Radio Astronomy
287 episodes - English - Latest episode: 13 days ago - ★★★★ - 23 ratingsThe weekly astronomy podcast from the makers of BBC Sky at Night Magazine.
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Episodes
Star Diary: What’s in the night sky, 23 to 29 January 2023
January 22, 2023 08:00 - 17 minutesVenus meets Saturn next to the crescent Moon, while Comet C/2022 E3 ZTF continues to shine in this week's star gazing guide. Transcript Observe Venus throughout the winter Keep track of Comet C/2022 E3 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Star Diary: What’s in the night sky, 16 to 22 January 2023
January 15, 2023 08:00 - 14 minutesVenus and Saturn line up this week, while Jupiter's makes its closest approach to the Sun as it passes through perihelion in this week's stargazing guide. Transcript Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Star Diary: What’s in the night sky, 9 to 15 January 2023
January 08, 2023 08:00 - 14 minutesMars reaches it stationary point, while the new Moon allows for some deep-sky observing in this week's astronomy guide. Transcript Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Star Diary: What’s in the night sky, 2 to 8 January, 2023
January 01, 2023 08:00 - 17 minutesThe Quadrantids meteor shower in this week's stargazing guide PLUS we take a look at 2023's stargazing highlights. Transcript Guide to observing meteor showers through out the year Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Star Diary: What’s in the night sky, 26 Dec '22 to 1 Jan '23
December 25, 2022 08:00 - 17 minutesMars passes the Pleiades and Saturn approaches the Moon in this week's stargazing guide. Transcript How many stars in the Pleiades can you count? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
What would happen if we made contact with extra-terrestrial intelligence?
December 17, 2022 10:00 - 40 minutesWhat would happen if we made contact with an extra-terrestrial civilisation? Do organisations like NASA and the United Nations have protocol in place? What would it mean, and are we prepared? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Star Diary: What’s in the night sky, 12 to 18 December 2022
December 11, 2022 08:00 - 14 minutesThe Geminids meteor shower is the highlight of this week's stargazing guide, which also sees the Moon pass several bright stars. Transcript How to see the Geminids meteor shower Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Interview: Apollo 17 student ambassador Dermot Gethings
December 07, 2022 08:00 - 46 minutesApollo 17 was the final human moon landing mission from NASA. Student ambassador Dermot Gethings was on of 80 students who got a behind the scenes look at the mission. Transcript. Find out more about Apollo 17 in the December issue of BBC Sky at Night Magazine. You can see the UK piece of the Goodwill Moonrock at the Natural History Museum in London. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Star Diary: What’s in the night sky, 5 to 11 December 2022
December 04, 2022 08:00 - 20 minutesMars will be occulted by the Moon while at opposition this week - a truly historic occasion. Find out out more in our weekly stargazing guide. Transcript Find all the details about the occultation of Mars. Learn how to observe Mars at opposition. Subscribe to BBC Sky at Night Magazine for all the latest space news and stargazing tips. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Star Diary: What’s in the night sky, 28 November to 4 December 2022
November 27, 2022 08:00 - 14 minutesMars' closest approach to Earth as Saturn and Jupiter approach the crescent Moon in this week's stargazing guide. Transcript Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Star Diary: What’s in the night sky, 21 to 27 November 2022
November 20, 2022 08:00 - 13 minutesIn this week's stargazing guide, we take advantage of the new Moon for some deep-sky astronomy. Transcript Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Star Diary: What’s in the night sky, 14 to 20 November 2022
November 13, 2022 08:00 - 16 minutesThe Leonid meteor shower returns and the moon Callisto brushes past Jupiter in this week's stargazing guide. Transcript Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Star Diary: What’s in the night sky, 7 to 13 November 2022
November 07, 2022 08:00 - 14 minutesThe Moon glides past Uranus, the Pleiades and Castor & Pollux in this week's stargazing guide. Transcript Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Amazing cosmic facts
November 04, 2022 11:45 - 45 minutesAstrophysicist Dr Jillian Scudder reveals some of the most mind-blowing facts about the universe, including why the Milky Way smells of raspberries, how the Moon has a whiff of gunpowder, what happens when galaxies collide and why our own galaxy is flatter than a credit card. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Star Diary: What’s in the night sky, 31 October to 6 November2022
October 30, 2022 08:00 - 15 minutesIn this week's stargazing guide: catch Saturn, Vesta and the Moon together, watch out for Jupiter on Bonfire Night. Transcript Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Star Diary: What’s in the night sky, 24 to 30 October 2022
October 27, 2022 09:15 - 12 minutesA partial solar eclipse and a Mars going into retrograde in this weekly stargazing guide. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Piecing together the history of the Universe
October 23, 2022 09:00 - 27 minutesHow much do astronomers know about the evolution of the cosmos? Prof Nial Tanvir from the University of Leicester talks about the early Universe, the formation of the first stars and galaxies, redshift and gamma-ray bursts. This podcast was recorded at the International Astronomy Show 2022. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Webb Telescope and the secrets of the Solar System
