A book label partly printed, part handwritten
Observations received from Melbourne Observatory, Australia. I particularly like the lat/long given on the book label. Another little gem from the Cambridge Observatory library.
A book label partly printed, part handwritten
Observations received from Melbourne Observatory, Australia. I particularly like the lat/long given on the book label. Another little gem from the Cambridge Observatory library.
Talking of celestial navigation, a post on Instagram prompted me to pay a visit to this at the V&A yesterday - a stall end from St Nicholas Chapel, Kings Lynn. Ship, stars and marine animals in one gorgeous bit of early 15thC carving #histSTM
collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O121909...
The @royalastrosoc.bsky.social and German Astronomical Society are delighted to announce that the 2026 Caroline Herschel Medal has been awarded to Professor Dr Heike Rauer, of @dlr-en.bsky.social and @freieuniversitaet.bsky.social.🏅
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Our last lecture: What is Digital Identity all about? from Professor Jon Crowcroft FRS is now available to watch on YouTube: www.youtube.com/watch?v=c_yG...
📣 BSHS Small Grants – deadline 31 March
Looking for a little support for archival visits, research trips, or research assistance?
BSHS offers small grants (£50–£500) to help move research projects forward.
Especially aimed at early-career researchers.
Find out more: bshs.org.uk/grants/#rese...
handwritten inscription on book flyleaf
Complete with a dedication
black and white sketch of a 19th cent astronomical observatory
A little gem from the Cambridge Observatory collection. Many of the books in the collection link us to places all over the world - in this case the Sydney Observatory in Australia.
black and white sketch of a 19th cent astronomical observatory
A little gem from the Cambridge Observatory collection. Many of the books in the collection link us to places all over the world - in this case the Sydney Observatory in Australia.
Hoping this is still open in July, flagging for #ESHS-HSS delegates #histSTM
As part of the AI for Cultural Heritage Hub project (ArCH), @theul.bsky.social has been collaborating with @zoologymuseum.bsky.social to explore the use of AI to unlock its collections. Read more about this in our latest blog: specialcollections-blog.lib.cam.ac.uk?p=31537
A medieval-style illustration depicting an individual seated in a study with a book open on a desk. The person holds a staff and wears a wide-brimmed hat. A lion lies on the patterned floor beside the chair. The scene is framed by an ornate floral border.
Happy World Book Day! 📚
MS. Aust. D. inf. 2. 13, fol. 209v
#WorldBookDay
I think Severin was the father of the famous Ejnar!
A book plate with a line drawing of a mans head
John Couch Adams was Director of the Cambridge Observatory from 1861 until his death in 1892. He was a great book collector. He left thousands of books to the University library and to a library in Cornwall, but many of his astronomical books remained at the Observatory.
A printed book label "Cambridge Observatory"
This is an example of the book label used for the original collection of books at the Observatory. These were placed during the 1830's and often record interesting donors of books to the Library.
A printed book label "Cambridge Observatory"
This is an example of the book label used for the original collection of books at the Observatory. These were placed during the 1830's and often record interesting donors of books to the Library.
A book plate with a line drawing of a mans head
John Couch Adams was Director of the Cambridge Observatory from 1861 until his death in 1892. He was a great book collector. He left thousands of books to the University library and to a library in Cornwall, but many of his astronomical books remained at the Observatory.
A silhouette portrait on a textured circular background is displayed against a dark backdrop. The text reads: "Scientific portraits and portraits for science, 20 March 2026." The Royal Society logo is at the bottom.
Calling all historians of science or art! Register for our upcoming conference on 20 March exploring scientific portraiture and discuss its significance, its use, and how it can reflect issues of diversity and Empire. https://royalsociety.org/science-events-and-lectures/2026/03/scientific-portraits/
Vintage illustration of a young blond child sitting up in bed, tucked under a pink patterned duvet, reading a large book titled “Bed-Time Book.” The child looks down intently at the open pages, with a dark headboard behind them and a soft, warm-toned bedroom setting.
Happy #WorldBookDay! 📚
What books did you love as a child?
This #NationalYearofReading, pass that magic on and encourage a child you know to #GoAllIn with a book.
Image of a child reading is a book illustration by Jessie Willcox Smith, (1908.12.11).
I'm so glad this collection is in safe hands. These books were so much part of my life!
