Astrophiz85: Prof Jonti Horner-Exobiology Pt1

Astrophiz 85: Professor Jonti Horner - Exobiology Part 1
'The Myths of Jupiter, Comet impacts & the search for life elsewhere’
+ ‘What’s Up Doc’ with Dr Ian ‘Astroblog’ Musgrave
Listen:

In Part 1 of an extended three part interview, our featured guest is Professor Jonti Horner, the Professor of Astrophysics at the University of Southern Queensland in Australia. With thousands of citations, he is an esteemed Astronomer and Astrobiologist who researches Exoplanets, Exoplanet Habitability and the evolution of our Solar system. Jonti is leading the construction of the MINERVA-Australis exoplanet search and follow-up facility at the USQ Mt. Kent Observatory.

In today’s episode, we glimpse Jonti's great career trajectory and he introduces us to some of the complex myths and realities surrounding Jupiter, and Jupiter’s role in the development of life on earth. Another highlight to listen for is how astrobiology could have begun with Giordano Bruno being burnt at the stake in 1600 for maintaining that the thousands of stars were like our sun, also with planets revolving around them. Then Jonti gives us a crystal clear view of the development of astrobiology research and the current searches for water beyond our earth, ‘because that’s the best place to look for life’.

You will also love his analysis of why the future is likely to see silicon-based ‘life’ representing humanity in space, and you’ll be introduced to the term ‘Panspermia’.

In our regular feature of observers and astrophotographers, ‘What’s Up Doc’ with Dr Ian ‘Astroblog’ Musgrave, we set our sights mainly on the evening skies, and in ‘Ian’s Tangent’ we hear about upcoming eclipses and with the imminent 50th anniversary of the Apollo Moon Landing, how ’Snoopy’ the lunar lander may have finally been found, lost in space.