October 20, 2022 08:48 - 25 minutesWe spoke to University of Leicester planetary scientist Prof Leigh Fletcher about the James Webb Space Telescope, why it observes in infrared, what it has revealed about the planets of the Solar System so far, and what's yet to come. This podcast was recorded at the International Astronomy Show 2022. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Star Diary: What’s in the night sky, 17 to 23 October 2022
October 16, 2022 07:00 - 13 minutesThe Orionids meteor shower peaks this week, and Mercury passes by the binary star Porrima in our weekly stargazing guide. Transcript Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Star Diary: What’s in the night sky, 10 to 16 October 2022
October 09, 2022 07:00 - 12 minutesWatch out for Mars and the Pleiades as the Moon passes by as we run down this week's stargazing highlights. Transcript Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Star Diary: What’s in the night sky, 3 to 9 October 2022
October 02, 2022 07:00 - 15 minutesIn this week's stargazing guide, we take a look at the Moon's southern pole and catch asteroid Pallas as it glides past Sirius. Transcript Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Interview: A Brief History of Black Holes
September 28, 2022 11:30 - 36 minutesWhat is a black hole? Are they really black? Are they really holes? How much do we actually know about them? Astrophysicist and YouTuber Dr Becky Smethurst reveals how black holes went from theoretical mysteries to objects we can photograph. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Star Diary: What’s in the night sky, 26 September to 2 October 2022
September 25, 2022 07:00 - 15 minutesJupiter makes its closest approach to Earth of the year this week as we take a look at Jupiter's opposition and more in this episode of Star Diary. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Interview: NASA's plan to crash a spacecraft into an asteroid
September 23, 2022 07:00 - 26 minutesCould humanity deflect the path of a civilisation-destroying asteroid? That's what NASA's DART mission hopes to find out by crashing into an asteroid. Ahead of the impact on 26th September at 11:14pm UTC, we spoke with the mission's co-ordination team lead Nancy Chabot about the mission. Transcript Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Star Diary: What’s in the night sky, 19 to 25 September 2022
September 18, 2022 07:00 - 12 minutesAs the autumn equinox arrives, the crescent Moon gives a great opportunity to see Earthshine. Transcript Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Star Diary: What’s in the night sky, 19 to 25 September 2022
September 18, 2022 07:00 - 9 minutes - 10.7 MBAs the autumn equinox arrives, the crescent Moon gives a great opportunity to see Earthshine. Transcript Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Star Diary: What’s in the night sky, 12 to 18 September 2022
September 11, 2022 07:00 - 14 minutesThe occultation of Uranus by the Moon making the planet vanish is just one of this week's stargazing highlights. Transcript Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Star Diary: What’s in the night sky, 5 to 11 September, 2022
September 04, 2022 07:00 - 15 minutesJupiter and Neptune meet up with minor world 3 Juno, which is in opposition as we run through this week's stargazing highlights. Transcript Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Star Diary: What’s in the night sky, 29 August to 4 September
August 28, 2022 07:00 - 18 minutesMars makes its way past the Pleiades and the Hyades, while Mercury hugs the horizon as we take a look at what's in the sky this week. Transcript Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Interview: How JWST observes the Universe
August 26, 2022 11:30 - 34 minutesInstrument scientist Dr Pamela Klaassen reveals the science behind how JWST studies the cosmos, what its images show us, and the secrets it might uncover. We also discuss the Square Kilometre Array Organisation and how this brand new ground-based observatory will work in tandem with the Webb Telescope to unlock the secrets of the Universe. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Interview: How JWST will observe exoplanets
August 22, 2022 13:57 - 50 minutesAstrophysicist Dr Hannah Wakeford from the University of Bristol reveals how JWST will unlock the secrets of planets orbiting stars beyond our Solar System. Watch the full video via the BBC Sky at Night Magazine YouTube channel. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Star Diary: What’s in the night sky, 22 to 28 August 2022
August 21, 2022 07:00 - 14 minutesThis week is a great opportunity to take a look at Orion, or hunt out the asteroids Pallas and Vesta. Transcript Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Star Diary: What’s in the night sky, 15 to 21 August 2022
August 14, 2022 07:00 - 11 minutesMars meets the Pleiades, Venus approaches the Beehive in this week's stargazing diary. Transcript Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Interview: Observing the Solar System in x-ray
August 10, 2022 07:30 - 39 minutesAstrophysicist William Dunn reveals how x-rays can reveal the secrets of the outer planets and their moons. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Star Diary: What’s in the night sky, 8 to 14 August
August 07, 2022 07:00 - 14 minutesThe Perseid meteor shower and Saturn at opposition are both stargazing highlight this week. Transcript. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Star Diary: What’s in the night sky, 1st to 7th August
July 31, 2022 07:00 - 14 minutesComet Wilson-Harrington is still on show for stargazers this week, while Venus brushes up against the stars in this week's night sky. Transcript Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Star Diary: What’s in the night sky, 1st to 7th august
July 31, 2022 07:00 - 11 minutes - 12.9 MBComet Wilson-Harrington is still on show for stargazers this week, while Venus brushes up against the stars in this week's night sky. Transcript See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Bluedot 2022 | Why study asteroids?
