University of Hertfordshire Observatory
@observatory.herts.ac.uk
The University of Hertfordshire's Observatory at Bayfordbury in the UK. Find out how to visit or study with us here: https://linktr.ee/bayfordburyobservatory
Pinned
This account is going to become temporarily inactive, due to changes in staffing. We hope to be back on BlueSky soon!
This account is going to become temporarily inactive, due to changes in staffing. We hope to be back on BlueSky soon!
August 14, 2025 at 10:37 PM
This account is going to become temporarily inactive, due to changes in staffing. We hope to be back on BlueSky soon!
Reposted by University of Hertfordshire Observatory
Today's the day — it's officially T-0!
GET READY: Your full First Look at images from NSF–DOE Rubin Observatory is just hours away! We're about to reveal the preview of the greatest cosmic movie ever made 🎬 #RubinFirstLook #CaptureTheCosmos 🔭🧪
⌚️ 11am US EDT
🔗: ls.st/rubin-first-look-livestream
GET READY: Your full First Look at images from NSF–DOE Rubin Observatory is just hours away! We're about to reveal the preview of the greatest cosmic movie ever made 🎬 #RubinFirstLook #CaptureTheCosmos 🔭🧪
⌚️ 11am US EDT
🔗: ls.st/rubin-first-look-livestream
June 23, 2025 at 1:06 PM
Today's the day — it's officially T-0!
GET READY: Your full First Look at images from NSF–DOE Rubin Observatory is just hours away! We're about to reveal the preview of the greatest cosmic movie ever made 🎬 #RubinFirstLook #CaptureTheCosmos 🔭🧪
⌚️ 11am US EDT
🔗: ls.st/rubin-first-look-livestream
GET READY: Your full First Look at images from NSF–DOE Rubin Observatory is just hours away! We're about to reveal the preview of the greatest cosmic movie ever made 🎬 #RubinFirstLook #CaptureTheCosmos 🔭🧪
⌚️ 11am US EDT
🔗: ls.st/rubin-first-look-livestream
Ever wondered what the rain sounds like inside one of our steel 🔭 domes?
June 3, 2025 at 1:42 PM
Ever wondered what the rain sounds like inside one of our steel 🔭 domes?
Here's last night's aurora! 🔭
April 17, 2025 at 8:47 AM
Here's last night's aurora! 🔭
Aurora are visible in UK skies right now! 🔭
April 16, 2025 at 8:59 PM
Aurora are visible in UK skies right now! 🔭
And another view!
March 24, 2025 at 10:54 PM
And another view!
View from the allsky camera! 🔭
March 24, 2025 at 10:06 PM
View from the allsky camera! 🔭
One of our students took these spectacular photos earlier this evening, showing what is thought to be fuel from a Falcon 9 rocket! 🔭
March 24, 2025 at 8:48 PM
One of our students took these spectacular photos earlier this evening, showing what is thought to be fuel from a Falcon 9 rocket! 🔭
Last night, our robotic telescopes 🔭 captured their 110,000th image in autonomous mode. That's 3,475 hours of imaging without human supervision!
March 19, 2025 at 11:34 AM
Last night, our robotic telescopes 🔭 captured their 110,000th image in autonomous mode. That's 3,475 hours of imaging without human supervision!
And that’s a wrap for this season’s Open Evenings! Thank you to everyone that came along tonight - we had a great time, and hope you did too!
Open Evenings will return next winter - but there will still be other opportunities to visit us over the summer, so stay tuned!
Open Evenings will return next winter - but there will still be other opportunities to visit us over the summer, so stay tuned!
March 7, 2025 at 11:43 PM
And that’s a wrap for this season’s Open Evenings! Thank you to everyone that came along tonight - we had a great time, and hope you did too!
Open Evenings will return next winter - but there will still be other opportunities to visit us over the summer, so stay tuned!
Open Evenings will return next winter - but there will still be other opportunities to visit us over the summer, so stay tuned!
There are only a few tickets left for our last Open Evening of the season, for the 17:30 slot on Friday 7th March.
The theme for this Open Evening is radio astronomy. The optical telescopes 🔭 will still be open, but we'll also be showing off our unique radio interferometer 📡
The theme for this Open Evening is radio astronomy. The optical telescopes 🔭 will still be open, but we'll also be showing off our unique radio interferometer 📡
February 26, 2025 at 11:22 AM
There are only a few tickets left for our last Open Evening of the season, for the 17:30 slot on Friday 7th March.
