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IRrelevant Astronomy

It’s the series Aint-It-Cool-News calls ”the most (intentionally) hilarious series of educational films you’ll find…the pieces carry a Muppets-esque charm.” Alan Dyer at Discovery.com says it’s ”a lot of fun, and breaks the mold for NASA videos.” Recently a top-10 finalist for ”Best Science/Technology Podcast” at the 2008 Podcast Awards, IRrelevant Astronomy is packed with CG animation and snarky humor, all wrapped around the latest astronomy news and science from NASA’s Spitzer Space Telescope. It’s infrared-relevant!

Latest Episodes:

Stampy, the Science-Loving Postage Stamp Dec 16, 2015

Stampy helps a student learn about the engineering behind NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope. Featuring Richard Horvitz, Robert Picardo, and Danny Pudi.

NOTGLaDOS: Fusion vs. Fission Feb 12, 2014

When a science-mad A.I. system is installed at NASA, two hapless computer technicians learn the process behind nuclear fusion in the Sun, and how it differs from fission.

Ask an Astronomy Brain Parasite: Why are astronauts weightless in space? Jul 16, 2013

Deep inside an astronomer's head, a parasite (voiced by Alan Tudyk) taps into his brain to learn about...science! Specifically, about why astronauts appear weightless in space. Wil Wheaton co-stars.

Robot Astronomy Talk Show: The Mass of Asteroids (Cameron Diaz, Ed Wasser) Feb 26, 2013

Cameron Diaz teaches Robot IR-2 (Ed Wasser) how astronomers can measure the mass of asteroids from tremendous distances.

Big Bang: The Musical Mar 18, 2011

Did you know 13.7 billion year old radiation from the Big Bang can be seen on any analogue TV set? In this mini-musical, a fictional couple (Brigitte Dale, Marc Helou) discuss the science behind this. Original song written & performed by Danny Tieger.

Astronomy Anemone Feb 16, 2011

Veronica Belmont co-hosts a space-themed talk show with Astronomy Anemone, a carnivorous man-eating sea polyp. WARNING: contains scenes of cartoon violence and scientific jargon.

Robot Astronomy Talk Show: Destroyer of Worlds (Ed Wasser, Wil Wheaton) Nov 28, 2010

Robot IR-2 (Ed Wasser) meets The Physician (Wil Wheaton), an intergalactic buttinsky in a small blue box spaceship. Together, they work to escape "The Destroyer of Worlds," a binary star system that is destroying its inner planets. With Brigitte Dale.

Behind the Scenes: Dead Stars (Sean Astin, Sandeep Parikh) Aug 10, 2010

Actor Sean Astin is hired by a bullying educational film Director and her Flunky sidekick to explain about the life and death of stars. But when things go wrong on the set, actor Sandeep Parikh is hired to replace Sean... only to have things take a bizarre twist.

Spaceship Spitzer: Bots of Both Worlds (Amy Okuda, Ed Wasser, Wil Wheaton) May 25, 2010

Amy Okuda flies to Saturn to observe a new giant ring around the planet: the largest ring ever discovered in our Solar System, but one that was only recently revealed through infrared observations by NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope in 2009. While there, she and Irwin (voiced by Wil Wheaton) encounter an old enemy, and must defeat their sinister plot. Ed Wasser also stars.
Watch the 3D version on YouTube

Spitzer Space Telescope: The Musical Mar 09, 2010

A singing NASA supervisor uses song to explain about NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope, and how infrared astronomy differs from visible-light telescopes like Hubble.

Behind the Scenes: When Galaxies Collide (Felicia Day, Sean Astin) Oct 26, 2009

Felicia Day explains some of the science behind galactic "collisions," including the upcoming collision between the galaxy Andromeda and our own galaxy, in this mock behind-the-scenes look at the making of an educational video. Sean Astin also stars.

