Michael Merrifield
@astromikemerri.bsky.social
Emeritus professor of astronomy at the University of Nottingham. Too frequent appearances on YouTube. All my own views.
Reposted by Michael Merrifield
🥳 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...
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
🥳 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...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
By the wonders of two mini stepper motors, a little digital electronics, some ChatGPT-assisted coding, and some nifty 3D printing, I give you the interactive experience that is sure to sweep the nation: TTA — Tiny Theft Auto.
OK, I’ll stop now.
OK, I’ll stop now.
November 13, 2025 at 4:51 PM
By the wonders of two mini stepper motors, a little digital electronics, some ChatGPT-assisted coding, and some nifty 3D printing, I give you the interactive experience that is sure to sweep the nation: TTA — Tiny Theft Auto.
OK, I’ll stop now.
OK, I’ll stop now.
It’s that time of the year once more when the RAF bomb the baby seals at Donna Nook.
(Relax — the bombing range is a little further down the coast.)
(Relax — the bombing range is a little further down the coast.)
November 13, 2025 at 2:57 PM
It’s that time of the year once more when the RAF bomb the baby seals at Donna Nook.
(Relax — the bombing range is a little further down the coast.)
(Relax — the bombing range is a little further down the coast.)
A first for our bird feeder. 🪶
November 12, 2025 at 12:47 PM
A first for our bird feeder. 🪶
A reminder that you should not keep rotating your telescope in the same direction indefinitely. 🔭
(spacenews.com/key-antenna-...)
(spacenews.com/key-antenna-...)
November 11, 2025 at 7:33 PM
A reminder that you should not keep rotating your telescope in the same direction indefinitely. 🔭
(spacenews.com/key-antenna-...)
(spacenews.com/key-antenna-...)
Where’s Bayleaf when you need him? IYKYK
November 11, 2025 at 11:38 AM
Where’s Bayleaf when you need him? IYKYK
3I/ATLAS Update: would you believe it? It’s *still* a comet. 🔭
(www.virtualtelescope.eu/2025/11/11/i...)
(www.virtualtelescope.eu/2025/11/11/i...)
November 11, 2025 at 10:09 AM
3I/ATLAS Update: would you believe it? It’s *still* a comet. 🔭
(www.virtualtelescope.eu/2025/11/11/i...)
(www.virtualtelescope.eu/2025/11/11/i...)
Reposted by Michael Merrifield
Giving the new electronics a work out… and I think I even just about stayed within track limits!
November 9, 2025 at 9:54 PM
Giving the new electronics a work out… and I think I even just about stayed within track limits!
Giving the new electronics a work out… and I think I even just about stayed within track limits!
November 9, 2025 at 9:54 PM
Giving the new electronics a work out… and I think I even just about stayed within track limits!
I be am a big fan of prototyping boards that look just like breadboards, so you can translate a circuit directing over.
Though did I mention that I really dislike soldering?
Though did I mention that I really dislike soldering?
November 9, 2025 at 4:32 PM
I be am a big fan of prototyping boards that look just like breadboards, so you can translate a circuit directing over.
Though did I mention that I really dislike soldering?
Though did I mention that I really dislike soldering?
My father served in WW2. He always respected the 2 minute silence, but showed no interest in closer engagement with Remembrance Sunday services. I once asked him why. 1/2
November 9, 2025 at 9:14 AM
My father served in WW2. He always respected the 2 minute silence, but showed no interest in closer engagement with Remembrance Sunday services. I once asked him why. 1/2
Maybe it’s time I tried a different game…
November 8, 2025 at 7:39 PM
Maybe it’s time I tried a different game…
Yes we do. Thrusters don’t thrust in random directions. Also, it’s a comet.
November 8, 2025 at 4:42 PM
Yes we do. Thrusters don’t thrust in random directions. Also, it’s a comet.
#3IATLAS update: it’s still a comet.
