Orion rises slowly out of the east,
and moves steadily southwards,
steel-green Rigel and starry belt glittering,
followed by huge Sirius the dog,
loping up out of the darkness.
North Ronaldsay’s dark skies awarded international status
North Ronaldsay’s dark skies have achieved international recognition. The island has been designated as an International Dark Sky Community, one of just over 30 worldwide. It’s on an elite list that ranges from Flagstaff, Arizona, to Fulda in Germany. Only two other places in Scotland have this status – the island of Coll and the town of Moffat.
Orkney looked out for Venus transit
Orkney looked out for Venus transit Observers in Orkney and Shetland had the best opportunity to watch the Venue transit of June 2012, but the weather turned out to
Midwinter astronomy success
Amidst wind, rain and occasion flurries of snow, there were also several fine frosty nights for 'Dark Skies Orkney'. The midwinter astronomy programme of events was coordinated
Blue and lonely planet found
Astronomers have found what seems to be a planet wandering on its own through space without a parent star. The image above shows an artist's impression of it.
Black hole drives hot jets
Spiral galaxy Messier 106 is unusual. It has four spiral arms instead of the usual two. The normal pair are the ones with the string of blue towards their ends – hot young stars in an early stage of life.
Cosmic beacon flashes out from infant stars
Cosmic beacon flashes out from infant stars From across the light-years a cosmic beacon beams out from an infant star system. The fan-like pattern to the right of the
An observatory in the Highlands
Since June 2008, the Highlands Astronomical Society has been the proud owner of a state-of-the-art observatory located near the NTS Visitor Centre at Culloden Battlefield.
Dark Skies Orkney 2011
This was a pilot event, where the Science Festival collaborated with local tourism and community groups, and there were some lively talks and outings.
Stones & Stars
The island has a standing stone, with a small hole in it. This type of stone seems to date from the Neolithic period, four to five thousand years ago.
Ten years of Orkney Sky Notes
The Orcadian's Orkney Sky Notes column is ten years old. The column, produced by Rousay astronomer John Vetterlein, has become not only an essential guide to the Orkney night sky but also an ideal way to learn about astronomy.
Midwinter astronomy festival for Orkney
Orkney had a midwinter astronomy festival in December 2011. Talks and stargazing took place across the mainland from Birsay to Deerness, and in Stronsay and Sanday as well.
See Orkney skies on the iPad!
See Orkney skies on the iPad! To promote the 'Dark Skies Orkney' event of December 2011 and Orkney astronomy generally, a new e-magazine was produced for iPad and web access.It includes
North Ronaldsay night sky photography competition
The skies above Orkney’s most northerly island are among the darkest in Europe. The winning images from the first two second annual competitions for North Ronaldsay night sky photographs shows the sharpness and clarity with which features can be seen.