The 365 Days of Astronomy

From June 18, 2025.

In this episode we celebrate the 75th anniversary of the Fermi Paradox by looking at a bunch of science capable of preventing and destroying civilizations. We also review our latest not-so-great attempts to land on the moon and launch a rocket that (if it worked) could carry us to Mars.

We've added a new way to donate to 365 Days of Astronomy to support editing, hosting, and production costs. 

Just visit: https://www.patreon.com/365DaysOfAstronomy and donate as much as you can!

Share the podcast with your fr...

Today Historical Astronomy Division, https://had.aas.org/, honors the late Dr. Edward C Stone with an episode of remembrances by his colleagues, friends, & family. Among his career achievements, he led NASA’s Voyager planetary-to-interstellar mission for 50 years as Project Scientist, from concept in 1972 through his retirement in 2022. Dr. Edward C Stone who passed away one year ago this month on June 9, 2024. During his 60-year career with JPL-Caltech (that included 10 years as JPL Director) Dr. Stone steered NASA’s Voyager planetary-to-interstellar mission for 50 years as Project Scientist, from concept in 1972 through his retirement in 2022. He “was known for his steady...

Hosted by Steve Nerlich.

Looking askance…

Dear Cheap Astronomy – have we got any spacecraft on the other side of the Sun?

Well, yes and no. Nearly all our spacecraft orbit the Sun – since they are either orbiting Earth or another planet or are touring the asteroid belt – and hence they’ve all been around the back of the Sun at one time another. The only spacecraft we don’t have orbiting the Sun are the ones on their way out of the Solar System – the Pioneers, the Voyagers and New Horizons, which have sufficient esc...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Spo0dppFX9w

Hosted by Tony Darnell.

From  Oct 2, 2023.

The planet is HD 209458 b, and nicknamed "Osiris" after the Egyptian god of the underworld. Osiris is a fitting nickname for this planet, as it is a very hot and hostile world. HD 209458 b orbits its star very closely, and its surface temperature is estimated to be around 1,000 degrees Celsius. This makes it too hot for liquid water to exist on its surface, and it is unlikely to be habitable. Even so, this planet is remarkable in many w...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9hG8Q3ZSX50

Hosted by: Fraser Cain and Dr. Pamela L. Gay

Streamed live on Jun 16, 2025.

It’s almost time for our annual summer hiatus, but before we go, we wanted to direct you towards all the fun and space stuff we’ll be enjoying this summer. We’ve got meteor showers, planets, rocket launches, TV shows, movies! Here’s what’s good.

In a couple of weeks, we'll go on hiatus, but we want to make sure you are ready for stuff we can anticipate...

Dr. Al Grauer hosts. Dr. Albert D. Grauer ( @Nmcanopus ) is an observational asteroid hunting astronomer. Dr. Grauer retired from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock in 2006. travelersinthenight.org

From September 2024.

Today's 2 topics:

- Protection against a comet strike is worth considering. Every year, if we are lucky, several comets can come close enough for the Sun to warm and us to see the beautiful changing dust and gas clouds around them with binoculars or our unaided eyes. So far asteroids have gotten most of the attention as dangerous celestial neighbors, however, Dr...

Episode 6.

“ASTROMAN: the Dark Sky Guardian” is a podcast channel that aims to explore popular science in multiple disciplines and research on interdisciplinary approaches, such as sustainability, dark-sky protection, astrophotography, space exploration, astronomy innovation, inclusive science communication, and STEAM Education by integrating science and arts.

Exodus CL Sit, also known as the ASTROMAN, is a transmedia astronomy educator, popular science author, STEAM educator, and science communicator in Hong Kong. He is recently the National Astronomy Education Coordinator (Chair of Hong Kong, China) of the International Astronomical Union and President of Starrix. He was also...

From June 28, 2022.

With a little bit of luck and a lot of time on different telescopes, researchers managed to capture the black hole in the center of the Milky Way, SgrA*, consuming matter at a faster rate than usual. Plus, Australia launches a rocket, a couple of Mars stories, and strange glaciers on Earth.

