Carolyn Kennett - Astronomer, Writer and Researcher

What do you consider your greatest achievement?

This is a really hard one to answer, in my personal life bringing up my son to be the amazing adult he has become. In my working life becoming a Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society (FRAS) and was part of a team that got Dark Skies Status for West Cornwall.

2. What motivates you to do what you do?

A love of the outdoors is my main motivation and wanting to share my passion for nature, the sky and ancient history with people. I am particularly blessed to have been able to follow my passions as a job.

3. What do you owe your mother?

Determination and love.

4. Which women inspire you and why?

Historically women who followed their passion in astronomy found themselves in a male-dominated world with lots of barriers and didn't let themselves be discouraged from following their passions. Such as Caroline Herschel who made pioneering contributions to the field in the late 1700s and early 1800s. In addition women such as Mary Proctor who was a writer and populariser of astronomy, wrote many children's books on the subject and made her money by speaking very eloquently often visiting town after town, night after night to earn a living.

5. What are you reading?

I've just started A natural history of the hedgerow by John Wright.

6. What gender barriers have you had to hurdle?

Astronomy is a field that traditionally is male, there are great strives to attract more women into the field of study and this is thankfully happening, all be it at a slow pace. I think like many women entering a male-dominated field of work there have been moments where things haven't been as equal as one would hope, but I have never felt anything but positivity from being involved in this area of work.

7. How can the world be made a better place for women?

Removal of any forms of violence against women and equality in pay comes to mind.

8. Describe your perfect day?

Heading out onto the moors with my partner to visit a number of prehistoric sites, ending the day with a sunset and watching the stars and the Milky Way come out under pristine dark skies.

9. We've noticed there really aren't many (if any) statues of women around Cornwall - who would you like to see remembered?

I'm not a great one for statues, the existing ones should either be removed or evened out with more female ones, If I had to name someone I think they would have to be contemporary - can they be living? I'm not even sure they would like to be immortalised in a statue but I think Cheryl Straffon for all her lifetime of work with ancient monuments in west Cornwall.

10. Give us a tip?

If you are lost a night it is easy to find your way again from the stars, look for the pan shaped object and draw an imaginary line from the end of the pan this will point you to the north star Polaris, and you can get your bearings once again.

“Carolyn Kennett is a writer, researcher and astronomer who lives in Cornwall, she particularly researches how ancient communities related to their skyscapes. She is a Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society, and her books include Celestial Stone Circles of West Cornwall (2018) and Neptune: From Grand Discovery to World Revealed (2021). She is a communicator of all things astronomical and runs her own business Archaeoastronomy Cornwall while being a director of Mayes Creative, delivering arts, science and heritage projects throughout Cornwall.”