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
What to look out, and up, for in July.
With no Jen this month (she's off sciencing), it's just Paul & Ralph's highlights for this month's skies; starting with the solar system objects on offer to observers and imagers:
Next up, we take a deep sky pick from our list of favourites for this time of year.
And we finish this sky guide with July's moon phases.
In this podcast extra episode, released during Pride month, we return to this April's European Week of Astronomy and Space Science where we spoke to Dr Ashley Spindler to find out more about:
Ashley can also be found at @Ashley_Nova_ on Twitter.
The Discussion: Jeni's talking science conferences while Paul's doing impressions from his Who's Who of Yorkshire legends. Ralph runs through this month's pick of listeners tweets & emails with a focus on exoplanets and a big congrats to listener Dustin Ruoff
The News: Rounding up the space and astronomy news this month we have:
The Interview: This month we have two short interviews - something for the adults, something for the kids: Astronomy on Tap and International Astronomical Youth Camp.
Q&A: Listeners' questions via email, Facebook & Twitter take us on a journey into the astronomy issues that have always plagued our understanding or stretched our credulity. This month we take a look climate change (don't groan!):
What do you think the general (or astronomy/space) science community's approach to the problem of climate change should be? Are you optimistic? Alan Travelbea in Vancouver, Canada.
What to look out, and up, for in June.
Ralph, Paul & Jen pick their highlights for this month's skies; starting with the solar system objects on offer to observers and imagers:
Next up, we take a deep sky pick from our list of favourites for this time of year.
And we finish this sky guide with June's moon phases.
This podcast extra is a re-release of our full length interview with the 4th man to walk on the moon aboard the Apollo 12 mission in 1969.
Alan Bean was not only a fighter pilot, Navy test pilot, astronaut, moonwalker, space station commander and artist, but he was also a very considerate, genuine and self-effacing gentleman. We are hugely saddened by the loss of such a lovely man but heartened that he passed away peacefully surrounded by his family.
In this interview, recorded in October 2015 we discussed:
Farewell Alan Bean. You leave us with only four humans that have memories of walking on the moon but a rich legacy of technological and scientific accomplishments.
In this podcast extra episode, we take a look back at the extraordinary life and work of Stephen Hawking who died on 14th March 2018, leaving a legacy rich with cosmology insights, humour, altruism, science education and a changed landscape in astronomy.
The Discussion: Jeni, Paul & Ralph survived the wilds of the Brecon Beacon's AstroCamp festival of astronomy, Jeni gathers a whole heap of astronomy interviews from the European Week of Astronomy and Space Science, and we read out a couple of emails requesting advice on amateur astronomy mounts, berating us for our April Fools' Twitter gag and asking for more content relevant to the southern hemisphere.
The News: Rounding up the space and astronomy news this month we have:
The Interview: This month Jeni caught up with Dr Jane Greaves & Dr Phil Cigan from Cardiff University to talk about their work finding phosphorus in the Crab Nebula – and why phosphorus is so important to life.
Q&A: Listeners' questions via email, Facebook & Twitter take us on a journey into the astronomy issues that have always plagued our understanding or stretched our credulity. This month we take a look at atmospheres & the habitability of exoplanets:
I thought red-dwarf stars were typically much more volatile than our g-type star and, as a result, planets in a red-dwarf system would typically be bombarded by solar storms and radiation stripping away their atmospheres and making them unlikely spots for life as we know it to be found. So how is it possible to have atmospheres around rocky planets in the Trappist 1 system? Dave Schlaudt in Michigan, USA
What to look out, and up, for in May.
Ralph, Paul & Jen pick their highlights for this month's skies; starting with the solar system objects on offer to observers and imagers:
Next up, we take a deep sky pick from our list of favourites for this time of year.
And we finish this sky guide with May's moon phases.
Welcome to AstroCamp!
In this podcast extra episode, we welcome you to the practical astronomy arm of the Awesome Astronomy empire, as we take a run through what people can expect at our AstroCamp star party in the Brecon Beacons International Dark Sky Reserve on the extended weekend of 14-17th April 2018.
We also take a look at the social and educational aspects of star parties and round everything off with some of our favourite solar system and deep sky objects visible this spring to observe for yourself.
If you haven't booked a place yet and would like to come, head over to www.astrocamp.org.uk We're taking bookings all the way up to the 13th April 2018.
See you under the stars!
The Discussion: The Beast from the East makes practical astronomy difficult and we take a look at listeners' emails that accuse us of imperialism, suggest we throw away some solar filters, provide an alternative look at solar system creation and reveal their own astronomy outreach experiences.
The News: Rounding up the space and astronomy news this month we have:
Famous Astronomer: This month we give you a primer on an upcoming podcast extra on the life of recently departed Stephen Hawking.
Q&A: Listeners' questions via email, Facebook & Twitter take us on a journey into the astronomy issues that have always plagued our understanding or stretched our credulity. This month we take a look answering difficult questions:
I live in a part of the World with very strong religious beliefs and often get asked sensitive questions relating to faith and astronomy. I'd be interested to hear your take on this and what "polite" stock replies you give. Stefan Zietara, undisclosed location in the Middle East.
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