We've added a new way to donate to 365 Days of Astronomy to support editing, hosting, and production costs. 

Just visit: https://www.patreon.com/365DaysOfAstronomy and donate as much as you can!

Share the podcast wi...

Hosted by Chris Beckett & Shane Ludtke, two amateur astronomers in Saskatchewan. actualastronomy@gmail.com

The Actual Astronomy Podcast presents The Chiricahua Sky Village. In this episode we talk with Peter Monson who has a well established observing site at the Sky Village in Arizona. We discuss the dark skies, weather conditions, facilities and how people set up their lots as well as how folks interested in getting a site of their own can become involved.

Concluding Message: Please subscribe and share the show with other stargazers you know and send us show ideas, o...

Space travel or the lack thereof.

Hosted by Steve Nerlich.

Dear Cheap Astronomy – Interstellar trade

As regular listeners are aware, here at Cheap Astronomy, we think faster than light travel just ain’t going to happen. That limits your trade options a good deal if our potential alien trading partners are anywhere up to a hundred light years or more away.

Dear Cheap Astronomy – Why aren’t we doing more with artificial gravity

Good question. As we’ve discussed on this podcast and as others have discussed on pretty m...

Episode 250.

Part 2 of 2! What are the modern constants of nature? Is the Universe fine-tuned for life? Does the multiverse or string theory explain the origins of the constants?  I discuss these questions and more in today’s Ask a Spaceman!

Support the show: http://www.patreon.com/pmsutter

All episodes: http://www.AskASpaceman.com

Watch on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/PaulMSutter

Read a book: http://www.pmsutter/book

Keep those questions about space, science, astronomy, astrophysics, physics, and cosmology coming to #AskASpaceman for C...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=clLLqzWyT-Q

Hosted by: Fraser Cain and Dr. Pamela L. Gay

Streamed live on Jun 9, 2025.

Humanity has turned its focus back to the Moon, sending a fleet of spacecraft to the lunar surface. Some are run by the government, but there’s a whole new group of commercial landers bearing instruments to the lunar surface. Is this the future of lunar exploration? Space used to be a place occupied by government-funded and military missions, but today, we're seeing the rise... and fall (somersault, crash, and explosion) of missions wi...

Dr. Al Grauer hosts. Dr. Albert D. Grauer ( @Nmcanopus ) is an observational asteroid hunting astronomer. Dr. Grauer retired from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock in 2006. travelersinthenight.org

From September 2024.

Today's 2 topics:

- When asteroid hunters follow an object in the night sky for a few hours or a couple of days they are only able to observe a snippet or tracklet of the object's hundreds to thousands of days long path around the Sun. If we only have a short sample of an orbit we loose precision to locate the object...

NSF NOIRLab, funded by the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF), has released the fulldome planetarium show, Messengers of Time and Space. This free-to-download production brings the combination of the International Gemini Observatory, funded in part by NSF and operated by NSF NOIRLab, and NSF–DOE Vera C. Rubin Observatory, funded by NSF and the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Office of Science and jointly operated by NOIRLab and DOE’s SLAC, to the forefront of humanity’s quest to understand our ever-changing cosmos. This podcast discusses the production process of this planetarium show and tells listeners where how th...

From October 7, 2021.

An analysis of the most recent sample taken from the Moon and returned by the Chang’e-5 

mission shows that the basaltic rock is about two billions years old. This age implies a previously unknown heat source in the region. Plus, how plants and animals record climate change, and this week’s What’s Up.

We've added a new way to donate to 365 Days of Astronomy to support editing, hosting, and production costs. 

Just visit: https://www.patreon.com/365DaysOfAstronomy and donate as much as you can!

Sha...

Paul Hill, Ralph Wilkins and Dr. Jenifer “Dr. Dust” Millard host. 

Damien Phillips, John Wildridge and Dustin Ruoff produce.

This month we have Galactic sized lancing battles, Jupiter twice its size, Wales entering the space race and we have emails! Oh we have emails!

We've added a new way to donate to 365 Days of Astronomy to support editing, hosting, and production costs. 

Just visit: https://www.patreon.com/365DaysOfAstronomy and donate as much as you can!

Share the podcast with your friends and send the Patreon link to them...

TRIBU Cultura Astronómica is an organization dedicated to the dissemination of astronomy and scientific culture. It is an organization dedicated to boosting awareness of the Universe through astronomical experiences.

- We facilitate astronomical observation experiences with telescopes and specialized guides that take you on an adventure through the cosmos.

- Learning spaces directed to all public audiences to learn about the Universe. In addition we facilitate content, activities and strategies for teaching astronomy.

- We provide downloadable audiovisual content of scientific disclosure centered on the learning of astronomy to pique yo...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M6_HooIJLNc

From Oct 12, 2010.

The fact that we've found a habitable planet candidate so soon after starting our search has important implications for the number of habitable planets that may exist in our galaxy - which was estimated to be around 10 billion.  

Having found Gliese 581g so soon though, may mean one of two things.  Either we were very lucky, or there are more planets out there than we thought.  Based on this discovery, it's possible that we may have many more habitable planets than orig...

From September 22, 2008.

Look around you. Breathe in some air. Everything you can see and feel was formed in a star. Today we’ll examine that long journey that matter has gone through, forged and re-forged in the hearts of stars. In fact, the device you’re using to listen to this podcast has some elements formed in a supernova explosion.

We've added a new way to donate to 365 Days of Astronomy to support editing, hosting, and production costs. 

Just visit: https://www.patreon.com/365DaysOfAstronomy and donate as much as you can!<...

Dr. Al Grauer hosts. Dr. Albert D. Grauer ( @Nmcanopus ) is an observational asteroid hunting astronomer. Dr. Grauer retired from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock in 2006. travelersinthenight.org

From August 2024.

Today's 2 topics:

- The asteroid Psyche may be one of the most expensive pieces of real estate in the solar system. It is a small world about 116 miles in diameter and is composed of almost pure nickel-iron metal. It is located in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. Scientists find evidence that Psyche may be the exposed core of a planet...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cil0v7dIkgc

Hosted by Tony Darnell.

From July 6, 2017.

If we send humans to Mars, will they be able to survive? How hostile is the solar system for human exploration? The Mars environment presents many challenges to human survival and long-term residence. In addition to radiation, unbreathable atmosphere, and dust storms, surviving alien microorganisms can present a health risk.

The US Congress has directed NASA to plan for a human mission to Mars. A critical element of the planning is to ensure the h...

From May 21, 2025.

This week, we take a closer look at the weirdly twisty search for a possible planet in our outer solar system. We'll also take in the happy science of aurorae here, at Jupiter, and over Neptune, as well as a bunch of weird discoveries that has some people screaming "It's Aliens!" (it's not aliens). 

We've added a new way to donate to 365 Days of Astronomy to support editing, hosting, and production costs. 

Just visit: https://www.patreon.com/365DaysOfAstronomy and donate as much as you can!

Share the...

Hosted by Chris Beckett & Shane Ludtke, two amateur astronomers in Saskatchewan. actualastronomy@gmail.com

The Observer’s Calendar for June 2025 on Episode 485 of the Actual Astronomy podcast. I’m Chris and joining me is Shane. We are amateur astronomers who love looking up at the night sky and this podcast is for everyone who enjoys going out under the stars.

June 1 - Venus at greatest elongation in morning sky 46-degrees from Sun.

Mars is still 30-degrees up but just over 5 arc seconds when the month begins.

June 3 - first quart...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ByfigQW-6Mk

Ralph Wilkins and Dr. Jenifer “Dr. Dust” Millard host. 

Damien Phillips, John Wildridge and Dustin Ruoff produce.

From Jan 28, 2022.

Taking a look at how over the last 40 years we went from only knowing of the handful of planets in our solar system to knowing of around 5,000 planets littering the galaxy.

How have we discovered new planets?

How many are there? 

How many stars have planets around them? 

Are there star systems with multiple planets...

Part 1 of 2! 

How do fundamental constants appear in physics? Why are they so important? Why do we care where they come from?  I discuss these questions and more in today’s Ask a Spaceman!

Support the show: http://www.patreon.com/pmsutter

All episodes: http://www.AskASpaceman.com

Watch on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/PaulMSutter

Read a book: http://www.pmsutter/book

Keep those questions about space, science, astronomy, astrophysics, physics, and cosmology coming to #AskASpaceman for COMPLETE KNOWLEDGE OF TIME AND SPACE...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k6p03D1iaMw

Streamed live on May 26, 2025.

Hosted by: Fraser Cain and Dr. Pamela L. Gay

Some of our favorite robots are rovers currently roving around the surface of the Moon & Mars. But there’s some pretty tricky terrain out there and engineers are scheming up clever ways to explore other worlds inspired by life that crawls, slithers, hops and flies. As we explore more surfaces and more complex surfaces throughout the solar system, mission teams are designing robot explorers that don't sit still and also do...

Dr. Al Grauer hosts. Dr. Albert D. Grauer ( @Nmcanopus ) is an observational asteroid hunting astronomer. Dr. Grauer retired from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock in 2006. travelersinthenight.org

From January 2017 & August 2024.

Today's 2 topics:

- 2017 will be (was) a good year to view comets with your unaided eye or a pair of binoculars.

- My Catalina Sky Survey teammate Richard Kowalski was surprised to find a moving point of light on some his images which was more than 50 times brighter than a typical Earth approaching object he observes. He was even...

https://spacescoop.org/en/scoops/2507/could-this-be-one-of-the-strangest-planets-ever-found/

Recently, a team of astronomers found a new exoplanet, called 2M1510 (AB) b, that really surprised them. This new exoplanet is special — its orbit looks more like a Ferris wheel! 

It goes up and over the top rather than around the side, traveling at a right angle to the carousel-like path we normally find. But having an unusual orbit is only part of the puzzle, and to see just how odd our new exoplanet is we also need to look at its stars.

We've...

From May 19, 2025.

In this week’s closer look we are going to look at the earth-facing missions that are getting dragged down by our atmosphere and will be forcibly retired by physics in the next few years, again with no replacements in the works. These missions allow us to do long term monitoring of our planet, its atmosphere, and the variables that help us understand everything from weather to climate change. We also look at cool new exoplanet discoveries, the beautiful death of a star, and tales from the launch pad.

We've added a n...

Self-consciousness.

Dear Cheap Astronomy – Selfies in space.

Buzz Aldrin claims to have taken the first selfie in space in 1966, where he fixed a Hasselblad camera on the hull on Gemini 12 and then leant back before triggering the camera. Later on, in 1969, Neil Armstrong took an accidental selfie – the only still photo of him on the Moon where he and his camera are reflected in Buzz Aldrin’s visor.

Dear Cheap Astronomy – Is Hawking Radiation real?

Long-term listeners are probably familiar with Cheap Astronomy’s tendency to go a bit ranty in th...

Atiyah Alhasadi of Derna, Lybia, is the STEM Projects Trainer and Chairman of Roaya for the Astronomy and Space Applications Foundation. He is an experienced teaching assistant with a demonstrated history of working in higher education. Skilled in English, teamwork, Physics, Research, and Astronomy. He is a strong education professional with a Bachelor of Science - BS focused in Physics from Omar Al Mukhtar University.

Mike Simmons is the founder of Astronomy for Equity ( https://bmsis.org/astro4equity/ ). Others on the team, including people around the world in astronomy and space exploration, authors and p...

From September 20, 2023.

Hosted by Tony Darnell.

Episode 39.

In recent years, scientists have made great strides in the search for extraterrestrial life. They have discovered thousands of exoplanets. And some of them are located in the habitable zone of their star, which means that liquid water could exist on their surface and is essential for life as we know it.

The search for life however, is a little more involved than finding planets, measuring their location and distance around the star and figuring out their location within a habitable zone.  As...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qhkGB7FsMeA

Hosted by: Fraser Cain and Dr. Pamela L. Gay

Streamed live on May 19, 2025.

