Astronomy Cast

Latest Episodes:

Ep. 654: The Side Effects Of Clean Energy Sep 26, 2022

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Astronomy Cast Ep. 654: The Side Effects Of Clean Energy by Fraser Cain & Dr. Pamela Gay To battle climate change, we'll need to rapidly move to carbon-free sources of energy. But this technology isn't a free lunch. They require metals, generate waste and deplete the environment. What's the best way to balance this shift?

Ep. 653: Climate Change: Looking at the Variables Sep 19, 2022

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Astronomy Cast Ep. 653: Climate Change: Looking at the Variables by Fraser Cain & Dr. Pamela Gay Climate change is on our mind these days with increasing wildfires, droughts and floods. What are the variables that play into a planet's changing climate and what can this teach us about the search for habitable planets in the solar system and across the Milky Way?

Ep. 652: The Rocket Race Towards Reusability Sep 12, 2022

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Astronomy Cast Ep. 652: The Rocket Race Towards Reusability by Fraser Cain & Dr. Pamela Gay Last week we talked about how single-use rocketry has changed over time, and the role it still plays in launching payloads into orbit and beyond. Today we'll address the stainless steel elephant in the room and talk about the shift to reusability.

Ep. 651: Artemis & The Decline of Single Use Rockets Sep 07, 2022

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Astronomy Cast Ep. 651: Artemis & The Decline of Single Use Rockets by Fraser Cain & Dr. Pamela Gay Season 16 opener. On the day that we're recording this, NASA's Space Launch System is about to blast off. But everyone is expecting it'll be delayed to October. When it does launch, it'll be the most powerful rocket on Earth. Well, until Starship blasts off. So are we about to see the end of single-use rockets and enter the era of reusable rocketry?

Ep. 650: Did JWST Work? Jul 20, 2022

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Astronomy Cast Ep. 650: Did JWST Work? by Fraser Cain & Dr. Pamela Gay Sign up through wren.co/astro to make a difference in the climate crisis, and Wren will plant 10 extra trees in your name! Well, this is it. We're FINALLY going to talk about the James Webb Space Telescope. After decades of development, delays, budget creep, the powerful infrared observatory is at its final home at the L2 Lagrange point. Yesterday (at the time we're recording this) we saw the first scientific images from the telescope and according to Pamela's rules, we're finally allowed to talk about it.

Ep. 649: Highlights From NASA's Holiday Ruining History Jul 11, 2022

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Astronomy Cast Ep. 649: Highlights From NASA's Holiday Ruining History by Fraser Cain & Dr. Pamela Gay Have you ever noticed that significant space and astronomy events seem to happen during the holidays? It's not a coincidence. There's actually a reason why. Today we'll talk about some of the key events that happened during holidays and the underlying rationale.

Ep. 648: Summer Observing Jul 04, 2022

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Astronomy Cast Ep. 648: Summer Observing by Fraser Cain & Dr. Pamela Gay Summer is officially, astronomically here, and for the folks in the northern hemisphere that means it's a perfect time to head outside and see what's happening in the sky. Today we'll give you a good list of things to keep an eye out for with or without a telescope.

Ep. 647: Best Sci Fi Beach Reading Jun 27, 2022

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Astronomy Cast Ep. 647: Best Sci Fi Beach Reading by Fraser Cain & Dr. Pamela Gay Summer's here! And that means finally tackling that huge list of books piled up on your bedside table and filling up your Kindle. What books do we recommend for some fun reads this summer? - The Kaiju Preservation Society by John Scsalzi - Space Opera by Katherine Valente - The Culture series by Iain M. Banks (The Player of Games) - Six Wakes by Mur Lafferty - Marco and the Red Granny by Mur Lafferty - Reamde and The Fall by Neil Stephenson - Bobiverse series by Dennis E. Taylor - Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir - Childhood's End by Arthur C. Clark - Lagoon by Nnedi Okorafor - Packing for Mars by Mary Roach - The Mission: A True Story by David Brown - Galaxy: The Prettiest Star by Jadzia Axelrod

Ep. 646: Our Long Term Future in Space Jun 20, 2022

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Astronomy Cast Ep. 646: Our Long Term Future in Space by Fraser Cain & Dr. Pamela Gay We always say that we're living in golden age of space and astronomy, but it feels like things are just accelerating. Space travel is happening! What does the long-term future hold for our place in the Universe?

Ep. 645: The Future of the ISS Jun 13, 2022

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Astronomy Cast Ep. 645: The Future of the ISS by Fraser Cain & Dr. Pamela Gay The International Space Station has been continuously inhabited for over 20 years now, serving as a peaceful collaboration between space-faring nations. But it's a machine, and it's getting old. In addition, the Russian invasion of Ukraine has made things, complicated. What's the future for the ISS?

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