That’s right it is that time of year again where the Exocast team pit planet against planet in the Twitter poll show-down: ExoCup!
In this episode Andrew, Hugh, and Hannah look at the rundown of exoplanets that were mentioned the most in the past year of research publications and the top 23 join last years ExoCup2020 winner WD-1856b to fill out the first 24 exoplanets in Pots 1, 2, and 3. They then take a look at what is missing – what worlds did not get represented, what methods should we highlight, and what the we want to see in the Cup – to fill out the 8 remaining wildcard slots.
The line up of planets has been decided, but which will fight each other for the win? Well that is down to Hugh’s random selector which sets out Groups A – H for the round 1 battles. The team discuss what they think will happen (listen to previous shows you will know we always get it wrong) and select their winner for better or worse.
You can find all about this years ExoCup2021 on the webpage where you will find all the ExoCup2021 fact sheets and the competition bracket.
ExoCup2021 runs from November 1st – 24th 2021 on twitter via @exocastexocup
member, if you enjoy the show and want to help support us, you can donate just a few dollars at buymeacoffee.com/exocast . You can also support the show and get yourself some exocast merchandise at the same time from exocast.threadless.com
Exocast-54c – Exoplanet News
Oct 08, 2021
Show notes
The exocast team covers the latest news in Exoplanets including a critical look at the so called "Hycean" worlds recently proposed to be the best places to look for life, a detailed run-down of the Elements magazine issue on "Geoscience beyond the solar system", and some new and refined exoplanet measurements and discoveries.
Exocast-54b: Observing Exoplanets from the Ground
Sep 29, 2021
Show notes
In this episode the exocast team discuss how we observe exoplanets from the ground, how is it different from space, where do we put the telescopes and why.
Exocast-53 c – Exoplanet News
Aug 05, 2021
Show notes
In Exocast-52c Hannah, Andrew and Hugh review the exoplanetary field over the last month, including a fix for Hubble's ageing computer, a host of habitability updates from the Goldschmidt conference, a new transiting planet around a naked-eye star, and results from testing exoplanet hazes in the lab.
Exocast-53b: Interview with Elizabeth Tasker
Jul 29, 2021
Show notes
In this episode the Exocast crew are excited to talk with expert science communicator, JAXA space scientist, and master of computer simulations, Professor Elizabeth Tasker. During the hour long discussion we talk about how Elizabeth transitioned into planetary research from a degree and PhD in galactic simulations, the journey from the UK to the US, Canada and now in Japan. Where the idea for her popular science book The Planet Factory came from and why we should all have contact forms on our websites. Elizabeth also shares some thoughts on teaching, how to convince someone to hire you for a job they have not advertised and the amazing array of JAXA missions she now gets to talk about.
In our Adopt a Planet section Elizabeth welcomes GJ 832 c to the Exocast Adopted Planets list and fills us in on the personal and professional reasons for her choice! Listen to the show for more details.
You can find links to all of Elizabeths videos, books, and research at elizabethtasker.com you can also follow her on Twitter @girlandKat (with a K).
Exocast-52c: Exoplanet Paper News & Reviews
Jun 28, 2021
Show notes
In Exocast-52c Hugh, Andrew, and Hannah take us through three reviews of papers that have been recently published in the planetary/exoplanet literature.
Exocast-52b: Why is Venus important for exoplanets?
Jun 21, 2021
Show notes
In this episode the Exocast team discuss Earth’s twin planet, Venus, and its link to exoplanetary science.
We start with an overview of the past, present and future of Venusian exploration, from the first Soviet probes to the three newly-selected missions (DAVINCI+, VERITAS and EnVision) which will explore the atmosphere and surface of Venus more thoroughly than ever before. Then we turn to the open questions about Venus – its potential ancient habitability, the lack of plate tectonics, and of course its recently-detected potential biosignatures – all of which link to questions we will soon be asking of terrestrial planets outside our own solar system…
For more discussion of Venus you can check out our interview with Stephen Kane in Exocast-42b, and Exocast-48c where Andrew covers the detection of Phosphine in Venus’ atmosphere.
And remember you can join in the discussion in the comments below, and find us on Twitter. If you want to support the Exocast Podcast then you can Buy us a Coffee, or get your own merchandise at exocast.threadless.com
Exocast-51b: Interview with Mark Marley
May 04, 2021
Show notes
In this episode the Exocast gang are joined by veteran exoplaneteer Dr Mark Marley from NASA Ames. During a nearly hour-long discussion, we probe Mark's experience of early exoplanet discovery and characterisation efforts in the 1990s, his work on clouds and atmospheric circulation models, 'ice' giants, brown dwarfs, his leadership role with the LUVOIR space telescope concept, as well as his cheerleading efforts during the Exocup.
Exocast-50c: Monthly Exoplanet News
Apr 18, 2021
Show notes
In this month’s news rundown Hugh, Hannah, and Andrew provide a summary of three interesting papers that appeared on their radar during February/March 2021:
We would also like to give another big thanks to Steve Hungsberg and Elsie Lee who loaded us up with some coffee money to support the show, and a massive thank you to Anton who donated a whopping $100!
If you also enjoy the show and want to help support us, you can donate just a few dollars at buymeacoffee.com/exocast You can also support the show and get yourself some exocast merchandise at the same time from exocast.threadless.com
Exocast-50b: Why do we study exoplanets?
Apr 05, 2021
Show notes
In this months discussion Hugh, Hannah, and Andrew discuss the question: Why do we study exoplanets?
The team take a look at their own personal motivation and how they each came study exoplanets, as well as diving into the technological applications of astronomy, and the philosophy behind the big questions in astronomy. Astronomy has been at the root of huge technological advances, from the X-ray machines at the airport, to the development of computer languages, better infrared detectors and advanced observations. Ultimately, should all of the things we do have an economic benefit? We don’t think so. “Blue skies” research asks the big broad question that are seemingly unimportant; why is the sky blue? but are fundamental to life here on Earth and our curiosity about our origin and universe.
This month we are giving a big shoutout to Steve Hungsberg and Graham Lee who loaded us up with some coffee money to support the show, and a massive thank you to Anton who donated a whopping $100!
If you also enjoy the show and want to help support us, you can donate just a few dollars at buymeacoffee.com/exocast You can also support the show and get yourself some exocast merchandise at the same time from exocast.threadless.com
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