Hosts: Fraser Cain (universetoday.com / @fcain)
Dr. Brian Koberlein (BrianKoberlein.com / @BrianKoberlein)
Chris Carr (@therealCCarr
Annie Wilson
Tonight we welcome Dr. Michael Werner and Dr. Peter Eisenhardt, authors of the new book More Things in the Heavens which looks at how infrared astronomy is aiding the search for exoplanets and extraterrestrial life, and is transforming our understanding of the history and evolution of our universe. Included in their book are many spectacular images that have been captured by the Spitzer space telescope over its lifetime.
Michael graduated from Haverford College and received his PhD in Astronomy from Cornell University in 1968. He has been the Project Scientist for the Spitzer Space Telescope since 1983, and its predecessor mission, SIRTF since 1977. Michael was the Chief Scientist for Physics and Astronomy at JPL [2004 to 2014] and was awarded the George Darwin lectureship of the Royal Astronomical Society for his work on Spitzer.
Peter is a senior research scientist at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. He earned his Bachelor’s degree in Physics and Astronomy from University of Pennsylvania, and his PhD in Astronomy from the University of Arizona. Peter received NASA’s Exceptional Scientific Achievement Medal for his work on Spitzer.
More Things in the Heavens is available for order from the Princeton University Press [ https://press.princeton.edu/books/hardcover/9780691175546/more-things-in-the-heavens ] and other online retailers.
You can learn more about Michael by visiting his NASA biography and profile here: https://science.jpl.nasa.gov/people/MWerner/
You can learn more about Peter by visiting his NASA biography and profile here: https://science.jpl.nasa.gov/people/Eisenhardt/
Announcements:
The Weekly Space Hangout is a production of CosmoQuest.
Want to support CosmoQuest? Here are specific ways you can help:
If you would like to join the Weekly Space Hangout Crew, visit their site here and sign up. They’re a great team who can help you join our online discussions!
We record the Weekly Space Hangout every Wednesday at 5:00 pm Pacific / 8:00 pm Eastern. You can watch us live on Universe Today, or the Weekly Space Hangout YouTube page – Please subscribe!
Multiple space agencies are looking to send crewed missions to the Moon's southern polar region…
Last November, NASA's Lucy mission conducted a flyby of the asteroid Dinkinish, one of the…
Steven Hawking famously calculated that black holes should evaporate, converting into particles and energy over…
NASA has given the go-ahead for SpaceX to work out a plan to adapt its…
The JWST is astronomers' best tool for probing exoplanet atmospheres. Its capable instruments can dissect…
First light for the Vera Rubin Observatory (VRO) is quickly approaching and the telescope is…