5 Minutes With An Astronomer

By 5 Minutes With An Astronomer

What's 5 Minutes With An Astronomer about?

Join us to explore the universe. Each episode we tackle one question and ask Stuart Robbins, a professional astronomer, to help us understand the topic in under 5 minutes without a script. The show is a crossover of the Exposing PseudoAstronomy podcast and the award winning The Reality Check podcast.

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5 Minutes With An Astronomer episodes:

05.20.2019
S02E01: Corrections
And...we’re back, Astro Nuts! We kick off a fun-filled Season 2 with some corrections from Season 1. If you have feedback or a topic suggestion, email us.
05.20.2019
S02E02: What Is The Cosmic Distance Ladder?
This episode’s question is, what is the Cosmic Distance Ladder and how does it work? If you have feedback or a topic suggestion, email us.
05.20.2019
S02E03: How Do Standard Candles Work?
This episode’s question comes from a listener named Todd who asks, “How do standard candles work? It seems like a really huge assumption that all of these stars are truly identical.” If you have feedback or a topic suggestion, email...
05.20.2019
S02E04: Where Does Earth’s Atmosphere End And Space Begin?
This week, we welcome special guest and science enthusiast Ed Robertson. Ed is the frontman of Barenaked Ladies and wrote the theme song for Big Bang Theory. He asks, “Where does earth’s atmosphere end and where does space begin?” If...
05.20.2019
S02E05: Solar Structure Part 1
This episode is part 1 of 2 on the structure of the Sun, based on a question from listener Todd who asks, “How do we know what's going on inside the Sun? We can see the outside, but it's not...
05.20.2019
S02E06: Solar Structure Part 2
This episode is part 2 on the structure of the Sun after listener Todd asks, “How do we know what's going on inside the Sun? We can see the outside, but it's not like we can place seismometers on it...
05.20.2019
S02E07: What Is The Solar Wind?
Building on earlier episodes about the structure of the sun, this episode tackles: what is the solar wind? If you have feedback or a topic suggestion, email us.
05.20.2019
S02E08: Earth’s Magnetosphere
What is Earth’s magnetosphere and what does it have to do with those amazing light shows in the sky called auroras? If you have feedback or a topic suggestion, email us.
05.20.2019
S02E09: Magnetospheres In The Solar System
An overview of the Earth’s magnetosphere on the last episode begs the question, do other objects in our solar system have magnetospheres? If you have feedback or a topic suggestion, email us.
05.20.2019
S02E10: What Is Interesting about Io?
Occasionally rather than asking a specific question, we ask Stuart why he finds something interesting. On this episode: what is so interesting about Jupiter’s moon Io? If you have feedback or a topic suggestion, email us.
05.20.2019
S02E11:Heat Death And The End Of The Universe
This episode we are joined by Darren McKee, host of The Reality Check. Darren asks about the end of the universe and Heat Death. If you have feedback or a topic suggestion, email us.
05.20.2019
S02E12: Volcanoes In The Solar System
Having discussed the volcanically active moon Io on a previous episode, we ask Stuart: where else are there volcanoes in the solar system? If you have feedback or a topic suggestion, email us.
05.20.2019
S02E13: Talking With Flat Earthers
Not your typical episode! Special guest Ed Robertson talks with the crew about conspiracy theories and a recent run-in with a flat earther. Ed is the frontman of Barenaked Ladies and wrote the theme song for Big Bang Theory. If...
05.20.2019
S02E14: What Is The Hubble Constant?
One of the most important numbers in Cosmology makes up this episode’s question: what is the Hubble Constant? If you have feedback or a topic suggestion, email us.
05.20.2019
S02E15: Why Does Why Does NASA Follow The Water?
NASA missions seem to often be looking for water elsewhere in the solar system. Why does NASA follow the water? If you have feedback or a topic suggestion, email us.
05.20.2019
S02E16: What Is Interesting About Comets?
Occasionally rather than asking a specific question, we ask Stuart why he finds something interesting. This episode’s question is: what is interesting about comets? If you have feedback or a topic suggestion, email us.
05.20.2019
S02E17: Does The Moon Improve Earth’s Habitability?
Pat asked a question last season about whether our moon improves the Earth’s habitability. Stuart said it would have to wait for another episode. That time has come! If you have feedback or a topic suggestion, email us.
05.20.2019
S02E18: What Is The Photoelectric Effect?
Many people know that Albert Einstein won a Nobel prize. But do you know why? It was for something called the photoelectric effect. Well, what’s that? If you have feedback or a topic suggestion, email us.
05.20.2019
S02E19: Gravitational Assists
Cristina has been waiting to ask this one since season one after pondering Kepler’s laws of planetary motion. What is a gravitational assist and how does it work? If you have feedback or a topic suggestion, email us.
05.20.2019
S02E20: What Is Expanding?
This episode we are joined by Darren McKee, host of The Reality Check. We previously discussed that the universe is expanding but Darren asks, “What exactly is expanding and what is it expanding into?” If you have feedback or a...
05.20.2019
S02E21: How Big Is The Universe?
This episode we are joined by Darren McKee, host of The Reality Check who asks, “What is the size of the universe?” If you have feedback or a topic suggestion, email us.
05.20.2019
S02E22: What Is A Light Cone?
Darren McKee, host of The Reality Check has many questions. This episode he asks: “What is a light cone?” If you have feedback or a topic suggestion, email us.
05.20.2019
S02E23: The Big Bang
