Stay ConnectedAwesome Astronomy explores the frontiers of science, space and our evolving understanding of the universe.
Join Ralph, Paul & Jeni for informative and fun astronomy programmes dedicated to space and astronomy news and monthly podcast extras covering hot topics and special interviews in the world of science and astronomy.
Copyright: © Ralph, Paul, Jen
You can watch the video of this recording (and our live Episode 95 recording on 27th April) at https://www.youtube.com/user/AwesomeAstroPod/videos
(midday PST, 3pm EST, 8pm UK, 9pm Central Europe)
This show is a response to the many requests we get to do an episode dedicated to answering listeners' space & astronomy questions. Producer John thought lockdown would be the perfect time to do it, when we can try and help ease the stress, boredom and isolation.
The Guests: We invited some of our friends from the astronomy world to answer your questions too:
Other listener inspired topics discussed by the podcast crew:
Don't forget to join us for our live shows on 16th and 27th April at https://www.youtube.com/user/AwesomeAstroPod/videos
(midday PST, 3pm EST, 8pm UK, 9pm Central Europe)
The Discussion: Jen fangirling on The British Interplanetary Society and acing the Soyuz ISS docking simulator at the Student Space Conference; a ramble about Wales; the TV show For All Mankind, our live Q&A show, our poor etiquette and listener shout-outs.
The News: Rounding up the space exploration news this month we have:
Main news story: Is Europe's ExoMars Rover on borrowed time?
The Electromagnetic Spectrum: The microwave part of the spectrum. How it became so important for astronomy and by whom.
Q&A: Where's the Tesla Roadster? From @TJRobinson on Twitter.
We're hosting a live Q&A on Thurs 16th April. Go to awesomeastronomy.com to see how to watch & get involved!
The Discussion:
The News: Rounding up the astronomy news this month we have:
Main News story: A full discussion on the impact of social distancing and economic depression on professional astronomy.
The Sky Guide: This month we're taking a look at the constellation of Leo with a guide to its history, how to find it, a couple of deep sky objects and a round up of the solar system views on offer in April.
A guide to the electromagnetic spectrum: In this series we take a look at the electromagnetic spectrum, what, it is, what is shows us and why it's so important to astronomers. This month we explain the microwave part of the spectrum and its relevance to astronomy.
Q&A: Do you think C/2019 Y4 (ATLAS) is going to be bright enough to be spotted with the naked eye? From our good friend Raffael de Palma in Italy
(Warning: please skip this episode if you're offended by occasional Tesla-based puerile humour)
The Discussion: Balancing the argument between love and hate of SpaceX and drawing a line under the argument over when the current decade starts and what constitutes a decade.
The News: Rounding up the space exploration news this month we have:
Main news story: The import of NASA's 2021 FY Budget.
The Electromagnetic Spectrum: The radio part of the spectrum. How it became so important for astronomy and by whom.
Q&A: What do you think was the greatest astronomical/scientific advancement that came about due to a dubious past, and do you think it was worth it? By email from Alan Beech in the UK.
The Discussion: Paul's favourite bit of the coronavirus, the Cradle of Aviation Museum's upcoming Apollo 13 anniversary event, a @CunningCosmos space art exhibition and a talk from Jen in Bromsgrove for British Space Week, from the sublime to the ridiculous with the passing of Katherine Johnson and Mad Mike Hughes, and listeners' emails.
The News: Rounding up the astronomy news this month we have:
Main News story: ESO images of Betelgeuse and the more recent evidence for why the star's dimmed so impressively.
The Sky Guide: This month we're taking a look at the constellation of Cancer with a guide to its history, how to find it, a couple of deep sky objects and a round up of the solar system views on offer in March.
A guide to the electromagnetic spectrum: In this series we take a look at the electromagnetic spectrum, what, it is, what is shows us and why it's so important to astronomers. This month we explain the radio part of the spectrum and its relevance to astronomy.
The Discussion: The reason we have leap years; a look at Ad Astra, Lucy in the Sky and Picard; and the history of the Stonewall Riots (don't think it's just astronomy here – you get a fully rounded education, dear listener); and a look at your reviews and emails.
The News: Rounding up the space exploration news this month we have:
Main news story: SpaceX gears up for crewed spaceflight following successful abort tests
The Electromagnetic Spectrum: How parts of the EMS outside visible light were discovered, who discovered them and what that means for us today.
Q&A: Have the crew of the ISS (or any other spaceflight with room to try it) propelled themselves through their craft using flatulence? From Brychan James from Wales on Twitter (@BrychanJames)
The Discussion: Ralph visits and records from The Cradle of Aviation Museum in Long Island, New York, we enjoyed some great skies with good weather in the UK, Betelgeuse still hasn't gone pop – though we're still watching, and NASA have an open day that you can attend.
The News: Rounding up the astronomy news this month we have:
The Sky Guide: This month we're taking a look at the constellation of Lynx with a guide to its history, how to find it, a couple of deep sky objects and a round up of the solar system objects on offer in February.
A Guide to the Electromagnetic Spectrum: In this series we'll take a look at the electromagnetic spectrum, what, it is, what is shows us and why it's so important to astronomers. This month we start with a quick and simple explanation.
This is the history of flight told from the perspective of the amateurs and hobbyists who allowed humankind to slip the surly bonds of Earth and set out towards the stars.
To tell this story Ralph journeyed to the Cradle of Aviation museum in Garden City, New York, to get a tour of the early flight and exhibits from the museum's curator and speak with an engineer who worked on the lunar modules before they flew.
Our thanks in making this episode goes to the wonderful people at https://www.cradleofaviation.org/.
The Discussion: New Year resolutions, veganism, a little spoiler-free chat about the latest/last Skywalker movie and the new series of Dr Who, before some listeners' emails.
The News: Rounding up the space exploration news this month we have:
Main news story: Boeing's test of its Starliner space capsule
Q&A: Why does NASA search for signs of life rather than directly looking for life? From Gavin Price in the UK on Twitter (@pilliarscreatio)
The Discussion: As we begin the new decade we struggle to find a consensus on whether it actually is a new decade. We discuss the busy Xmas period and thank any listeners who helped Dartmoor Skies reach their funding target for a new telescope. Then we take a look at a few listeners' emails and tweets.
The News: Rounding up the astronomy news this month we have:
The Sky Guide: Shaking up the format of the sky guide, we're taking a look at the constellation of Monoceros with a guide to its history, how to find it, a couple of deep sky objects and a round up of the solar system objects on offer in January.
Q&A: If there are no plate tectonics on the moon, how did the lunar mountain regions form? from @gkt_wales on Twitter
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