Dr. John Mason MBE

An applied physicist by profession, Dr John Mason has been actively involved in science for nearly 50 years, with astronomy, astrophysics, and space exploration as his main areas of expertise.He has an international reputation as an enthusiastic and entertaining communicator of science. He lectures extensively in the UK and overseas on a wide range of scientific topics to audiences of all ages and varying degrees of expertise and is a frequent broadcaster on radio and television.For over 40 years, he has been leading overseas expeditions to observe and record natural phenomena such as annular and total solar eclipses, the Northern Lights, and major meteor showers to destinations all over the world. A highly experienced and well-known ‘eclipse-chaser, the total eclipse in August 2026 will be John’s 21st total solar eclipse.In September 2000, the asteroid 1990 MN was named 6092 Johnmason by the International Astronomical Union in recognition of his various contributions to astronomy.John was made an MBE in the 2009 New Year’s Honours List for his services to science education, particularly at the South Downs Planetarium and Science Centre, where he is currently Principal Lecturer.