July 29, 2022 07:30 - 26 minutesThis episode we spoke to planetary scientist and spacerocks expert Dr Sarah Crowther about the science of asteroids. What can asteroids tell us about the early Solar System? Why do we send spacecraft to return asteroid samples to Earth? What do scientists like her do when they get their hands on a sample from the asteroid belt? This podcast was recorded at the Bluedot Festival 2022, Jodrell Bank Observatory, UK. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more abou...
Bluedot 2022 | A new era for human spaceflight?
July 28, 2022 10:14 - 29 minutesWe spoke the the UK Space Agency's Libby Jackson about what the future holds for crewed space exploration. Are we overdue a UK astronaut? Can we expect future collaborations between space agencies? What's it really like working in Mission Control? And what can we expect from upcoming missions to the Moon and Mars? This podcast was recorded at the Bluedot Festival 2022, Jodrell Bank Observatory, UK. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad cho...
Bluedot 2022: What is space weather?
July 27, 2022 07:00 - 28 minutes - 33 MBWe sat down with Jim Wild, Professor of Space Physics at Lancaster University, to find out about space weather and the Sun's far-reaching influence on the planets of the Solar System. How will solar activity will affect missions to the Moon and Mars? Did the Apollo astronauts have a lucky escape? And does Hollywood ever get it right? This podcast was recorded at the Bluedot Festival 2022, Jodrell Bank Observatory, UK. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
Bluedot 2022 | What is space weather?
July 27, 2022 07:00 - 34 minutesWe sat down with Jim Wild, Professor of Space Physics at Lancaster University, to find out about space weather and the Sun's far-reaching influence on the planets of the Solar System. How will solar activity will affect missions to the Moon and Mars? Did the Apollo astronauts have a lucky escape? And does Hollywood ever get it right? This podcast was recorded at the Bluedot Festival 2022, Jodrell Bank Observatory, UK. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn mor...
Star Diary: What’s in the night sky, 25 to 31 July
July 24, 2022 07:00 - 12 minutesMars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune continue their planetary parade, while a comet, 107P Wilson Harrington, also makes an appearance as we tell you all the best things for stargazers to see this week. Transcript Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Star Diary: What’s in the night sky, 18 to 24 July
July 17, 2022 07:00 - 14 minutesNeptune, the Pleiades and asteroid that used to be a comet are all visible in this week's night sky. Transcript Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Star Diary: What’s in the night sky, 11 to 17 July 2022
July 10, 2022 07:00 - 12 minutesThe full moon offers a great 'stargazing' opportunity this week, with asteroid Vesta also making an appearance. Transcript Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Star Diary: What’s in the night sky, 4 to 10 July
July 03, 2022 07:00 - 10 minutesThis week, we take a look at the full Moon – which is a supermoon this month – as it tracks its way across the night sky. Transcript Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Star Diary: What’s in the night sky, 27 June to 3 July
June 26, 2022 07:00 - 13 minutesA parade of planets, Earthshine and a stellar occultation, as we run down what you can see in the night sky this week. Transcript Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The search for extraterrestrial intelligence
June 24, 2022 08:14 - 41 minutesCould there be life beyond Earth? Microbial life existing elsewhere in the Universe seems likely, but what about an intelligent civilisation? How are scientists searching for them, and what would it mean for planet Earth if we made contact with an alien species? In this episode, the SETI Institute’s Franck Marchis talks astrobiology, exoplanets and what he really thinks about UFOs. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoi...
Star Diary: What’s in the night sky, 20 to 26 June
June 19, 2022 07:00 - 14 minutesA handful of planets, Earthshine and a comet are all in this weeks episode, where we list the best things to see in this week's night sky. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Space Women: Maggie Aderin-Pocock
June 15, 2022 08:00 - 22 minutesPresenter of The Sky at Night, Maggie Aderin Pocock, talks us through her career and her lifelong obsession with the Moon Transcript Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Star Diary: What’s in the night sky, 13 to 19 June
June 12, 2022 07:00 - 20 minutesSupermoons, stargazing with Antares and a planetary parade in this week's episode, where we tell you the best things in the night sky this week. Transcript Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices