IRrelevant Astronomy

It’s the series Aint-It-Cool-News calls ”the most (intentionally) hilarious series of educational films you’ll find…the pieces carry a Muppets-esque charm.” Alan Dyer at Discovery.com says it’s ”a lot of fun, and breaks the mold for NASA videos.” Recently a top-10 finalist for ”Best Science/Technology Podcast” at the 2008 Podcast Awards, IRrelevant Astronomy is packed with CG animation and snarky humor, all wrapped around the latest astronomy news and science from NASA’s Spitzer Space Telescope. It’s infrared-relevant!

Latest Episodes:

Stampy, the Science-Loving Postage Stamp Dec 16, 2015

Show notes

Stampy helps a student learn about the engineering behind NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope. Featuring Richard Horvitz, Robert Picardo, and Danny Pudi.

NOTGLaDOS: Fusion vs. Fission Feb 12, 2014

Show notes

When a science-mad A.I. system is installed at NASA, two hapless computer technicians learn the process behind nuclear fusion in the Sun, and how it differs from fission.

Ask an Astronomy Brain Parasite: Why are astronauts weightless in space? Jul 16, 2013

Show notes

Deep inside an astronomer's head, a parasite (voiced by Alan Tudyk) taps into his brain to learn about...science! Specifically, about why astronauts appear weightless in space. Wil Wheaton co-stars.

Robot Astronomy Talk Show: The Mass of Asteroids (Cameron Diaz, Ed Wasser) Feb 26, 2013

Show notes

Cameron Diaz teaches Robot IR-2 (Ed Wasser) how astronomers can measure the mass of asteroids from tremendous distances.

Big Bang: The Musical Mar 18, 2011

Show notes

Did you know 13.7 billion year old radiation from the Big Bang can be seen on any analogue TV set? In this mini-musical, a fictional couple (Brigitte Dale, Marc Helou) discuss the science behind this. Original song written & performed by Danny Tieger.

Astronomy Anemone Feb 16, 2011

Show notes

Veronica Belmont co-hosts a space-themed talk show with Astronomy Anemone, a carnivorous man-eating sea polyp. WARNING: contains scenes of cartoon violence and scientific jargon.

Robot Astronomy Talk Show: Destroyer of Worlds (Ed Wasser, Wil Wheaton) Nov 28, 2010

Show notes

Robot IR-2 (Ed Wasser) meets The Physician (Wil Wheaton), an intergalactic buttinsky in a small blue box spaceship. Together, they work to escape "The Destroyer of Worlds," a binary star system that is destroying its inner planets. With Brigitte Dale.

Behind the Scenes: Dead Stars (Sean Astin, Sandeep Parikh) Aug 10, 2010

Show notes

Actor Sean Astin is hired by a bullying educational film Director and her Flunky sidekick to explain about the life and death of stars. But when things go wrong on the set, actor Sandeep Parikh is hired to replace Sean... only to have things take a bizarre twist.

Spaceship Spitzer: Bots of Both Worlds (Amy Okuda, Ed Wasser, Wil Wheaton) May 25, 2010

Show notes

Amy Okuda flies to Saturn to observe a new giant ring around the planet: the largest ring ever discovered in our Solar System, but one that was only recently revealed through infrared observations by NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope in 2009. While there, she and Irwin (voiced by Wil Wheaton) encounter an old enemy, and must defeat their sinister plot. Ed Wasser also stars.
Watch the 3D version on YouTube

Spitzer Space Telescope: The Musical Mar 09, 2010

Show notes

A singing NASA supervisor uses song to explain about NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope, and how infrared astronomy differs from visible-light telescopes like Hubble.

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