Astronomy Cast

Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter. These are the seasons we experience here on Earth as our planet completes an orbit around the Sun. But what’s going on? Why do we experience such different temperatures and weather over the course of 365 days? Do other planets experience the seasons like we do?

We've all seen the classic science fiction space explosions, full of flames and loud sounds. Beautiful on the screen but, totally lacking in any kind of... science. What's wrong with science fiction? What would chemical and nuclear explosions really look like? What would we hear? And what are some natural explosions that nature detonates in space?

In order to allow for a static Universe, Albert Einstein introduced the concept of the Cosmological Constant Lambda to make the math work out. Once it was discovered that the Universe was actually expanding, he threw the number out calling it his "biggest blunder". But thanks to dark energy, the Cosmological Constant is back.

When Edwin Hubble observed that distant galaxies are speeding away from us in all directions, he discovered the reality that we live in an expanding Universe. Hubble worked to calculate exactly how fast this expansion is happening, creating the Hubble constant – which astronomers continue to refine and reference in their research.

We always think about humans in space, but the cold hard reality is that animals have always been first in space. First to fly, first to orbit, and sadly, first to die. Let’s learn about how our animal companions have been our trusty partners in space exploration, and let’s recognize their noble sacrifices over decades of experiments.

Announcing our Mobile App: Phases of the Moon

This week we talk about the discovery of a planet around Alpha Centauri, a flash from the Milky Way supermassive black hole, an afterburner jet from a black hole, new space debris in low Earth orbit, the smallest yet observed supermassive black hole, and thirty two fish delivered to the ISS. We are joined by Jason Major, Nancy Atkinson, Amy Shira Teitel, and Nicole Gugliucci. Hosted by Fraser Cain.

When an object is orbiting the Earth, it’s really falling. The trick, described in the Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, is how to throw yourself at the ground and miss. There are several different kinds of orbits, and they are good for different reasons. From suborbital jumps to geostationary orbit, time to learn everything there is to know about going around and around and around.

Check out the new mobile app from Universe Today, called "Phases of the Moon". It's a beautiful and functional mobile experience for both Android and iPhone, showing the current state of the Moon as well as rise/set times and more. Support your favourite site and learn about space - at the same time.

The Earth’s atmosphere keeps us alive and blocks x-ray radiation from reaching the surface. In order to understand the universe at the higher energy levels you need to launch a space telescope like the European Space Agency’s XMM-Newton Telescope. Let’s learn about the telescope named for the famous scientist.

Isaac Newton has been called "the greatest and most influential scientist who ever lived." That sounds about right. He unlocked our modern understanding of gravity and laws of motion, dabbled in optics, philosophy... even alchemy. He was also known to have a bit of a difficult personality. Let's find out everything we can about Isaac Newton.

Ep. 275: Isaac Newton, Pt. 1

This week we talk about, an ancient stream bed on Mars, the 55th anniversary of Sputnik launch, the Square Kilometer Array in Australia, a strange cold layer on Venus, and the most precise measurement of the universe's expansion. We are joined by Nancy Atkinson, Amy Shira Teitel, and Nicole Gugliucci. Hosted by Fraser Cain.

Weekly Space Hangout - Oct 4 2012

Ep. 274: Vesta