Mark Thompson @Astronomer_Mark Twitter profile

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Mark Thompson

2 months

If you have enjoyed my Spectacular Science Show then you are going to love the Game Show version! Come along and join the fun at the @NorwichTheatre and you can test your knowledge and see some amazing experiments too

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Mark Thompson

@Astronomer_Mark

3 months

OUTSIDE NOW!! You are unlikely to see this again for a good few years.

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Mark Thompson

@Astronomer_Mark

6 years

Checkout the Moon and Venus in east now.. You can see detail in the Moon’s ‘dark bit’ because it’s being gently illuminated by reflected sunlight from Earth. Venus is so bright because it is covered in cloud that reflects lots of light #space #astronomy #stargazing

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Mark Thompson

@Astronomer_Mark

3 years

The Spring Equinox is not a day but an exact moment in time. This year it takes place at 09:37 today and at that moment the Sun crosses the celestial equator in the sky heading north, summer is on its way

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Mark Thompson

@Astronomer_Mark

4 years

Great job @GMB naming the NHS staff who lost their lives during COVID19. MUCH respect for giving it time @piersmorgan @susannareid100 Humbling that a mix of nationalities among them, maybe it’s time we start seeing ourselves as inhabitants of Earth rather than different countries

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Mark Thompson

@Astronomer_Mark

3 months

On arrival they cause the gas in atmosphere to glow like a neon tube. The different gasses give the different colours; green is low altitude oxygen, red is high altitude oxygen, other colours are nitrogen

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Mark Thompson

@Astronomer_Mark

3 years

This was the first thing that I saw through a telescope, what was yours? Credit @NASA

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Mark Thompson

@Astronomer_Mark

8 months

This is my dad… he has dementia - played draughts with him last night and while we did not play the conventional rules and ended up just moving pieces randomly around the board, he smiled, first real smile I’ve seen in a long time. He’s still in there :(

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Mark Thompson

@Astronomer_Mark

3 months

Lots asking me what causes the northern lights and the different colour. The Sun kicks out electrically charged particles known as the solar wind which travels out at speeds in excess of 400 - 700km per second! 1/1

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Mark Thompson

@Astronomer_Mark

3 years

Loved hearing what the first astronomical object was that you saw.. what about the latest one? Mine was the Orion Nebula

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Mark Thompson

@Astronomer_Mark

2 years

Can’t resist…. Happy Star Wars Day #Mimas #Saturn #DeathStar #Spooky

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Mark Thompson

@Astronomer_Mark

10 years

William is still missing... Keep RT'ing until he's back with his mum and dad.. Any info to Crime Stoppers http://t.co/awUMSSBEr7

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Mark Thompson

@Astronomer_Mark

4 years

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Mark Thompson

@Astronomer_Mark

7 years

Anyone else think it would have been super cool if @elonmusk had sent up a blue police phone box? @SpaceX

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Mark Thompson

@Astronomer_Mark

4 years

Who fancies an early evening virtual stargazing session (UK) where I will guide you and the kids around some funky stuff in the night sky ? #coronavirusuk #kidsactivities #homeschooling

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Mark Thompson

@Astronomer_Mark

2 years

Not a bad handheld #iPhone image of the #Moon

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Mark Thompson

@Astronomer_Mark

3 months

Excuse but OMFG From Norfolk

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Mark Thompson

@Astronomer_Mark

6 months

Incredible first piece of footage from Odysseus on the surface of the Moon @NASA @Int_Machines

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Mark Thompson

@Astronomer_Mark

10 years

Love this http://t.co/WzaKH5nalv

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Mark Thompson

@Astronomer_Mark

5 years

So this is my big announcement! In September 2020 I am going to attempt to break the World Record for the longest lecture by deliveing #TheUltimateGuideToTheUniverse lasting over 140 hours!!! @barnardos @uniofeastanglia @Gildedballoon

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Mark Thompson

@Astronomer_Mark

5 years

Love this, thanks Roy

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Mark Thompson

@Astronomer_Mark

9 years

The tiny spec upper left in rings is Earth. It's fragile, beautiful and our home #PeaceinParis

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Mark Thompson

@Astronomer_Mark

7 years

Totally amazing pics coming in from #Cassini when it flew close by Saturn's north pole @GMB @benshephard @susannareid100 @kategarraway

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Mark Thompson

@Astronomer_Mark

3 years

This is the latest version of my image of NGC7331, a galaxy which is so far away that the light that made this image left the galaxy when higher primates started to appear on Earth around 40million years ago!

