IRrelevant Astronomy
28 episodes - English - Latest episode: over 8 years ago -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!
Homepage Apple Podcasts Google Podcasts Overcast Castro Pocket Casts RSS feed
Episodes
Stampy, the Science-Loving Postage Stamp
December 16, 2015 00:00 - 160 MB VideoStampy 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
February 12, 2014 00:00 - 266 MB VideoWhen 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?
July 16, 2013 00:00 - 152 MB VideoDeep 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)
February 26, 2013 00:00 - 187 MB VideoCameron Diaz teaches Robot IR-2 (Ed Wasser) how astronomers can measure the mass of asteroids from tremendous distances.
Big Bang: The Musical
March 18, 2011 00:00 - 178 MB VideoDid 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
February 16, 2011 00:00 - 184 MB VideoVeronica 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)
November 28, 2010 00:00 - 352 MB VideoRobot 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)
August 10, 2010 00:00 - 344 MB VideoActor 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 00:00 - 336 MB VideoAmy 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
March 09, 2010 00:00 - 168 MB VideoA 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)
October 26, 2009 00:00 - 330 MB VideoFelicia 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)
August 24, 2009 00:00 - 292 MB VideoLinda 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)
June 22, 2009 00:00 - 167 MB VideoIn 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))
April 23, 2009 00:00 - 311 MB VideoGeorge 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)
March 11, 2009 00:00 - 327 MB VideoWhile 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
January 23, 2009 00:00 - 136 MB VideoHoping 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)
November 25, 2008 00:00 - 285 MB VideoDuring 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)
October 22, 2008 00:00 - 225 MB VideoIR-2 opens diplomatic relations with the Earth, as a first step toward ruling over all humans on the planet.
Psych Out
August 25, 2008 00:00 - 123 MB VideoDoes 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)
July 21, 2008 00:00 - 151 MB VideoIR-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)
July 02, 2008 00:00 - 37.6 MB VideoWhile 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 00:00 - 194 MB VideoWhere 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)
April 21, 2008 00:00 - 96.9 MB VideoAre 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)
March 13, 2008 00:00 - 188 MB VideoAstronomers 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)
March 04, 2008 00:00 - 200 MB VideoWill 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
February 08, 2008 00:00 - 86 MB VideoViewing 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)
January 17, 2008 00:00 - 214 MB VideoWhile 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
January 15, 2008 00:00 - 74.7 MB VideoWhat 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.