Star Diary

We speak to Dr Savannah Jacklin about the Wide Field Infrared Survey Telescope, a new mission to discover planets orbiting distant stars using a technique predicted by Einstein over 100 years ago. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Over the past three decades, the Hubble Space Telescope has revolutionised our view of the cosmos. It has given us unprecedented views of galaxies, nebulae, new-born stars and planets, revealing clues about the nature of dark energy, supermassive black holes and the expansion of the Universe. This episode we look at how the mission was conceived, how astronauts repaired its faulty mirror, and some...

Thousands of people helped bring the three Apollo 13 astronauts home. Jerry Woodfill was working at Mission Control when the spacecraft's oxygen tank exploded, and was responsible for the onboard alarm system that led to the crew uttering the immortal words “Houston, we’ve had a problem.” This episode, Jerry talks to us about what it was like working at NASA during the rescue and throughout the Ap...

"Houston, we've had a problem". This issue we mark the 50th anniversary of Apollo 13, revealing what went wrong and how Mission Control reacted on the ground. We also take a look at what science goals Apollo 13 might have achieved, had everything gone to plan. Plus, Professor Jason Wright discusses NEID, a new instrument that can measure the masses of exoplanets. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/pri...

In the final episode of our special series of daily podcasts for Back Garden Astronomy Week we take a look at some of the culture and stories that have grown up around the Moon. If the series has inspired you to get involved with lunar observing or astronomy in general, you can still get your free guide fromwww.skyatnightmagazine.com/backgarden. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more info...

The Moon can look vastly different throughout the month, and so we take a look at the different ways colour and shadow can affect your lunar observing experience. For more info, visit www.skyatnightmagazine.com/backgarden. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Craters are one of the Moon’s most striking features, so we tell you how to make the most of observing them. PLUS, we look at how astronomers use craters to date the age of the lunar surface. For more info, visit www.skyatnightmagazine.com/backgarden. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

There are lots of things to see in the night sky, but how does our biggest, brightest companion effect the view? For more info, visit www.skyatnightmagazine.com/backgarden. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Even a modest set of binoculars can really enhance your view of the lunar surface, and so we take a look at how to use them to get the most out of a clear night’s view of the Moon. For more info, visit www.skyatnightmagazine.com/backgarden. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In today’s episode we use astronomical sketching as a way to help learn our way around the face of the Moon. PLUS we look at one of the most elusive lunar sights to catch – clair obscure. For more info, visit www.skyatnightmagazine.com/backgarden. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Learn all about the lunar phases in the second instalment of our special series. PLUS, a simple experiment to help you explain how the phases change from night to night. For more info, visit www.skyatnightmagazine.com/backgarden. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

To celebrate Back Garden Astronomy Week, Radio Astronomy is running a special series of daily podcasts to help you start observing the Moon. With tips and tricks that work at any time of year, there’s no excuse to not get out there and observe our nearest neighbour. For more info, visit www.skyatnightmagazine.com/backgarden. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more a...

Back Garden Astronomy Week is back between 2-9 March 2020! We're running a special series of daily podcasts throughout the week telling you everything you need to know about observing the Moon. Be sure to subscribe to Radio Astronomy podcast to make sure you don't miss an episode. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.co...

We look at the European Space Agency missions coming up over the next decade, including a crewed lunar orbiter, a spacecraft that will explore the icy moons of Jupiter and probes that will analyse planets orbiting distant stars. Plus, Emma Marrington of the countryside charity CPRE reveals how you can get involved in this year's Star Count citizen science project. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/pr...

This bonus episode of Radio Astronomy is a Horizon special, as we speak to former producer Alec Nisbett to find out how the long-running BBC science programme covered space and astronomy, and what it was like touring the world in search of the latest scientific advances. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoice...

This episode we mark the 90th anniversary of Pluto's discovery by exploring the life of US astronomer Clyde Tombaugh, and take a look at the Pluto's rise and fall as the 9th Solar System planet. Plus, we examine a recent International Astronomical Union campaign that saw 112 countries around the world name newly-discovered exoplanets. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Le...

This episode the team look back on 2019 and discuss the big space stories that made headlines over the past 12 months, from New Horizons' Kuiper Belt flyby on New Year's Day, to the first image of a black hole and the latest in lunar exploration. Plus, we speak to the folks at Brighton Astro for their top tips on getting started in astronomy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more informa...

This episode we look at the big space missions launching in 2020 that will visit the Sun and Mars. Plus, the latest from Hayabusa2 and OSIRIS-REx, and what to expect from commercial human spaceflight over the next 12 months. Also this episode, we speak to Robert Shelton, President of the Giant Magellan Telescope, about how the GMT will peer deep into the early Universe. Hosted on Acast. See acast....

BBC Sky at Night Magazine's staff writer Iain Todd visits University College London Observatory ahead of the unveiling of their new 80cm Perren Telescope. Iain speaks to the astronomers there to find out about the new scope and how it will help prepare the next generation of astro physicists. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podca...

BBC Sky at Night Magazine’s editor Chris Bramley joins Anna Henley and Paul Cornish from the planetarium team at Bristol's We The Curious science centre. Anna and Paul discuss how they operate the UK's only 3D planetarium, reveal the secrets behind their latest show and give their view on the possibility of life existing beyond Earth. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Le...

This month we discuss Apollo 12 on its 50th anniversary, reveal news of an impending volcanic eruption on Jupiter's moon Io, and speak to astrophysicist Geraint Lewis from the University of Sydney, who's part of a team that has been studying the Andromeda Galaxy's past galactic mergers. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoi...

This episode we speak to Professor Jim Al-Khalili about humanity's return to the Moon and the challenges facing our planet. Plus, the team discuss the OSIRIS REx asteroid sample collection mission, a speeding star that's racing through our Galaxy and recent news of tardigrades on the Moon. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastc...

This month the team discuss the UK-led ESA mission to fly by a comet as it enters the Solar System, India’s new lunar spacecraft and the latest from NASA’s Juno probe at Jupiter. Plus, we speak to experienced amateur astronomer and BBC Sky at Night Magazine writer Katrin Raynor-Evans to get her practical stargazing tips for the longer nights that lie ahead. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy f...

The team return to Jodrell Bank in Cheshire for a weekend of science and music at Bluedot 2019. We speak to Prof Tim O’Brien about the important astronomy undertaken by the Lovell Telescope and the legacy of Apollo 11. Filmmaker Chloë Penman discusses the incredible history of Jodrell Bank Observatory and ‘Dr Space Junk’ Alice Gorman tells us about the human artefacts left behind by our exploratio...

50 years ago, humans set foot on the surface of the Moon for the first time. This episode the BBC Sky at Night Magazine team discuss the legacy of Apollo, the landing sites, the items left on the Moon by astronauts and the future of lunar exploration. Plus, we debunk common Apollo conspiracy theories and speak to broadcaster James Burke, who covered the Moon landing for the BBC in 1969. Hosted on...