Podcasts | Universe Today

Astronomers have been searching for the mysterious Planet X for hundreds of years. It was the search for a theoretical planet beyond Uranus that turned up Neptune, and then again for Pluto. And even now there are some astronomers who think there's a more distant planet out there. Oh, and there are a bunch of pseudoscience cranks trying to freak people out about the end of the world. Don't worry, we'll make time for them too, but first let's start with some real science.

Click here to download the episode.

Or subscribe to: astronomycast.com/podcast.xml with your podcatching software.

Planet X show notes and transcript.

Filed under: Podcasts | No Comments »

Imagine an object with the mass of the Sun, crushed down to the size of Manhattan. Now set that object spinning hundreds of times a second, blasting out powerful beams of radiation like a lighthouse. That's a pulsar, one of the most exotic objects in the Universe.

Click here to download the episode.

Or subscribe to: astronomycast.com/podcast.xml with your podcatching software.

Pulsars show notes and transcript.

Filed under: Podcasts | No Comments »

Did you know there are 88 constellations in the night sky? Let's learn about the constellations and other star formations, their history, their connection to the zodiac, and how to find some of them.

Click here to download the episode.

Or subscribe to: astronomycast.com/podcast.xml with your podcatching software.

Constellations show notes and transcript.

Filed under: Podcasts | No Comments »

This week we're going to talk about famous stars. But not those boring human ones you read about in People magazine. No, we're talking about those hot balls of plasma across the distant Universe. The close ones, the bright ones, the massive ones, the giant ones. Let's get to know some famous stars.

Click here to download the episode.

Or subscribe to: astronomycast.com/podcast.xml with your podcatching software.

Famous Stars show notes and transcript.

Filed under: Podcasts | Comments Off

We think we live near an average star, but that's not the case at all. Compared to most stars in the Universe, the Sun is a giant! Let's look at the small end of the stellar spectrum, to stars with a fraction of the size and mass of our own Sun. There are many ways that a star can get small, and they lead dramatically different lives and deaths.

Click here to download the episode.

Or subscribe to: astronomycast.com/podcast.xml with your podcatching software.

Dwarf Stars show notes and transcript.

Filed under: Podcasts | Comments Off

This week we step away from our regular programming to bring you a live show from Dragon*Con in Atlanta. Pamela shares the stage with SETI researcher Seth Shostak. Together they discuss the technology and science of searching for intelligence, and answer questions from the audience.

Click here to download the episode.

Or subscribe to: astronomycast.com/podcast.xml with your podcatching software.

Dragon*Con with Seth Shostak show notes and transcript.

Filed under: Podcasts | Comments Off

Did you know that our Solar System is a rarity with its single star? Astronomers believe that most star systems out there actually contain 2 or more stars – imagine seeing a sky with 4 suns. These binary and multiple star systems are a great target for new astronomers, and the dynamics of multiple stars keep astrophysicists busy too. Let's take a look at what it would be like to live on Tatooine.

Click here to download the episode.

Or subscribe to: astronomycast.com/podcast.xml with your podcatching software.

Binary Stars show notes and transcript.

Filed under: Podcasts | Comments Off

Take a quick breath. There, that's what we're going to talk about today – the atmosphere. And not just the Earth's familiar atmosphere, but the strange, exotic and deadly atmospheres we find in the Solar System and surrounding extrasolar planets.

Click here to download the episode.

Or subscribe to: astronomycast.com/podcast.xml with your podcatching software.

Atmospheres show notes and transcript.

Filed under: Podcasts | Comments Off

We've explained how to get into astronomy and buy your first telescope. Now we're going to take things to the next level and get you drooling about bigger and better telescopes. If you're serious about astronomy, what kinds of telescopes will give you the best bang for big bucks?

Click here to download the episode.

Or subscribe to: astronomycast.com/podcast.xml with your podcatching software.

Telescopes, the Next Level show notes and transcript.