On this episode we are joined by special guest and science enthusiast Ed Robertson. Ed is the frontman of Barenaked Ladies and wrote the theme song for Big Bang Theory. So naturally, we HAD to challenge Stuart to try and...
04.11.2019
Black Hole Image And Season 2 Announced
We're back! Announcing season two of 5 minutes with an astronomer. We start recording next week and should have a new set of shows for you shortly. In the meantime, Cristina and Pat have a discussion with Stuart about the...
07.03.2018
S01E01: An Introduction To 5 Minutes With An Astronomer
Since this is the first episode, rather than asking Stuart a question, the crew introduces themselves and this new crossover podcast. If you have feedback or a topic suggestion you can email us.
07.03.2018
S01E02: What Are Kepler’s Laws?
This episode’s question is: what are Kepler’s laws of planetary motion? If you have feedback or a topic suggestion you can email us.
07.03.2018
S01E03: Why Do We Have Seasons?
This episode’s question is: why do we have seasons and are there seasons on other planets? If you have feedback or a topic suggestion you can email us.
07.03.2018
S01E04: Where Did Our Moon Come From?
This episode’s question is: where did our moon come from and have we always thought this? If you have feedback or a topic suggestion you can email us.
07.03.2018
S01E05: What Is Interesting About Our Moon?
Occasionally, rather than asking a specific question, we ask Stuart why he finds something interesting. This episode’s question is: what is interesting about our moon? If you have feedback or a topic suggestion you can email us.
07.03.2018
S01E06: What Are Lagrange Points?
This episode’s question is: what is the parallax? If you have feedback or a topic suggestion you can email us.
07.03.2018
S01E07: What Is The Roche Limit?
This episode’s question is: what is the Roche limit? If you have feedback or a topic suggestion you can email us.
07.03.2018
S01E08: What and Where Are Planetary Rings?
This episode’s question is: what and where are planetary rings? If you have feedback or a topic suggestion you can email us.
07.03.2018
S01E09: What Is Parallax?
This episode’s question is: what is parallax? If you have feedback or a topic suggestion you can email us.
07.03.2018
S01E10: What Is Interesting About Pluto?
Occasionally, rather than asking a specific question, we ask Stuart why he finds something interesting. This episode’s question is: what is interesting about Pluto? If you have feedback or a topic suggestion you can email us.
07.03.2018
S01E11: Why Are Rocky Planets Closest To The Sun?
This episode’s question is: why are rocky planets closest to the sun while gaseous planets are further away? If you have feedback or a topic suggestion you can email us.
07.03.2018
S01E12: What Is Special Relativity?
This episode’s question is: what is Einstein’s theory of general relativity? If you have feedback or a topic suggestion you can email us.
07.03.2018
S01E13: What Is General Relativity?
This episode’s question is: what is Einstein’s theory of general relativity? If you have feedback or a topic suggestion you can email us.
07.03.2018
S01E14: What Is The Cosmic Microwave Background?
This episode’s question is: what is the cosmic microwave background and why does it matter? If you have feedback or a topic suggestion you can email us.
07.03.2018
S01E15: What Is Interesting About Jupiter?
Occasionally, rather than asking a specific question, we ask Stuart why he finds something interesting. This episode’s question is: what is interesting about Jupiter? If you have feedback or a topic suggestion you can email us.
07.03.2018
S01E16: What Is The Doppler Effect?
This episode’s question is: what is the Doppler Effect and why is it important? If you have feedback or a topic suggestion you can email us.
07.03.2018
S01E17: What Is Dark Matter?
This episode’s question is: what is dark matter? If you have feedback or a topic suggestion you can email us.
07.03.2018
S01E18: Why Do Stars Twinkle?
This episode’s question is: why do stars twinkle while planets don’t seem to? Stuart explains that this has something to do with “astronomical seeing.” If you have feedback or a topic suggestion you can email us.
07.03.2018
S01E19: What Is Sound Speed?
This episode’s question is: we know what the speed of sound is but what is sound speed? If you have feedback or a topic suggestion you can email us.
07.03.2018
S01E20: What Is Interesting About Craters?
Occasionally, rather than asking a specific question, we ask Stuart why he finds something interesting. This episode’s question is: what is interesting Craters? If you have feedback or a topic suggestion you can email us.
07.03.2018
S01E21: What Is The Drake Equation?
This episode’s question is: what is the Drake Equation? If you have feedback or a topic suggestion you can email us.
07.03.2018
S01E22: What Is The Fermi Paradox?
This episode’s question is a follow up to the Drake Equation episode: What is the Fermi Paradox? If you have feedback or a topic suggestion you can email us.
07.03.2018
S01E23: Does Everything In The Universe Rotate?
This episode’s question is: does pretty much everything in our universe rotate and why? If you have feedback or a topic suggestion you can email us.
07.03.2018
S01E24: What Is Interesting About Charon?
Occasionally, rather than asking a specific question, we ask Stuart why he finds something interesting. This episode’s question is: what is interesting about Charon, one of the satellites of the dwarf planet Pluto? If you have feedback or a...
07.03.2018
S01E25: How Does GPS Work?
This episode’s question is: how does the global positioning system, or GPS, work? If you have feedback or a topic suggestion you can email us.
07.03.2018
S01E26: Gravitational Lensing
This episode’s question is: we understand that gravitational lensing is one of the predictions of Einstein’s theory of general relativity but what is it? If you have feedback or a topic suggestion you can email us.