Now far enough from the Sun to get a decent view of its fairly complex tail structure (www.facebook.com/share/p/184n...). 🔭
Now far enough from the Sun to get a decent view of its fairly complex tail structure (www.facebook.com/share/p/184n...). 🔭
November 8, 2025 at 8:55 AM
#3IATLAS update: it’s still a comet.
Now far enough from the Sun to get a decent view of its fairly complex tail structure (www.facebook.com/share/p/184n...). 🔭
Now far enough from the Sun to get a decent view of its fairly complex tail structure (www.facebook.com/share/p/184n...). 🔭
If you get bored with driving the world’s smallest luxury sports car round the track, then you can take the world’s smallest luxury motor yacht out for a spin instead.
November 7, 2025 at 8:58 PM
If you get bored with driving the world’s smallest luxury sports car round the track, then you can take the world’s smallest luxury motor yacht out for a spin instead.
November 7, 2025 at 8:16 PM
Please be aware that there is absolutely no requirement that you be a member of @royalastrosoc.bsky.social for a UK astronomer to be eligible to join the IAU, the world body for professional astronomy — they have to pay your subscription anyway. 🔭
Attention UK astronomers and space scientists! 🪐🔭
Want to help shape global policy and direction within the astronomy community? Why not join the International Astronomical Union.
Find out more on how to do so free of charge at: ras.ac.uk/news-and-pre...
Want to help shape global policy and direction within the astronomy community? Why not join the International Astronomical Union.
Find out more on how to do so free of charge at: ras.ac.uk/news-and-pre...
November 7, 2025 at 11:00 AM
Please be aware that there is absolutely no requirement that you be a member of @royalastrosoc.bsky.social for a UK astronomer to be eligible to join the IAU, the world body for professional astronomy — they have to pay your subscription anyway. 🔭
What’s the betting that the University’s senior management didn’t even consider this point, let alone quantify its likely impact, before deciding to “suspend” music.
November 6, 2025 at 9:05 PM
What’s the betting that the University’s senior management didn’t even consider this point, let alone quantify its likely impact, before deciding to “suspend” music.
I’d like to think that University Council had the independence and vision to decide that a university needs to teach modern languages and music to call itself a university, but sadly I doubt that they have the guts to actual, you know, govern.
www.bbc.com/news/article...
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Music and modern languages courses suspended at University of Nottingham
In a statement the institution also says it is "proposing to reduce its nursing offer".
www.bbc.com
November 6, 2025 at 3:53 PM
I’d like to think that University Council had the independence and vision to decide that a university needs to teach modern languages and music to call itself a university, but sadly I doubt that they have the guts to actual, you know, govern.
www.bbc.com/news/article...
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Avi Loeb now appending to his atrocious a posteriori statistics some fan mail likening him to Galileo.
He really has entirely lost the plot.
(3I/ATLAS is a comet, by the way.) 🔭
avi-loeb.medium.com/post-perihel...
He really has entirely lost the plot.
(3I/ATLAS is a comet, by the way.) 🔭
avi-loeb.medium.com/post-perihel...
Post Perihelion Data on 3I/ATLAS
Reports from the Minor Planet Center (here) and NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (here) just released new data on the interstellar object…
avi-loeb.medium.com
November 5, 2025 at 2:54 PM
Avi Loeb now appending to his atrocious a posteriori statistics some fan mail likening him to Galileo.
He really has entirely lost the plot.
(3I/ATLAS is a comet, by the way.) 🔭
avi-loeb.medium.com/post-perihel...
He really has entirely lost the plot.
(3I/ATLAS is a comet, by the way.) 🔭
avi-loeb.medium.com/post-perihel...
Where Love Lives | John Lewis & Partners | Christmas Ad 2025
YouTube video by John Lewis
m.youtube.com
November 4, 2025 at 8:34 PM
🏴🏳️ Track limits exceeded…
November 4, 2025 at 6:12 PM
🏴🏳️ Track limits exceeded…