Un Poco Logo
Yesterday there was a celebration in London to mark the bicentenary of the foundation of the Royal Astronomical Society. I wasn’t there as I was finishing my examination marking, but I did notice that the RAS used the opportunity to unveil its new “branding” :
It’s perfectly reasonable to use the 200th anniversary to update the Society’s logo etc and the previous one was a bit old-fashioned:
I am however very confused by the new design, shown here in negative:
What does it represent? Are those screwdrivers or hypodermic needles?
It reminds me a bit of that symbol that appears when Windows is doing one of its interminable updates.
Apparently there was an email to RAS Fellows describing (and perhaps even explaining) the new design but I haven’t got it so perhaps someone who did could enlighten me?
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In the Dark 
January 24, 2020 at 7:51 am
According to the email sent around: “Our new symbol takes its inspiration from several sources: the Society’s motto ‘Let whatever shines be observed’; the vision and discovery that characterises two centuries of study; and our work with both astronomers and geophysicists. Stepped spokes are repeated and rotated to form a symbol that can be interpreted in multiple ways – a stylised eye or planet with an orbiting moon – reflecting the many different sides of the Society’s work. It is turned 23.5 degrees to reflect the Earth’s angle of tilt from the plane of its orbit around the sun. We will continue to use a version of the legacy emblem, William Herschel’s telescope for certificates and medals.”
January 24, 2020 at 7:52 am
Was that written by a spokesperson for the RAS?
January 24, 2020 at 8:26 am
Yes, as Bryn says. I’ve temporarily put a copy at http://www.mikepeel.net/temp/Fellows_Letter_RAS_Rebranding.pdf
January 24, 2020 at 9:36 am
Spokes. Geddit?
I’ll get my coat.
January 24, 2020 at 8:21 am
The RAS sent a letter from Philip Diamond, the chief executive, yesterday explaining the new logo.
January 24, 2020 at 8:22 am
Apologies: the executive director.
January 24, 2020 at 8:22 am
So I’m told. I haven’t received it.
January 24, 2020 at 9:09 am
It’s on its way. It just needs to be transcribed on to parchment, and delivered by carrier pigeon (after suitable customs checks have been made).
January 24, 2020 at 8:23 am
Apologies. I mean the executive director.
January 24, 2020 at 8:43 pm
Yes. I was confused when the name of the new RAS executive director was announced a while ago. I thought the same thing for a moment.
January 24, 2020 at 10:58 pm
They’re both Diamond Geezers.
January 24, 2020 at 10:04 am
A rebuttal in a tweet thread: https://twitter.com/drbecky_/status/1220646941987672064?s=20
January 24, 2020 at 12:13 pm
I think the “spokes” are meant to be telescopes (rather than screwdrivers or syringes), some looking out from the Earth, some looking down on it.
January 24, 2020 at 4:57 pm
Surely the latest design of cricket bat?
January 24, 2020 at 11:21 pm
How to integrate QM in a logo?
January 25, 2020 at 3:36 pm
One can’t be sure.