Astronomer Royal for Scotland | Catherine Heymans

I have tea & chocolate: ready to start a day of prep for my Wed appearance at the UKGov Science, Information and Technology select committee.

I'll be making the case for the economic and scientific benefits of funding (not cutting) UK astronomy. Keen to hear your Sunday thoughts on the matter!🔭⚛️🎢👩‍🔬

STFC funds the development of the UK SKA Regional Centre, so that part, at least, is in the mix ☹️

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Ah thank you for the clarification! Much appreciated. I’m clearly getting over excited about Venus rising!

👌 nicely done

I loved watching Venus set so quickly - while picturing the Earth turning - haven't done that in a while. 🤗

Ah the weather Gods! G&T o'clock here, so cheers 🥂

Ah Peter - I always love your enthusiasm 😜

Any opportunity to encourage people to look up and you know I am there! I have been recommending everyone download a sky-app for help though, and have added healthy doses of expectation management when chatting about it on the radio!

Fear not - the six planets will be around for some weeks yet. Venus is going to get way easier to see, but Saturn and Mercury become harder....

And if you want to know more about the #planetaryparade and why the planets always parade along a line that arcs across our sky, check out this thread from last year's 7-planet parade....

bsky.app/profile/astr...

Planetarium Bochum sunset view, deep orange fading to dark blue. Saturn, Merkur and Venus are marked - tiny speaks in the twilight sky.

How are the #planetaryparade fans doing tonight? Clear skies here so I took up the challenge!

😎Jupiter (easy - right of the moon)
👍Venus (bright on the W horizon)
👌Saturn (trickier - need to know where to look)
🤷‍♀️Mercury (in hiding)
🙅‍♀️Neptune and Uranus (needs 🔭)
📷 @planetariumbochum.bsky.social

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They're pretty influential, so the top priority now is to convince them that they should push for change.
<Weekend plans: swotting up on all the persuasive arguments>

4 March 2026 - Science, Innovation and Technology Committee - Oral evidence session - Committees - UK Parliament 09:00 - The Wilson Room, Portcullis House

"Following reports that the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) is facing significant cost pressures, the Science, Innovation and Technology Committee will hold a one-off evidence session exploring scientific research funding."

committees.parliament.uk/event/26683/...

Two people on a dark stage wearing black with microphones in the middle of a stand up show. Catherine has her trademark red heals on, as always. Joe is trying to compete with his red trainers but isn't nearly as classy.

Reminiscing today on our old stand-up show & @joezuntz.bsky.social's uncannily prophetic joke

"her main duty is to fight the Astronomer Royal for England. And fortunately he's 80, so one quick smack with an 18 inch telescope & down he goes"😇

AR🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 v New AR🇬🇧 STFC CEO Westminster: 4th Mar

Looking fine I'm sure you'll agree Derek 😂.
Phew - now I can get back into me jammies!

My boys wanted to know if Maurice from 6 years ago is the Maurice that is still there today. And then we googled "how long do pheasants live".... and we're now thinking it must be Maurice junior (RIP Maurice senior)

And on how often Astronomer Royals go into battle - it does happen, most recently in the late 90's during the "Observatory Wars". They decided to close one of the Royal Observatory's (Greenwich vs Edinburgh). Edinburgh won the case and became the very wonderful UK Astronomy Technology Centre.

Now I'm going to have to say that Martin 😂

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I am also planning my next visit- not leaving till Maurice comes to say hello 😂

Joyful light relief from the STFC cuts doom and gloom. @jodrellbank.bsky.social has a resident pheasant called Maurice 🥰

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It is super cool isn't it. I have been having way too much fun with this platform! "Hello little supernovae" she coos

STFC CEO responds to @jonbutterworth.bsky.social

"it is important for all of our ... programmes ... to contribute to us making savings across our entire portfolio"

No mention that *all* is disproportionately falling on the particle-astro-nuclear programme 🤷‍♀️😡

www.theguardian.com/science/2026...

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