Astronomy Minute
186 episodes - English - Latest episode: 9 months ago - ★★★★★ - 7 ratingsLearn the basics of astronomy in one-to-two minute packets of concise information about specific topics. You are a busy person with a short attention span, and you want to learn about astronomical topics in a short amount of time. Your host Professor Ata is a PhD research astronomer and astrophysicist and a noted authority on stellar and galactic astronomy. I welcome your feedback at [email protected]. See the web site astronomyminute.org for more. The podcast logo is courtesy of Zachary Greathouse and shows a globular cluster photo taken by the author with the Hubble Space Telescope.
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Episodes
What is an Astronomical Observatory?
July 20, 2023 20:32 - 1 minute - 3.18 MBA brief description of what constitutes and astronomical observatory with a few examples in the real world that you have probably heard of.
What is Occam's Razor?
July 19, 2023 14:12 - 1 minute - 3.36 MBA brief description of the philosophical concept known as Occam's Razor, which asserts that “the simplest explanation of a particular natural phenomenon is usually the correct one.”
Why is the Webb Telescope Optimized to Observe Infrared Light?
January 04, 2023 16:18 - 2 minutes - 3.68 MBA brief description of why the Webb Telescope is optimized to observe infrared light. Hint: it has to do with the four main science areas that it will be studying: “Other Worlds,” “Star Lifecycle,” “Galaxies Over Time,” and “Early Universe.”
What are the Main Science Goals of the Webb Telescope?
January 04, 2023 16:03 - 2 minutes - 4.22 MBA brief description of the four main science goals of the James Webb Space Telescope - “Other Worlds,” “Star Lifecycle,” “Galaxies Over Time,” and “Early Universe.”
What is the James Webb Space Telescope?
December 20, 2022 00:54 - 1 minute - 2.91 MBA brief description of the James Webb Space Telescope and how it's different than the Hubble Space Telescope.
What is the Hubble Space Telescope?
December 14, 2022 22:05 - 1 minute - 3 MBA brief description of the Hubble Space Telescope and its scientific capabilities.
Why Do We Put Telescopes in Space?
December 14, 2022 16:20 - 1 minute - 2.68 MBA brief description of the two primary reasons why we send telescopes into space to observe and study celestial objects.
What is Meant by Spiral Nebula?
June 19, 2022 22:09 - 1 minute - 2.09 MBA brief historical summary of what we mean when we refer to "Spiral Nebulae."
What is the Big Crunch?
May 31, 2022 18:54 - 1 minute - 3 MBA brief description of what will happen if the universe stops expanding and collapses back on itself - this is known as the Big Crunch.
What are the Basic Properties of Astronomical Objects?
May 18, 2022 20:25 - 2 minutes - 4.13 MBA brief description of the basic properties of astronomical objects such as mass, radius, distance, luminosity, and temperature.
What is the Local Group of Galaxies?
May 10, 2022 03:06 - 1 minute - 2.41 MBA brief description of the Local Group of galaxies which contains the Milky Way, the Andromeda galaxy, and dozens of dwarf galaxies all gravitationally bound to each other.
What Does it Mean to “Know” Something in Science?
April 10, 2022 19:44 - 1 minute - 3.63 MBA brief description of what scientists mean when they say we "know" something.
How Can Atoms and Thus Matter be Mostly Empty Space?
April 08, 2022 20:56 - 1 minute - 3.59 MBA brief description of the structure of atoms - how they are mostly empty space - and why the everyday objects you use don't collapse and fall in on themselves.
What are Interacting Galaxies?
March 09, 2022 21:49 - 1 minute - 2.91 MBA brief description of what we mean when we talk about interacting galaxies.
How do the Sun and Other Stars Shine?
March 09, 2022 19:55 - 1 minute - 3.36 MBA brief description of nuclear fusion, which is the process by which stars produce light so that they can shine.
What are Giant Molecular Clouds?
February 25, 2022 15:06 - 1 minute - 2.09 MBA brief description of giant molecular clouds and why they are important for stars.
How do We Know that the Milky Way Galaxy is Spiral in Shape?
February 24, 2022 21:25 - 1 minute - 2.36 MBA brief description of the observational evidence we have supporting our assertion that the Milky Way galaxy is spiral in shape.
What is Meant by the 21 Centimeter Radiation of Hydrogen?
February 04, 2022 20:59 - 2 minutes - 4.5 MBA brief description of the 21 centimeter radiation (light) that the Hydrogen atom emits and the mechanism behind this emission.
How are Neutron Stars and Pulsars Related?
December 18, 2021 23:54 - 1 minute - 3.18 MBA brief description of what astronomers mean when they say that "all pulsars are neutron stars but not all neutron stars are pulsars."
What is a Neutron Star?
August 03, 2021 00:51 - 1 minute - 3.63 MBA brief description of neutron stars, which are essentially the end state of massive stars some of which become pulsars.
What is a White Dwarf Star?
July 28, 2021 16:06 - 1 minute - 3.36 MBA brief description of a white dwarf star, which is the end-state of a star that is less than 8 times the mass of Sun.
How do We Know the Ages of Stars?
June 23, 2021 03:28 - 1 minute - 3.41 MBA brief description of how we use the HR Diagram and the main sequence to measure the ages of stars in groups and clusters.
What is Seeing and the Resolving Power of a Telescope?
June 18, 2021 03:52 - 1 minute - 3.59 MBA brief description of seeing and the resolving power of a telescope.
Are Black Holes Cosmic Vacuum Cleaners?