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Mark Thompson

@Astronomer_Mark

10 years

Please RT. This little boy has been missing for 10 days http://t.co/0io1xCwRC9 http://t.co/8KpxP4Xdgk

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Mark Thompson

@Astronomer_Mark

2 years

What’s ur fav optical illusion? This is one of mine

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Mark Thompson

@Astronomer_Mark

1 year

Amazing image of UK from space from @NASA taken on February 26, 2019 at 9:25 in the morning,

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Mark Thompson

@Astronomer_Mark

3 years

Can’t have May 4th without posting a pic of the Death Star from Star Wars and Mimas (a moon of Saturn)...or is it!

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Mark Thompson

@Astronomer_Mark

2 years

NEW YEARS FLASH COMP : RT this post before 23:59 on 1st Jan and you may be randomly selected to win a full subscription to my new online #StargazingForBeginners course #Competition

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Mark Thompson

@Astronomer_Mark

4 years

If it’s clear where you are then join me outside from 10pm UK time and I’ll guide you where to look to see the #Dragon module as it flies over UK chasing the space station before docking #FamilyStargazeWithMark

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Mark Thompson

@Astronomer_Mark

4 years

I love Christmas, I love my family, I want to see them at Christmas but who knows, I might be asymptomatic over Christmas so I will be #StayingHomeForChristmas because I don't want to give Covid-19 to my relatives as a Christmas present!

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Mark Thompson

@Astronomer_Mark

7 years

If you can get out of bed early tomorrow then look low in south east around 4 ish (below bright star Arcturus in Bootes) and you can see Jupiter and Mars very close together.. Plenty of clear skies forecast so no excuse, except sleep ;) Happy hunting and please RT

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Mark Thompson

@Astronomer_Mark

6 years

A large hole has appeared in the Sun's atmosphere (it’s normal), and is facing Earth. A stream of solar wind is expected to reach us in the late hours of Nov. 3rd. Quite likely an aurora on the cards this weekend - RT RT

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Mark Thompson

@Astronomer_Mark

4 years

Ahem @BBCBreakfast @BBCNews was that a typo ? ;) #AstronomerNotAstrologer

Dave ⛳

@dave_oldlinks

4 years

@Astronomer_Mark Nice to know the BBC realise the difference between astronomy and a load of old doggy do! Someone in the graphics dept needs a poke. 🤣

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Mark Thompson

@Astronomer_Mark

4 years

If anyone has started following me having seen me on @BBCNews today and is expecting astroLOGICAL tips. You should know my star-sign is a unicorn because they, like astrology DON’T EXIST! Go find Russell Grant ;)

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Mark Thompson

@Astronomer_Mark

3 years

Morning all. The #WinterSolstice is an exact moment in time, not a day! It occurs at 15:58 today when the Sun reaches its lowest point in the sky. After that point it slowly starts to climb higher again.

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Mark Thompson

@Astronomer_Mark

5 years

This is utterly mesmerising

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Mark Thompson

@Astronomer_Mark

3 years

Unbelievable.. walked into a pub with a mask on and got asked why I had a mask on! Told the fella that there is still a pandemic, it’s still recommended, those working in pub wear a mask to protect me so I will wear one to protect them.. oh and it’s my personal choice #Angry

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Mark Thompson

@Astronomer_Mark

11 years

You can see Comet #panstarrs in west after sunset. Tomorrow night it will sit just below the Moon and above Mars http://t.co/xtxjUgi8Pw

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Mark Thompson

@Astronomer_Mark

4 years

Remember the Dragon @SpaceX launch? This was the booster once it returned to Earth. Refuel it, fold the legs up and ots ready to go again..

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Mark Thompson

@Astronomer_Mark

8 years

Hubble spots galaxy at a distance of 13.4 billion light years. That's a long way folks

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Mark Thompson

@Astronomer_Mark

4 years

Dear astronomers, telescope arriving today, according to tradition we can all expect 40 days and 40 nights of cloud. Sorry.