A quarterbound book with CAMBRIDGE OBSERVATORY in gold on the front cover
Like many of our older books, it has Cambridge Observatory prominently on the cover.
A catalogue of stars from the Madras Observatory - with a picture of the observatory on the title page
In the 19th century the Cambridge Observatory was sent the publications of many other observatories from around the world: this is from the East India Company's Observatory at Madras.
The Earth’s magnetic poles have reversed 540 times over the past 170 million years. Usually, reversals take ~10k years, but new evidence points to much slower reversals deep in Earth's geophysical past, with implications for our climate and evolutionary history. 🧪⚛️ physicsworld.com/a/ancient-re...
![4-panel comic: Astronomers asking researchers from different departments to help them identify the “little red dots” in JWST images: (1) Entomologists [Person 1 behind easel that is black with red dots on it, looked at by Person 2 with shoulder-length hair.] PERSON 2: Clover mites. (2) Computer Scientists [Person 1 behind easel that is black with red dots on it, looked at by Person 3 with beanie.] PERSON 3: Stuck pixels. (3) Dermatologists [Person 1 behind easel that is black with red dots on it, looked at by Person 4 with ponytail.] PERSON 4: Cherry angiomas. (4) Graphic designers [Person 1 behind easel that is black with red dots on it, looked at by Person 5 with short hair.] PERSON 5: No, those are vermillion, or maybe jasper. Can I see your color settings?](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:cz73r7iyiqn26upot4jtjdhk/bafkreibrbvioeobwphczl4xzdck62bsx6gzi3hhjfbqwup2vyzhxerjnay)
4-panel comic: Astronomers asking researchers from different departments to help them identify the “little red dots” in JWST images: (1) Entomologists [Person 1 behind easel that is black with red dots on it, looked at by Person 2 with shoulder-length hair.] PERSON 2: Clover mites. (2) Computer Scientists [Person 1 behind easel that is black with red dots on it, looked at by Person 3 with beanie.] PERSON 3: Stuck pixels. (3) Dermatologists [Person 1 behind easel that is black with red dots on it, looked at by Person 4 with ponytail.] PERSON 4: Cherry angiomas. (4) Graphic designers [Person 1 behind easel that is black with red dots on it, looked at by Person 5 with short hair.] PERSON 5: No, those are vermillion, or maybe jasper. Can I see your color settings?
Little Red Dots
xkcd.com/3212/
Impressive Saharan dust plume heading to SE UK later this week.
Friday looks cloudy with possible rain so likely some will be deposited. If you end up with a dirty car you’ll know why!
A green graphic of illustrated animals surrounding the text: "Now Hiring Education Manager (Parental Leave Cover). £34,000 per annum. Application deadline: Sunday 8 March 2026, 23:00 (GMT)". A cartoon of Carl Linnaeus looks up towards some of the animals through binoculars.
One week left to apply for our Education Manager role!
Inspiring young people about nature and ensuring their voices are heard is vital to achieve our vision. We are looking for parental leave cover to manager our educational workshops, events and grants.
Apply by midnight 8 March: buff.ly/M2qGvt2
"Planned cuts to physics and astronomy funding threaten to undermine a core UK government strategy to harness innovation to boost economic growth, leading researchers have warned ministers."
Thanks @financialtimes.com for covering this really important story
🗞️: www.ft.com/content/a235...
Blast from the past: 1973 OPEC embargo. 1979 Iranian revolution. Oil supply weaponised & prices surge 4x. Stagflation tore through economies & families got smashed at the bowser. You paid or you parked. No exit ramp. No alternative. Just dependence on geopolitics. #Bettrification #EV #Solar
Promo graphic for RASreach 2026 at the University of Manchester on 27 March.
Want to join us at RASreach 2026? 🪐🔭🗣️
Bookings are now open for the one-day conference on science communication on 27 March, which is being hosted by @manchester.ac.uk in partnership with @royalastrosoc.bsky.social.
ℹ️ & 🎟️ at: ras.ac.uk/events-and-m...
Image of the “Exposed Cranium” Nebula, also known as Nebula PMR 1
Image of the “Exposed Cranium” Nebula, also known as Nebula PMR 1
New images captured by the James Webb Space Telescope reveal the “Exposed Cranium” nebula, also known as Nebula PMR 1, in both near- and mid-infrared light. spklr.io/6040D4i26
📸: Image: NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI; Image Processing: Joseph DePasquale (STScI)