What's 5 Minutes With An Astronomer about?

Download our free app to listen on your phone

5 Minutes With An Astronomer episodes:

S02E01: Corrections

S02E02: What Is The Cosmic Distance Ladder?

S02E03: How Do Standard Candles Work?

S02E04: Where Does Earth’s Atmosphere End And Space Begin?

S02E05: Solar Structure Part 1

S02E06: Solar Structure Part 2

S02E07: What Is The Solar Wind?

S02E08: Earth’s Magnetosphere

S02E09: Magnetospheres In The Solar System

S02E10: What Is Interesting about Io?

S02E11:Heat Death And The End Of The Universe

S02E12: Volcanoes In The Solar System

S02E13: Talking With Flat Earthers

S02E14: What Is The Hubble Constant?

S02E15: Why Does Why Does NASA Follow The Water?

S02E16: What Is Interesting About Comets?

S02E17: Does The Moon Improve Earth’s Habitability?

S02E18: What Is The Photoelectric Effect?

S02E19: Gravitational Assists

S02E20: What Is Expanding?

S02E21: How Big Is The Universe?

S02E22: What Is A Light Cone?

S02E23: The Big Bang

Black Hole Image And Season 2 Announced

S01E01: An Introduction To 5 Minutes With An Astronomer

S01E02: What Are Kepler’s Laws?

S01E03: Why Do We Have Seasons?

S01E04: Where Did Our Moon Come From?

S01E05: What Is Interesting About Our Moon?

S01E06: What Are Lagrange Points?

S01E07: What Is The Roche Limit?

S01E08: What and Where Are Planetary Rings?

S01E09: What Is Parallax?

S01E10: What Is Interesting About Pluto?

S01E11: Why Are Rocky Planets Closest To The Sun?

S01E12: What Is Special Relativity?

S01E13: What Is General Relativity?

S01E14: What Is The Cosmic Microwave Background?

S01E15: What Is Interesting About Jupiter?

S01E16: What Is The Doppler Effect?

S01E17: What Is Dark Matter?

S01E18: Why Do Stars Twinkle?

S01E19: What Is Sound Speed?

S01E20: What Is Interesting About Craters?

S01E21: What Is The Drake Equation?

S01E22: What Is The Fermi Paradox?

S01E23: Does Everything In The Universe Rotate?

S01E24: What Is Interesting About Charon?

S01E25: How Does GPS Work?

S01E26: Gravitational Lensing