I’m Shaun Johnston, the creator of The Astronomers and I’m delighted to announce the launch of our new website. Our goal is to embark on a celestial journey, both personally and as a community.

How did we get here? 

Whilst our parents and teachers share all their knowledge about the world around us, I remember few discussions about astronomy as a child. Although I’m sure it was introduced to me along the way, astronomy has always felt personal – it is something that I discovered on my own. 

Astronomy and the universe are anything but personal; they are the one thing that humanity is forced to share without prejudice, and it cares little for our planetary squabbles. With that being said, it has always felt like it was my own, a passion that nobody else contemplated as much as I did. I never studied it in academia or worked in the sciences, so my naturally developed relationship with astronomy felt lonely and rested heavily on my mind. 

There are two books that I consider to be the foundations for my interest in astronomy, both of which have been a constant in my life since I was a child. The first is ‘How to Build a Rocket’ by Hazel Richardson (you can find it here). Designed for children (although I would argue adults too!), this book gave me my first insight into space travel, building rockets, and how to live on the moon. The ‘How To’ was truly an informative and exciting series that sparked my curiosity of science. 

The other is the ‘Atlas of the Universe’ by Sir Patrick Moore. Whilst this book is certainly NOT designed for children, it enthralled me as a child. I often found myself gazing endlessly at the beautiful astrophotography, whilst also trying to make sense of the astronomical figures and complicated equations. 

Atlas of the Universe has always been more to me than just a science book, it felt like it charted life. In the late 90’s, the world felt big enough as a child, but this Atlas offered a different kind of escapism. It was Science Fiction; it made me feel the same way as the historical or religious stories we were told as children… only it turned out to be real. I became exposed to our solar system, the Cassini-Huygens missions to Saturn and Titan, and to a map of the shining dots I could see in the night sky. This book is truly a guide for a practical astronomer, and whilst I’ve never practiced astronomy, I’ve always been an astronomer at heart. 

The allure of the cosmos has captivated me for as long as I can remember. From gazing at the night sky to becoming emotionally invested in the wonders depicted in film, I’ve immersed myself in lectures, podcasts, and courses, nurturing a deep love for our universe. Popular scientists, like Brian Cox, have taken up many of my evenings, and the Pale Blue Dot speech has yet failed to bring a tear to my eye. My desire to be a part of the cosmic atlas I once read about as a child lingered, growing into a relentless pursuit.

We all have our own astronomy story and our own relationship with the cosmos. Since time immemorial, humans have gazed upwards, captivated by the celestial dance of stars. Across civilizations and epochs, our curiosity has been boundless, as we seek to unravel the mysteries of the universe and find meaning in the vast expanse of the night sky.

The small fraction of time I have on this rock has brought me here, writing this article and founding The Astronomers website. It is my response to my insatiable appetite to learn, share and communicate with others about our universe. So welcome to our new site, The Astronomers, I truly hope you can embark on this celestial journey with us and learn more about the wonders in the sky!