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Mark Thompson

@Astronomer_Mark

4 years

Wow soo I can ONLY tweet about astronomy ! I lost my aunt to COVID...

Owen

@owen666lewis

4 years

@Astronomer_Mark I follow you for astronomy not some false pandemic that’s 24 on the list of killers in the uk! 🥱

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Mark Thompson

@Astronomer_Mark

4 years

Lots of you asking about seeing @SpaceX rocket. It goes over UK shortly but too bright at mo. It can be seen on its second pass over UK at 10:15pm. Lookout for Space Station at 10:11pm west to east and low in south, then rocket following on at 10:15pm

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Mark Thompson

@Astronomer_Mark

1 year

@georgie_grier I’ve seen amazing shows with really poor audience numbers. Just because there was just one audience member doesn’t mean your show isn’t awesome. believe in yourself but maybe it’s the poster/marketing?

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Mark Thompson

@Astronomer_Mark

4 years

This is how glow sticks work... learn more about this and other amazing science experiments during my SpectacularScienceShow #Stem #theatre #fun #education #homeschooling

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Mark Thompson

@Astronomer_Mark

3 years

Well that’s my last nights sleep until fri 17 Sept.. 4 hours until I start my attempt to break Guinness world record for longest marathon lecture #SpaceTalk2021 for all the up to date info follow @GwrLecture

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Mark Thompson

@Astronomer_Mark

4 years

This evening two astronauts launch to the #ISS and we should be able to see their rocket catching up with the station later tonight.. stay tuned for more info later

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Mark Thompson

@Astronomer_Mark

2 years

Working on an image of NGC6820/NGC6823 (in Vulpecula). Sneak peek at a 10min sub in h-alpha. Lovely open cluster with reflection nebula at a distance of 6,000 light years.

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Mark Thompson

@Astronomer_Mark

4 years

For everyone disappointed to have missed the conjunction it will still look pretty cool tomorrow

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Mark Thompson

@Astronomer_Mark

3 years

Hey all.. thanks to everyone who has been following my rather long lecture. I’ve been humbled to see so much support and to see that we raised an incredible £11.5k for charity (and rising) LOADS of science to be got too.. had a 15 hr sleep and maybe a quick cheeky one again

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Mark Thompson

@Astronomer_Mark

5 years

Look due south right now and you can see a bright object near the Moon, the mighty planet Jupiter! They look close but are separated by 661.9 million km. It would take the International Space Station just over 1,000 days to travel that distance!

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Mark Thompson

@Astronomer_Mark

4 years

A good friend of mine who works in the NHS posted this earlier.. It needs to be seen

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Mark Thompson

@Astronomer_Mark

7 years

Beautiful image of Saturn from #Cassini as it starts its approach for its second dive through the rings @benshephard @GMB @susannareid100

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Mark Thompson

@Astronomer_Mark

8 years

The Moon, Venus and Mars look amazing in the sky setting in the west right now #UK pls RT (Neptune needs good binoculars)

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Mark Thompson

@Astronomer_Mark

4 years

Ok so here’s the idea. Between 8:00 and 08:30 this eve I will be tweeting with the hashtag #FamilyStargazeWithMark and will guide you around some of the highlights of this evening sky. You won’t need a telescope, just your family, eyes and your phone/tablet.. please RT

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Mark Thompson

@Astronomer_Mark

7 years

Up to 20cm of snow they said, be prepared they said... wake up and as I feared it’s raining! Who else still has that childish disappointment when snow is forecast but doesn’t arrive ?

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Mark Thompson

@Astronomer_Mark

7 years

After about 220 images I manage to catch one Leonid meteor!

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Mark Thompson

@Astronomer_Mark

8 years

The winter solstice (northern hemisphere) occurs at a precise moment in time. This year it's at 10:44 - after that we head for summer!