Computers are getting smaller, faster and more capable, which has enabled an entirely mew class of satellites: CubeSats. A mission small enough that you can hold it in your hands, and yet powerful enough to even travel to other planets and send messages home. 

Every year, our electronics seem to get smaller and more powerful, with today's smart watches being more fully featured than the computers Pamela and Fr...

Dr. Al Grauer hosts. Dr. Albert D. Grauer ( @Nmcanopus ) is an observational asteroid hunting astronomer. Dr. Grauer retired from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock in 2006. travelersinthenight.org

From May, 2024.

Today's 2 topics:

- Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks comes near the Sun once every 71 years.  It was discovered in 1812 by Jean Louis Pons at Marseilles, France and then rediscovered by American Astronomer William Robert Brooks in 1883. Electronic cameras reveal this comet's nucleus has jets of gas that produce a spiral structure not unlike water jets from a lawn sprinkler.

- On the 3r...

Hosted by Dr. Jacinta Delhaize, Dr. Tshiamiso Makwela & Dr. Daniel Cunnama.

The band is back together! In this episode Jacinta, Tshia and Dan sit together in the cupboard once again to catch up and to reflect on Season 5.

Dan discusses his travels to Ethiopia while Tshia regales us with tales of her VIP treatment on her visit to China. Jacinta impresses with her carbon conscious travels to the Garden Route.

During the episode the hosts discuss their favorite episodes from the season as well as some exciting news on what we c...

From November 19, 2020.

Today’s top story focuses on the Blue Ring Nebula, which researchers say is the phase of a star merger never seen before, providing the missing link for merger progression. Plus, stories on Mars, laboratory supernovae, Steve (no, really), JUICE, gravity waves and Enceladus.

We've added a new way to donate to 365 Days of Astronomy to support editing, hosting, and production costs. 

Just visit: https://www.patreon.com/365DaysOfAstronomy and donate as much as you can!

Share the podcast with your friends and send the Patreon link to t...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YxIPNXF6Kxc

From Feb 20, 2018.

All Hail Curiosity!

Consider the fact that right now, there’s an SUV-sized rover crawling around the surface of Mars, zapping rocks with its laser, scooping and sampling material, and generally giving us the best view we’ve ever seen from the surface of the Red Planet.

NASA’s Curiosity Rover has been on the surface of Mars since 2012, following the story of water. When did it first show up on Mars, and was it there long enough to support...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HeOVh7ck3D821

Paul Hill, Ralph Wilkins and Dr. Jenifer “Dr. Dust” Millard host. 

Damien Phillips, John Wildridge and Dustin Ruoff produce.

From Dec 28, 2021.

Our chat with Dr. Chris North from our live show to ease the boredom of covid lockdowns. 

We ask Chris astronomy questions from our listeners:

• Why are astronomers so sure that the recent interstellar comet came from outside the solar system

• Which is going to be the most exciting telescope, the James Webb Space Telescope or the Squ...

What’s inside a neutron star? What strange states of matter do we encounter? And what mysteries will we find deep in the core?  I discuss these questions and more in today’s Ask a Spaceman!

Support the show: http://www.patreon.com/pmsutter

All episodes: http://www.AskASpaceman.com

Watch on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/PaulMSutter

Read a book: http://www.pmsutter/book

Keep those questions about space, science, astronomy, astrophysics, physics, and cosmology coming to #AskASpaceman for COMPLETE KNOWLEDGE OF TIME AND SPACE!<...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=72JAZYgqchs

Hosted by: Fraser Cain and Dr. Pamela L. Gay

Streamed live on May 12, 2025.

NASA’s newly launched SphereX mission is up & operational and has completed its initial checkout and “first light”. Everything looks good! And now it’s starting its science operations. And that’s good enough for Pamela! And THAT means we can talk about it. So let’s do that! There's a new space telescope in town (or at least in LEO). Let's check out what it's looking at and looking to do.

S...