Ask an Astronomer
55 episodes - English - Latest episode: almost 15 years ago - ★★★★ - 24 ratingsReal NASA astronomers answer questions about the exciting science of astronomy.
Homepage Apple Podcasts Google Podcasts Overcast Castro Pocket Casts RSS feed
Episodes
Where Is the Center of the Universe?
August 26, 2009 00:00 - 21 MB VideoDr. Varoujan Gorjian explains the mind-boggling expansion of the Universe.
Where Is the Center of the Universe? (Ask an Astronomer)
August 26, 2009 00:00 - 21 MB VideoDr. Varoujan Gorjian explains the mind-boggling expansion of the Universe.
W-5 Star-Forming Region (What Is It?)
February 05, 2009 00:00 - 16.7 MB VideoVisit the W-5 star-forming region with 'Ask an Astronomer'!
W-5 Star-Forming Region
February 05, 2009 00:00 - 16.7 MB VideoVisit the W-5 star-forming region with 'Ask an Astronomer'!
Why Is the Sky Blue? (Ask an Astronomer)
December 22, 2008 00:00 - 20.8 MB VideoIn this 'Ask an Astronomer' episode, Dr. Carolyn Brinkworth fills us in on what the color of the sky has to do with finding life on distant planets.
Why Is the Sky Blue?
December 22, 2008 00:00 - 20.8 MB VideoIn this 'Ask an Astronomer' episode, Dr. Carolyn Brinkworth fills us in on what the color of the sky has to do with finding life on distant planets.
What's Between the Stars?
October 23, 2008 00:00 - 20.4 MB VideoIn this 'Ask an Astronomer' episode, Dr. Michelle Thaller explains how there can be an interstellar medium in a vacuum.
What's Between the Stars? (Ask an Astronomer)
October 23, 2008 00:00 - 20.4 MB VideoIn this 'Ask an Astronomer' episode, Dr. Michelle Thaller explains how there can be an interstellar medium in a vacuum.
Spitzer's Fifth Anniversary
August 25, 2008 00:00 - 18 MB VideoThis 'Ask an Astronomer' special looks at some of the biggest discoveries from NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope over the last five years.
Spitzer Turns Five (Ask an Astronomer Special)
August 25, 2008 00:00 - 18 MB VideoThis 'Ask an Astronomer' special looks at some of the biggest discoveries from NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope over the last five years.
What Will Happen to the Earth When the Sun Dies?
July 01, 2008 00:00 - 32.7 MB VideoOur Sun won't last forever. Dr. Carolyn Brinkworth explains the ramifications for our home planet in this 'Ask an Astronomer' video.
Can a Planet Have Two Suns?
May 08, 2008 00:00 - 27.3 MB VideoDr. Carolyn Brinkworth addresses a famous science fiction scenario in this 'Ask an Astronomer' video.
"Can a planet have two suns?" (Ask an Astronomer)
May 08, 2008 00:00 - 27.3 MB VideoDr. Carolyn Brinkworth addresses a famous science fiction scenario in this 'Ask an Astronomer' video.
Can a Galaxy Die?
April 10, 2008 00:00 - 17.3 MB VideoDr. Varoujan Gorjian gives us the answer to this 'Ask an Astronomer' question.
"Can a galaxy die?" (Ask an Astronomer)
April 10, 2008 00:00 - 17.3 MB VideoDr. Varoujan Gorjian gives us the answer to this 'Ask an Astronomer' question.
"Why aren't there any green stars?" (Ask an Astronomer)
March 13, 2008 00:00 - 23.4 MB VideoDr. Michelle Thaller answers this question for 'Ask an Astronomer.'
Why Aren't There Any Green Stars?
March 13, 2008 00:00 - 23.4 MB VideoDr. Michelle Thaller answers this question for 'Ask an Astronomer.'
"How do you discover an asteroid?" (Ask an Astronomer)
February 13, 2008 00:00 - 14.3 MB VideoDr. Bidushi Bhattacharya helps us understand how astronomers find these tiny space rocks.
How Do You Discover an Asteroid?
February 13, 2008 00:00 - 14.3 MB VideoDr. Bidushi Bhattacharya helps us understand how astronomers find these tiny space rocks.
Infrared: More Than Your Eyes Can See
December 18, 2007 00:00 - 51.7 MB VideoDr. Michelle Thaller explains infrared light in this older video, produced by NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope (then known as the Space Infrared Telescope Facility) before it launched.
M51 and Gizmo in "Half-Baked Plan"
November 05, 2007 00:00 - 36.3 MB VideoIn this animated 'Ask an Astronomer' special, innocent alien M51 moves the Earth into a closer orbit around the sun, and learns an important lesson about life in the Universe.
M51 and Gizmo
November 05, 2007 00:00 - 36.3 MB VideoIn this animated 'Ask an Astronomer' special, innocent alien M51 moves the Earth into a closer orbit around the sun, and learns an important lesson about life in the Universe.
"What happens when galaxies collide?" (Ask an Astronomer)
September 14, 2007 00:00 - 15.1 MB VideoDr. Varoujan Gorjian takes us inside galactic collisions in this 'Ask an Astronomer' video.