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Mark Thompson

@Astronomer_Mark

4 years

Who else misses hugging their mum or dad? #Covid19UK

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Mark Thompson

@Astronomer_Mark

3 years

Have I read this correctly, Victoria (in Australia) has seen 13 cases of Covid so are going into lockdown meanwhile here in UK we had ~13,000 cases yesterday and there are calls to open up !? I do think perhaps Australia has the right approach

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Mark Thompson

@Astronomer_Mark

4 years

Oh I did manage to catch a Lyrid on my all sky camera last night. The radiant is the apparent position in the sky where Lyrid meteors seem to come from. The meteor is the streak in the sky below left of centre #FamilyStargazeWithMark

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Mark Thompson

@Astronomer_Mark

3 years

Amazing that the first powered flight was in 1903 and now, just 118 years later have flown on another planet!!! Utterly amazing and well done to all involved

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Mark Thompson

@Astronomer_Mark

9 years

Happy eclipse day everyone. http://t.co/aP9LcrEa7h

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Mark Thompson

@Astronomer_Mark

8 years

#supermoon is fun but setting expectations its unlikely to look noticeably different..

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Mark Thompson

@Astronomer_Mark

3 years

Oh ALERT ALERT Aurora see in Norfolk UK!

James Rowley-Hill

@chunder10

3 years

@NightLights_AM @cogie_s @kasmunro @Kareen_B_H @GM7PBB @INSVideos @AngryTheInch @LiveAuroraNetw1 @kevgreenstreet @VincentVoyage @owenhumphreys1 @saloplarus @ahamillphotos @Lathanafoto NORFOLK IN DA HOUSE 💃💃💃

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Mark Thompson

@Astronomer_Mark

4 years

Who is up for trying to spot the #Dragon capsule as it flies over the UK in 15 mins!? Going to be tricky to see but it is doable. Head out now so we can be looking in right direction for the ISS first which appears at 10:11pm #FamilyStargazeWithMark

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Mark Thompson

@Astronomer_Mark

4 years

In other news... There is a comet gracing our skies, Comet Atlas (C2019/Y4) is heading toward the Sun and assuming it doesn’t break up, it could brighten nicely. Certainly one to watch.

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Mark Thompson

@Astronomer_Mark

4 years

It’s been quite the year but I take some comfort that the Sun, Moon and stars are still there

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Mark Thompson

@Astronomer_Mark

2 years

Awesome pressie from my sis.. who can work out what it says ?

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Mark Thompson

@Astronomer_Mark

11 years

Did ya'll see pic of Jupiter that I took last night? http://t.co/yFNOBtG3Ey

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Mark Thompson

@Astronomer_Mark

5 years

@neiltyson Oxygen and potassium went on a date..it was OK

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Mark Thompson

@Astronomer_Mark

4 years

Took this 4 years ago..

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Mark Thompson

@Astronomer_Mark

4 years

Hey @reallorraine I’m encouraging families to get outside at night in their back garden and let me guide them, via @TwitterUK to stargaze with me. Next session tonight from 8pm to 8.30pm #FamilyStargazeWithMark could you share please ?

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Mark Thompson

@Astronomer_Mark

4 years

Here’s the deal - tonight at 9.33pm UK time a @SpaceX rocket is launching two astronauts to the International Space Station. We should be able to see them pass over UK from west to east about half way between horizon and overhead 9.53pm -9.57pm

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Mark Thompson

@Astronomer_Mark

4 years

Here’s a dog and some snow :) Lexi’s first snow experience

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Mark Thompson

@Astronomer_Mark

4 years

@GMB @piersmorgan @susannareid100 so kids cannot be moved between parents but builders can go to work on ‘some’ project ????

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Mark Thompson

@Astronomer_Mark

4 years

Am I the only one who finds it amazing that soooo many people don't know what 2 metres is!?

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Mark Thompson

@Astronomer_Mark

1 year

@Rylan Awesome work… amazing to think the charged particles that caused that wee generated inside the sun maybe 400,000 yrs ago, then traveled toward Earth at 400 km/sec to make the gas in the atmosphere glow!

