Harwell lights up the Oxfordshire sky to celebrate its 80th anniversary
“On the first day of 2026, the most powerful display laser in the UK shines from the centre of Diamond Light Source, creating a vertical pillar of light in the night sky, … to mark eight decades of Harwell’s world-leading science and innovation.” [Diamond Light Source]
“Beam shone into sky to celebrate science campus” [BBC}
First from Bury Down
… scientists were aiming to reach heights of about 8km (five miles)
We then snuck round the back of the campus to find the Diamond Light Source
There was a drone squiggling about, maybe filming the video in the BBC news item; hence the random extra lights beside the beam
The beam changed colour every few seconds. Maybe all the rainbow colours – there was a red, which I failed to capture. Check out the colours in the gallery.
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2 replies on “The Beam: Harwell Campus @80”
Lovely David, thank you. Especially as we did not get to see it
David. I got a stiff neck whilst scanning the night sky, after informing all the neighbours. None of us saw a thing.
Thank goodness you have provided the evidence!
Great shots.