The theme for this Open Evening is radio astronomy. The optical telescopes 🔭 will still be open, but we'll also be showing off our unique radio interferometer 📡
The theme for this Open Evening is radio astronomy. The optical telescopes 🔭 will still be open, but we'll also be showing off our unique radio interferometer 📡
We've had a great time at @stalbanscathedral.bsky.social this week! We've been there with our mobile planetarium giving shows to local schools, and last night Dr. Emma Curtis-Lake gave a public lecture.
And now we're all back at the observatory for tonight's sold-out Open Evening!
And now we're all back at the observatory for tonight's sold-out Open Evening!
February 7, 2025 at 3:13 PM
We've had a great time at @stalbanscathedral.bsky.social this week! We've been there with our mobile planetarium giving shows to local schools, and last night Dr. Emma Curtis-Lake gave a public lecture.
And now we're all back at the observatory for tonight's sold-out Open Evening!
And now we're all back at the observatory for tonight's sold-out Open Evening!
Here's a quick view of Jupiter, taken during a student practical session last night 🔭
From left to right, you can see three of Jupiter's moons: Europa, Ganymede and Io.
You can also see Io's shadow on the face of Jupiter - it is the small dark spot near the upper right edge.
From left to right, you can see three of Jupiter's moons: Europa, Ganymede and Io.
You can also see Io's shadow on the face of Jupiter - it is the small dark spot near the upper right edge.
February 4, 2025 at 5:54 PM
Here's a quick view of Jupiter, taken during a student practical session last night 🔭
From left to right, you can see three of Jupiter's moons: Europa, Ganymede and Io.
You can also see Io's shadow on the face of Jupiter - it is the small dark spot near the upper right edge.
From left to right, you can see three of Jupiter's moons: Europa, Ganymede and Io.
You can also see Io's shadow on the face of Jupiter - it is the small dark spot near the upper right edge.
Reposted by University of Hertfordshire Observatory
What a great start to #NationalAstronomyWeek at the #DarkSkies event in Hertford. We had a screening of The City Dark film followed by a light switch-off and stargazing with astronomers from Bayfordbury Observatory in Hertford Castle grounds. Frosty and fantastic! #NAW
February 1, 2025 at 8:32 PM
What a great start to #NationalAstronomyWeek at the #DarkSkies event in Hertford. We had a screening of The City Dark film followed by a light switch-off and stargazing with astronomers from Bayfordbury Observatory in Hertford Castle grounds. Frosty and fantastic! #NAW
There is a lovely 22° halo around the Sun this morning. These halos appear when sunlight passes through hexagonal ice crystals in the atmosphere, and can often be seen in the winter months. 🔭
January 29, 2025 at 11:45 AM
There is a lovely 22° halo around the Sun this morning. These halos appear when sunlight passes through hexagonal ice crystals in the atmosphere, and can often be seen in the winter months. 🔭
Tickets are available for our penultimate open evening of the season, on Feb 7th with the theme "Aurorae and Our Solar System"
This is a great opportunity to learn about the spectacular aurorae we've witnessed over the past year, and another chance to observe the ongoing planetary parade 🔭
This is a great opportunity to learn about the spectacular aurorae we've witnessed over the past year, and another chance to observe the ongoing planetary parade 🔭
January 27, 2025 at 2:41 PM
Tickets are available for our penultimate open evening of the season, on Feb 7th with the theme "Aurorae and Our Solar System"
This is a great opportunity to learn about the spectacular aurorae we've witnessed over the past year, and another chance to observe the ongoing planetary parade 🔭
This is a great opportunity to learn about the spectacular aurorae we've witnessed over the past year, and another chance to observe the ongoing planetary parade 🔭
Yesterday we ran the first event with our new inflatable planetarium!
From 5th-7th February, we'll be at @stalbanscathedral.bsky.social showcasing the new planetarium as part of their Science Festival Week.
To book us for your school or another event, see here: www.herts.ac.uk/bayfordbury/...
From 5th-7th February, we'll be at @stalbanscathedral.bsky.social showcasing the new planetarium as part of their Science Festival Week.
To book us for your school or another event, see here: www.herts.ac.uk/bayfordbury/...
January 24, 2025 at 10:09 AM
Yesterday we ran the first event with our new inflatable planetarium!
From 5th-7th February, we'll be at @stalbanscathedral.bsky.social showcasing the new planetarium as part of their Science Festival Week.
To book us for your school or another event, see here: www.herts.ac.uk/bayfordbury/...
From 5th-7th February, we'll be at @stalbanscathedral.bsky.social showcasing the new planetarium as part of their Science Festival Week.
To book us for your school or another event, see here: www.herts.ac.uk/bayfordbury/...