June 14, 2021 19:44 - 1 minute - 3.27 MBA brief description of the true nature of black holes as highly localized sources of gravity and not cosmic vacuum cleaners.
What Was Here Before the Big Bang?
June 11, 2021 17:25 - 1 minute - 3.09 MBA brief description of what we think was here before the Big Bang. Short answer is that we don't know since "Science" is not equipped to answer questions where no data or information is available.
Are UFOs Aliens From Outer Space?
June 09, 2021 14:55 - 2 minutes - 4.13 MBA brief description of my personal point of view regarding the possibility that UFOs harbor extraterrestrial beings visiting Earth.
What is the Milky Way Galaxy?
June 06, 2021 16:49 - 1 minute - 2.68 MBA brief description of the structure of the Milky Way galaxy - our galactic home.
What is the Hubble Law?
June 02, 2021 18:11 - 1 minute - 2.09 MBA brief description of the Hubble Law, now more formally known as the Hubble-Lemaitre Law.
What are Starburst Galaxies?
June 01, 2021 19:33 - 1 minute - 2.14 MBA brief description of starburst galaxies and why they are in star formation overdrive.
Is Science Absolute?
May 26, 2021 17:18 - 1 minute - 3.14 MBA brief description of whether the findings of science are _absolutely_ true. It could also have been entitled “Are Scientific Results Absolute?” and “Is the Scientific Method Absolute?”
What is Meant by Dimensional Analysis?
May 17, 2021 19:37 - 2 minutes - 4.36 MBA brief description of what is meant by dimensional analysis. In short, the final units in a calculation must be correct for the calculation to be correct.
What are Sunspots and the Sunspot Cycle?
May 11, 2021 16:23 - 1 minute - 2.77 MBA brief description of the nature of sunspots and the sunspot cycle.
What is Meant by Einstein’s Theory of Relativity?
May 11, 2021 11:29 - 1 minute - 2.91 MBA brief description of Einstein’s Theories of Special Relativity and General Relativity?
A Description of the Mathematical Basis of Cause-and-Effect
May 02, 2021 15:49 - 2 minutes - 5.4 MBA brief description of how we mathematically relate cause and effect in science. A short description of the equation of a straight line, y=m*x + b is also included.
How do Lunar and Solar Eclipses Happen?
April 12, 2021 00:52 - 1 minute - 3.32 MBA brief description of the different kinds of lunar and solar eclipses and how they happen.
What do I Need to Know About Planet Earth?
April 07, 2021 16:25 - 1 minute - 3.14 MBA brief description of what makes Earth unique from the other terrestrial planets - active plate tectonics, liquid water, a significant atmosphere, and the rich diversity of life.
So You Want to be a Professional Astronomer?
March 30, 2021 15:34 - 1 minute - 3.45 MBSome advice for anyone wanting to pursue professional astronomy/astrophysics as a career choice.
How do Atoms Absorb and Emit Light?
March 24, 2021 19:45 - 2 minutes - 4.36 MBA brief description of how atoms absorb and emit particles of light known as photons based on the Bohr Model of the atom. This leads directly to the creation of absorption and emission lines in the spectra of stars.
What are Some Well-Known Deep Sky Objects?
March 15, 2021 14:49 - 2 minutes - 3.72 MBA brief description of some deep sky objects whose names you may have heard of in popular culture.
What is Meant by the Retrograde Motion of the Planets?
March 12, 2021 19:29 - 1 minute - 3.45 MBA brief description of what is meant by retrograde motion of the planets in the Solar System.
What Professional Organizations Support the Work of Astronomers?
March 10, 2021 18:13 - 1 minute - 2.95 MBA brief description of the professional organizations that support the work of astronomers in North America and worldwide.
How do Astronomers Obtain Their Observations of the Sky?
March 09, 2021 20:41 - 1 minute - 3.04 MBA brief description of the process used to allocate telescope time to professional astronomers interested in addressing scientific questions.
How do Astronomers Disseminate Their Scientific Research Results?
March 03, 2021 16:27 - 2 minutes - 4.13 MBA brief description of how astronomers disseminate their research results to other scientists.
What is Meant by Metal Abundance or Metallicity?
February 24, 2021 04:45 - 2 minutes - 3.77 MBA brief description of how we quantify the amount of metals in a star, i.e. how much of the star is composed of elements heavier than Helium, using a logarithmic quantity designated as Fe over H, or simply [Fe/H].
What is Meant by Light Pollution?
February 24, 2021 04:04 - 1 minute - 2.55 MBA brief description of light pollution and why astronomers are so concerned about its effects on the brightness of the night sky.
Is Science the Only Path to the Truth?
February 19, 2021 03:49 - 1 minute - 2.55 MBA brief treatment of the limitations of science as pertains to seeking the truth in other areas outside of the natural world.
Which Notable Objects are in the Constellation of Virgo?
February 14, 2021 05:52 - 1 minute - 2.91 MBA brief description of the notable celestial objects located in the constellation of Virgo.
Which Notable Objects are in the Constellation of Ursa Major?
February 14, 2021 04:48 - 1 minute - 2.14 MBA brief description of the notable celestial objects located in the constellation of Ursa Major.
Which Notable Objects are in the Constellation of Tucana?
February 12, 2021 01:58 - 56 seconds - 1.73 MBA brief description of the notable celestial objects located in the constellation of Tucana.
Which Notable Objects are in the Constellation of Triangulum?
February 11, 2021 19:57 - 1 minute - 2.68 MBA brief description of the notable celestial objects located in the constellation of Triangulum.