations
Bit late to this one, but felt important to write something about the potential discovery of a companion star to Betelgeuse. Such a companion has been theorised for a while, it's cool to see the predictive power of science in action!
keirbirchall.substack.com/p/observing-...
keirbirchall.substack.com/p/observing-...
Observing Orion's Braclet
A long-predicted stellar companion to Betelgeuse may have been found
keirbirchall.substack.com
July 25, 2025 at 11:12 AM
Bit late to this one, but felt important to write something about the potential discovery of a companion star to Betelgeuse. Such a companion has been theorised for a while, it's cool to see the predictive power of science in action!
keirbirchall.substack.com/p/observing-...
keirbirchall.substack.com/p/observing-...
In this blog post I cover a study on a fascinating new approach to probing the possibility of extra-terrestrial life: the search for exomoons!
substack.com/home/post/p-...
substack.com/home/post/p-...
Modelling moons around a distant world
Astronomers turn their gaze away from planets in the ongoing search for life
substack.com
July 21, 2025 at 2:15 PM
In this blog post I cover a study on a fascinating new approach to probing the possibility of extra-terrestrial life: the search for exomoons!
substack.com/home/post/p-...
substack.com/home/post/p-...