Reposted by University of Hertfordshire Observatory
Come and check it out next Friday!
Tickets selling fast:
www.eshop.herts.ac.uk/search?cid=459
#hertfordshire 🔭 #astronomy #herts #BedsBucksHerts
Tickets selling fast:
www.eshop.herts.ac.uk/search?cid=459
#hertfordshire 🔭 #astronomy #herts #BedsBucksHerts
It's a planetary parade!
Throughout Jan and Feb, you will be able to see four planets lined up in the sky. With a telescope 🔭, you can also see Neptune and Uranus to make it six planets in a row!
This picture was taken with our Allsky camera just before 6pm (GMT) on Tuesday.
Throughout Jan and Feb, you will be able to see four planets lined up in the sky. With a telescope 🔭, you can also see Neptune and Uranus to make it six planets in a row!
This picture was taken with our Allsky camera just before 6pm (GMT) on Tuesday.
January 10, 2025 at 3:45 PM
Come and check it out next Friday!
Tickets selling fast:
www.eshop.herts.ac.uk/search?cid=459
#hertfordshire 🔭 #astronomy #herts #BedsBucksHerts
Tickets selling fast:
www.eshop.herts.ac.uk/search?cid=459
#hertfordshire 🔭 #astronomy #herts #BedsBucksHerts
It's a planetary parade!
Throughout Jan and Feb, you will be able to see four planets lined up in the sky. With a telescope 🔭, you can also see Neptune and Uranus to make it six planets in a row!
This picture was taken with our Allsky camera just before 6pm (GMT) on Tuesday.
Throughout Jan and Feb, you will be able to see four planets lined up in the sky. With a telescope 🔭, you can also see Neptune and Uranus to make it six planets in a row!
This picture was taken with our Allsky camera just before 6pm (GMT) on Tuesday.
January 10, 2025 at 3:34 PM
It's a planetary parade!
Throughout Jan and Feb, you will be able to see four planets lined up in the sky. With a telescope 🔭, you can also see Neptune and Uranus to make it six planets in a row!
This picture was taken with our Allsky camera just before 6pm (GMT) on Tuesday.
Throughout Jan and Feb, you will be able to see four planets lined up in the sky. With a telescope 🔭, you can also see Neptune and Uranus to make it six planets in a row!
This picture was taken with our Allsky camera just before 6pm (GMT) on Tuesday.
It's a frosty day here at Bayfordbury 🔭❄️
January 10, 2025 at 1:12 PM
It's a frosty day here at Bayfordbury 🔭❄️
With our James Webb Space Telescope themed Open Evening coming up on Jan 17th, here's a throwback to when one of our telescopes caught JWST heading to its new home 🔭
January 8, 2025 at 11:46 AM
With our James Webb Space Telescope themed Open Evening coming up on Jan 17th, here's a throwback to when one of our telescopes caught JWST heading to its new home 🔭
Reposted by University of Hertfordshire Observatory
Tickets for the next @bayfordburyobs.bsky.social open night selling fast!
We’ve got 4 planets on show in the early evening this month, so don’t miss your chance to see them through our telescopes!
🔭 #hertfordshire #astronomy
We’ve got 4 planets on show in the early evening this month, so don’t miss your chance to see them through our telescopes!
🔭 #hertfordshire #astronomy
Tickets now on sale for 1st @bayfordburyobs.bsky.social open evening of 2025!
17th Jan will be JWST night. Public lectures from Webb Fellow Dr Emma Curtis-Lake, Dr Mike Kuhn, and kids space telescope quiz + more.
Get them here: www.eshop.herts.ac.uk/search?cid=459
#astronomy 🔭 #hertfordshire
17th Jan will be JWST night. Public lectures from Webb Fellow Dr Emma Curtis-Lake, Dr Mike Kuhn, and kids space telescope quiz + more.
Get them here: www.eshop.herts.ac.uk/search?cid=459
#astronomy 🔭 #hertfordshire
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www.eshop.herts.ac.uk
January 7, 2025 at 10:14 AM
Tickets for the next @bayfordburyobs.bsky.social open night selling fast!
We’ve got 4 planets on show in the early evening this month, so don’t miss your chance to see them through our telescopes!
🔭 #hertfordshire #astronomy
We’ve got 4 planets on show in the early evening this month, so don’t miss your chance to see them through our telescopes!
🔭 #hertfordshire #astronomy
Aurora sightings are being reported across the UK this evening - but unfortunately all we can see is clouds! 🔭
January 1, 2025 at 7:32 PM
Aurora sightings are being reported across the UK this evening - but unfortunately all we can see is clouds! 🔭