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
A pantomime look back at the biggest and most exciting news and events from 2019; a look forward to the best astronomy and space exploration events of 2020; the science of Santa's deliveries and the traditional outtakes.
The News: Sharing our news picks from the space exploration and astronomy world this month we have:
Main news story: Far from being unlikely, Tatooine worlds turn out to be very common
The Interview: This month Jeni has a sit down chat about the discovery of the collapsed neutron star from supernova 1987a with Dr Phil Cigan of Cardiff University.
The Discussion: A look at the BBC's new Martian invasion documentary, The War of the Worlds; the recent transit of Mercury; Celestron's new phone adapter; Jen's upcoming talks in Wales, an update on Jen's research paper, a new research project and a debate over the start and end of a decade. Then we take a look at a couple of listeners' emails.
The News: Rounding up the astronomy news this month we have:
The Sky Guide: Covering the solar system and deep sky objects on offer to amateur astronomers in December:
The Debate: A look back at the debates and votes over the past year with your result for The Best Space Mission of All Time.
The Discussion: Ralph's been in Washington – which, of course, means a visit to the Smithsonian Air & Space Museum, we say goodbye to Russian cosmonaut, Alexi Leonov, and take a look at listeners' emails.
The News: Rounding up the space exploration news this month we have:
Main news story: NASA's new moonsuit is revealed.
The Debate: Now that we've whittled down the contenders for the greatest space mission of all time (the last fifty years anyway), it's your time to crown the winner!.
The Discussion: Before we start the show proper, we discuss Jeni's encounter with Nobel Laureate Kip Thorne, her new research paper undergoing a painfully slow peer review and we take a look at Chris Lintott's book, The Crowd and the Cosmos: Adventures in the Zooniverse. Then it's over to the listeners for a few emails suggesting cooler names for the phenomenon of the Pair Instability Supernova.
The News: Rounding up the astronomy news this month we have:
The big news story: perhaps heavier elements in the Universe are not only forged in supernovae, but also from neutron star mergers.
The Sky Guide: Covering the solar system and deep sky objects on offer to amateur astronomers in November:
Main Object: The innermost planet, Mercury
Q&A: What actually is the solar wind? From our good friend Andrew Osborne.
The Discussion: As a reward for good behavior, we've dispensed with wittering on about us and gone straight into the news.
The News: Rounding up the space exploration news this month we have:
Main news stories: A roundup of Elon Musk's Herculean benevolent/malevolent efforts to get giant phalluses on Mars.
The Debate: Court is in session for the fifth and final round of advocacy to get a winner from your top ten historic space missions. This month Judge Damien presides over arguments between the International Space Station and the Pioneer missions.
Q&A: With the news of a near collision between a SpaceX and an ESA satellite, does that mean more satellite collisions in the future? From our good friend Noah Kraus in Bremen Germany.
The Discussion: A look back at our 50th anniversary of the moon landings-themed dark sky star party, AstroCamp, and some wonderful suggestions as an alternative name for a 'pair instability supernova'.
The News: Rounding up the astronomy news this month we have:
The main news story discussion: Water vapour in the atmosphere of an exoplanet in its habitable zone - leading to discussions on the importance of science journalism and the search for Earth 2.0
The Sky Guide: Covering the solar system and deep sky objects on offer to amateur astronomers in October:
Paul: A round up of the planets available to northern hemisphere observers in October and a tour of the comets currently in our skies. In the deep sky, we recommend a look at globular cluster Messier 2 and the NGC7009 planetary nebula in Aquarius.
Ralph: 3 lunar/planetary conjunctions and a glut of meteor showers. Then further afield, the Andromeda and Triangulum galaxies.
Main Object: Messier 44, The Beehive Cluster
Q&A: Advice on upgrading telescopes for our good friend Jeremy Hanson in Wisconsin, USA.
Also this month, a close friend of Jen's, Chris Duffield, got ill and died in China aged 27. The foreign office have told his family that the ballpark figure for getting him home will be between £15,000-£20,000. If you'd like to help repatriate the friend's body, please do consider giving a donation to the gofundme account at tiny.cc/lpvgdz. Thank you.
The Discussion: Nuking hurricanes and the lessons of Chernobyl.
The News: Rounding up the space exploration news this month we have:
Main news stories: A NASA astronaut accused of a crime in space, issues of jurisdiction and what happens to sock dust in space.
The Debate: Court is in session for the fourth round of advocacy to get winner from your top ten historic space missions. This month we pit Mars against the Outer Limits as Spirit & Opportunity take on the Voyagers.
The Discussion: A good old British whinge about the weather and looking forward to our biannual dark sky star party, AstoCamp.
The News: Rounding up the astronomy news this month we have:
The main news story discussion: The latest big Juno discovery at Jupiter.
The Sky Guide: Covering the solar system and deep sky objects on offer to amateur astronomers in September:
Jen: A tour of the planets on offer and the zodiacal light
Ralph: Jupiter Saturn and two meteor showers in September. Then further afield, a double star, an open cluster and a dark Nebula in Cepheus.
Main Object: Messier 27, The Dumbbell Nebula
Q&A: How can Titan have such a thick atmosphere with such a low gravity? From Alastair Frith in the UK
The Discussion: Following on from last month's 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing, we take a look at the recent movies and documentaries & social media: High Life, 8 Days to the Moon and Back, Apollo 50th, ApolloinRealTime.org. The ongoing inspiration of Apollo, the build-up of Project Artemis, saying farewell to Flight Director Chris Kraft and Mandla Maseko, and an email from our good friend Lee Stevens.
The News: Rounding up the space exploration news this month we have:
Main news stories: NASA select 12 new lunar technology investigations.
The Debate: Court is in session for the third round of advocacy to get winner from your top ten historic space missions. This month we have an epic battle of space telescopes as Kepler goes toe to toe with Hubble.
Q&A: Why did NASA choose to send a drone to Titan rather than a submarine to Enceladus? Suki Woods in Norway
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