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Mark Thompson

@Astronomer_Mark

10 years

Just love this shot of the space shuttle http://t.co/wR1XjN1pIE

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Mark Thompson

@Astronomer_Mark

4 years

Heads up. It’s the weekend, it’s been hard for kids to adjust to lockdown and a lot of clear skies tonight so give them a treat, print off this voucher and let them stay up late for tonight’s #FamilyStargazeWithMark 10.30pm-11pm Please RT

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Mark Thompson

@Astronomer_Mark

2 years

Jupiter and Venus look stunning tonight

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Mark Thompson

@Astronomer_Mark

1 year

Well last night was unexpected. A few pics from South Norfolk taken with a phone! And to see this gentle glow in the atmosphere caused by charged particles from the Sun. Nature truly is remarkable, we really should stop messing up the planet

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Mark Thompson

@Astronomer_Mark

4 years

I do hope some of the #FlatEarth folk were watching the launch... I know it was a wide angle lens which distorted a little but still A SPHERICAL PLANET is a spherical planet.. Or rather oblate spheroid but that's just detail

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Mark Thompson

@Astronomer_Mark

4 years

Great vid

Chad Gordon Higgins

@theferalclock

4 years

I’ve had this shot on the #bucketlist for years. That white dot is the @Space_Station and it took 0.6s to pass through. Clouds parted just in time! Big love to @CreoKinetics for the @RED_Cinema Helium loan! @VirtualAstro @PeoplesAstro @astro_timpeake @esa #iss #moon #Astronomy

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Mark Thompson

@Astronomer_Mark

7 years

#aurora kicking off in #finland right now. Back of camera pic

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Mark Thompson

@Astronomer_Mark

7 years

This was without doubt the most AMAZING thing I have seen in space exploration for some time! Incredible to see them touch down at the same time and BANG on target.. #Amazing

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Mark Thompson

@Astronomer_Mark

3 years

Latest update on my wide field exploration of the Veil Nebula in Cygnus.. this image uses narrowband filters under almost full moon but shows nicely that narrowband is largely unaffected by moonlight. It is remains of star that exploded ~15,000 yrs ago, 2,400 light years away

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Mark Thompson

@Astronomer_Mark

3 years

Who is out watching for Perseid Meteors this eve?

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Mark Thompson

@Astronomer_Mark

4 years

Amazing @thepocketastro

Qazi Atif Hussain

@qazi001

4 years

@Astronomer_Mark Position of moon recorded for 28 days at the same location & time. 🌙 Picture by Giorgia Hofer It's true?

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Mark Thompson

@Astronomer_Mark

4 years

Lockdown + winter months = Return of #FamilyStargazeWithMark

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Mark Thompson

@Astronomer_Mark

4 years

Have I woken to see that Trump is losing so is trying to stop all remaining vote counts!? In any world that’s just being a sore loser! That’s the behaviour of a spoiled child not an (almost ex) world leader

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Mark Thompson

@Astronomer_Mark

3 years

NLC display (the tail end) from this evening - 24 June around 00:00 #NLC #nature @CanonUKandIE

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Mark Thompson

@Astronomer_Mark

7 years

Look to the east now (UK) and you can see two ‘stars’ very close together. The upper one is Venus and lower is Jupiter! They look close but in reality are separated by 711 million km! @GMB @BBCBreakfast

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Mark Thompson

@Astronomer_Mark

4 years

Happy New Year to you all.. been a crazy year, but my word what a year for medicine and science..

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Mark Thompson

@Astronomer_Mark

2 years

How is it that one person, who millions have never met, has somehow carved a special place in many of our hearts. RIP Ma’am

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Mark Thompson

@Astronomer_Mark

3 years

Can you see that really bright 'star' to the upper right of the Moon - less than one fist width away? That's no star, it's Jupiter, the largest planet in the Solar System #FamilyStargazeWithMark

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Mark Thompson

@Astronomer_Mark

5 years

Noooooooooooooo

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Mark Thompson

@Astronomer_Mark

3 years

You can watch the live stream of my #MarathonLecture attempt at and make a much needed donation to the @barnardos fund raising here

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Mark Thompson

@Astronomer_Mark

5 years

The heat and light reaching us today from the Sun was created in the core about a million years ago @GMB @Lauratobin1 @metoffice image : @NASA #HottestDayOnRecord

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Mark Thompson

@Astronomer_Mark

4 years

@piersmorgan @susannareid100 my local primary school had 27 kids out of 100 in the school test positive for COVID and it’s now hitting the parents !!!!!

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