What Happens When Galaxies Collide?
September 14, 2007 00:00 - 15.1 MB VideoDr. Varoujan Gorjian takes us inside galactic collisions in this 'Ask an Astronomer' video.
"What is the nearest galaxy to the Milky Way?" (Ask Astron.)
July 27, 2007 00:00 - 18.2 MB VideoDr. Michelle Thaller explains that the answer isn't as simple as you might think!
What Is the Nearest Galaxy to the Milky Way?
July 27, 2007 00:00 - 18.2 MB VideoDr. Michelle Thaller explains that the answer isn't as simple as you might think!
Why Isn't Pluto a Planet Anymore?
February 12, 2007 00:00 - 28.8 MB VideoDr. Robert Hurt explains why Pluto got... well... plutoed.
"Why isn't Pluto a planet anymore?" (Ask an Astronomer)
February 12, 2007 00:00 - 28.8 MB VideoDr. Robert Hurt explains why Pluto got... well... plutoed.
How Can We See a Black Hole?
August 24, 2006 00:00 - 18.9 MB VideoIf no light escapes from a black hole, how can we detect them? 'Ask an Astronomer' explains.
"How can we see a black hole?" (Ask an Astronomer)
August 24, 2006 00:00 - 18.9 MB VideoIf no light escapes from a black hole, how can we detect them? 'Ask an Astronomer' explains.
What Is a Redshift?
May 24, 2006 00:00 - 19.9 MB Video'Ask an Astronomer' uses an astronomer, a flying saucer, and a cow to help explain this difficult astronomical concept in simple terms.
"What is a redshift?" (Ask an Astronomer)
May 24, 2006 00:00 - 19.9 MB Video'Ask an Astronomer' uses an astronomer, a flying saucer, and a cow to help explain this difficult astronomical concept in simple terms.
Do the Stars Really Move?
December 09, 2005 00:00 - 22.8 MB VideoThe answer to this 'Ask an Astronomer' question may surprise you!
"Do the stars really move?" (Ask an Astronomer)
December 09, 2005 00:00 - 22.8 MB VideoThe answer to this 'Ask an Astronomer' question may surprise you!
"Why do we see spiral arms in some galaxies?" (Ask an Astronomer)
October 25, 2005 00:00 - 15.1 MB Video'Ask an Astronomer' explains the morphology of one of the most common types of galaxy.
Why Do We See Spiral Arms in Some Galaxies?
October 25, 2005 00:00 - 15.1 MB Video'Ask an Astronomer' explains the morphology of one of the most common types of galaxy.
What Is a Brown Dwarf?
October 14, 2005 00:00 - 16 MB Video'Ask an Astronomer' explains one of the strangest objects in outer space.
"What causes an eclipse of the moon?" (Ask an Astronomer)
October 14, 2005 00:00 - 15.5 MB VideoThis 'Ask an Astronomer' episode explains lunar eclipses.
What Causes an Eclipse of the Moon?
October 14, 2005 00:00 - 15.5 MB VideoThis 'Ask an Astronomer' episode explains lunar eclipses.
How Do Stars Live and Die?
October 14, 2005 00:00 - 18.9 MB Video'Ask an Astronomer' tackles stellar evolution.
"Do other solar systems exist?" (Ask an Astronomer)
October 14, 2005 00:00 - 16.9 MB Video'Ask an Astronomer' explains how we detect planets around other stars.
Why Are Solar Eclipses Only Visible in Some Parts of the World?
October 14, 2005 00:00 - 12.8 MB VideoThis 'Ask an Astronomer' episode explains eclipses of the sun and why they can't be seen everywhere.
"Why are solar eclipses only visible in some places?" (AaA)
October 14, 2005 00:00 - 12.8 MB VideoThis 'Ask an Astronomer' episode explains eclipses of the sun and why they can't be seen everywhere.
Why Doesn't the Moon Fall Down?
October 14, 2005 00:00 - 12.2 MB VideoThis 'Ask an Astronomer' episode explains how orbits work.
"Why doesn't the moon fall down?" (Ask an Astronomer)
October 14, 2005 00:00 - 12.2 MB VideoThis 'Ask an Astronomer' episode explains how orbits work.
Why Does the Moon Look Like It Changes?
October 14, 2005 00:00 - 17.4 MB VideoPhases of the Moon are clearly explained in this 'Ask an Astronomer' episode.
"Why does the moon look like it changes?" (Ask an Astron.)
October 14, 2005 00:00 - 17.4 MB VideoPhases of the Moon are clearly explained in this 'Ask an Astronomer' episode.
"Are other solar systems like our own?" (Ask an Astronomer)
October 14, 2005 00:00 - 14 MB VideoSolar systems come in a large variety of flavors, as this 'Ask an Astronomer' video shows.
Are Other Solar Systems Like Our Own?
October 14, 2005 00:00 - 14 MB VideoSolar systems come in a large variety of flavors, as this 'Ask an Astronomer' video shows.
Do Other Solar Systems Exist?
October 14, 2005 00:00 - 16.9 MB Video'Ask an Astronomer' explains how we detect planets around other stars.