Filed under: Podcasts | 1 Comment »

It's been more than 40 years since humans first set foot on the Moon. But plans are in place to return humans to the surface of the Moon, and maybe even to asteroids and the planet Mars. New rockets, landers and flight technology are all under development. Humans are pushing out into space again, and this time we're going to stay. Let's take a look at NASA's new Constellation Program. What's been developed so far, and what's coming up.

Click here to download the episode.

Or subscribe to: astronomycast.com/podcast.xml with your podcatching software.

Constellation Program show notes and transcript.

Filed under: Podcasts | Comments Off

Astronomy is one of the scientific fields that have been completely shaken up by new media. The Internet has enabled communication between researchers in a dramatic new way, creating new collaborations, removing obstacles, and drawing in an army of enthusiastic volunteers to help with research. Let's take a look at how new media is helping change astronomy, and how you can get involved.

Click here to download the episode.

Or subscribe to: astronomycast.com/podcast.xml with your podcatching software.

Astronomy and New Media show notes and transcript.

Filed under: Podcasts | Comments Off

For those non-scientists trying to get their original ideas accepted by the scientific community, you've got to have thick skin. It might seem like there's a vast conspiracy, or a general attitude that drives away original, but unorthodox ideas. But that's not true, the reality is that great ideas in science come from everywhere, even amateurs. In this episode we'll help you understand what scientists will be looking for, and the best ways to be taken seriously.

Click here to download the episode.

Or subscribe to: astronomycast.com/podcast.xml with your podcatching software.

How to be Taken Seriously by Scientists — transcript and show notes.

Filed under: Podcasts | 5 Comments »

Have you ever wondered how astronomers do their research? How do they go from idea or question, to gathering their data, to publishing the research. What are all the hoops they have to jump through, the paperwork to fill out, and the cool toys they get to use along the way?

Click here to download the episode.

Or subscribe to: astronomycast.com/podcast.xml with your podcatching software.

Astronomy Research from Idea to Publication – Transcript and show notes.

Filed under: Podcasts | Comments Off

Fraser and Pamela recently unleashed their astronomical prowess in a big way with five new episodes of Astronomy Cast. Included are some very thought-provoking topics like astrobiology, space elevators and interstellar travel, not to mention a whole host of other topics covered in a couple of questions shows. So, here's a chance to immerse yourself in Astronomy Cast!

Episode # 145: Interstellar Travel

Questions Show: Imaging Extrasolar Planets, Infinite Universe, Inside a Black Hole

Episode # 144: Space Elevators

Questions Show: Matter Balance, Jumping Light Speed, and Black Hole Star Formation

Episode # 143: Astrobiology

Filed under: Podcasts | 1 Comment »

I mentioned in a previous post that upcoming, there would be lots of fun ways to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing, and here's one I hope you enjoy. My latest podcast on the 365 Days of Astronomy is my reminiscences about that event, which includes another song I wrote. It's about Apollo 11 through the eyes of a young girl, (which I was at the time), with all the interesting questions and the unique viewpoint that children can bring.

Back on July 20 1969, with everyone focusing on whether Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin would make it down to the lunar surface, my thoughts stayed with Mike Collins up orbiting all alone in the command and service module, which is what the song is about. I was inspired and brought back to that time by a children's book, "The Man Who Went to the Far Side of the Moon: The Story of Apollo 11 Astronaut Michael Collins" by Bea Uusma Schyffert. It's a wonderful book that focuses on Michael Collins and what he did, and what he saw, and the things he thought about in space.

The book brought me back to that time, and how I sat in front of the TV watching history unfold. I don't remember exactly what I was thinking or the questions I had, but I'm sure there was a lot going on inside my little head, and likely, that event was part of what brought me to where I am today.

I hope you enjoy it. Apollo 11 Through the Eyes of a Young Girl

Filed under: Moon, Podcasts | 1 Comment »