Back in Time - Robot Astronomy Talk Show (Linda Hamilton, Dean Stockwell, Ed Wasser) Aug 24, 2009

Linda Hamilton attempts to foil the robots' plans of Universal conquest; meanwhile, Dean Stockwell explains the concept of "looking back in time" at objects in space, and how it helps astronomers understand how the Universe has evolved. Starring Ed Wasser as the voice of IR-2.

Part Two: The Warm Mission (Sean Astin, Betty White) Jun 22, 2009

In this spoof of old TV action shows, Sean Astin, Osa Wallander, and Betty White search for a way to help the Spitzer Space Telescope after it runs out of coolant.

Gravity and the Great Attractor - Robot Astronomy Talk Show (George Takei, Mark Hamill, Ed Wasser)) Apr 23, 2009

George Takei, Mark Hamill, and Ed Wasser provide voices as IR-2 and the robot crew take a look at the Great Attractor, a massive hidden object that is pulling in every nearby galaxy in the local Universe (including our own).

Twin Brown Dwarfs (Robot Astronomy Talk Show) Mar 11, 2009

While trapped in an interdimensional portal between two brown dwarfs, IR-2 and the robots encounter their evil twins from an alternate universe.

M51 & Gizmo: Half-Baked Plan Jan 23, 2009

Hoping for his birthday to come around sooner, innocent alien M51 moves the Earth into a closer, faster orbit around the sun, and learns an important lesson about life in the Universe.

The Slowlian Web (Spaceship Spitzer) Nov 25, 2008

During a tense face-off with a sinister (but extremely slow-moving) alien race, Dr. Michelle shows IR-1 how scientists can determine what extrasolar planets are made of, even when the planets are too far away to see.

Sculpting With Stars (Robot Astronomy Talk Show) Oct 22, 2008

IR-2 opens diplomatic relations with the Earth, as a first step toward ruling over all humans on the planet.

Psych Out Aug 25, 2008

Does the Helix Nebula look like a human eye? Why do we think we see well-known objects in nebulous images from space? An astronomer and his therapist clash over the issue in this comedic but educational animated short.

The Building Blocks of Life (Robot Astronomy Talk Show) Jul 21, 2008

IR-2 and his crew learn about PAHs, which may be the building blocks of all life in the Universe, and decide to put them to good use.

Omega Centauri (Robot Astronomy Talk Show) Jul 02, 2008

While the robots are away, a sad and lonely man calls in with a beautiful image of the Omega Centauri globular cluster.

Baby Stars (Robot Astronomy Talk Show) May 16, 2008

Where do stars come from? IR-2 analyzes recent Spitzer imagery to find out, while an imposing Ratings-bot oversees the broadcast.

Mountie Martin and the Space Diamonds (Dub'ya) Apr 21, 2008

Are tiny diamonds really common in the Universe? Join the intrepid Mountie Martin as he endeavors to find out, while on the trail of the sinister Sammy the Smuggler!

Water in the Universe (Robot Astronomy Talk Show) Mar 13, 2008

Astronomers have discovered huge amounts of water around baby stars; IR-2 and his crew plan to make use of it.

Asteroids (Robot Astronomy Talk Show) Mar 04, 2008

Will an asteroid strike the Earth and wipe out all life as we know it? IR-2 and his robotic crew make random phone calls to find out.

Skinfrared 2 Feb 08, 2008

Viewing liquids in extreme temperatures in both visible and infrared light, this episode of the Skinfrared series gives viewers a perspective on how infrared observatories like the Spitzer Space Telescope view the Universe.

Enemy Mine (Spaceship Spitzer) Jan 17, 2008

While in battle around the supermassive black hole at the center of the galaxy, Dr. Michelle teaches IR-1 the science behind these giant singularities.

Skinfrared 1 Jan 15, 2008

What is infrared light? The Skinfrared series contrasts the world around us in both visible and infrared light, giving the viewer a perspective on how infrared observatories like the Spitzer Space Telescope view the Universe.

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