How do we "autopsy" a galaxy from billions of light-years away? Join world-renowned astrophysicist Dr. Elisabete da Cunha as she sits down with Astrophiz host Brendan O’Brien to explore the life, evolution, and eventual "death" of the most massive structures in the universe.

From her early inspirations under the stars of Portugal to her groundbreaking work in Extragalactic Astronomy, Elisabete shares her personal journey and the high-tech tools used to decode Starlight, Cosmic Dust, and Spectral Energy Distributions (SEDs).

In this episode, we dive into:

Galaxy Evolution: How star systems grow and transform over billions of years.

Radio Astronomy: Using invisible light to peer into the deep universe.

Stellar Populations: What the chemistry of stars tells us about the history of space.

Cosmology & Dark Matter: The invisible forces shaping our galactic neighborhood.

Whether you are a student of astrophysics or a casual stargazer, this conversation offers a unique, charming, and deeply insightful window into the forensic evidence of our universe.

Read the full transcript and see the show notes at: https://astrophiz.com/2026/03/18/galaxy-forensics-with-dr-elisabete-da-cunha-astrophiz-230/

Subscribe to Astrophiz for your monthly dose of space science, telescope technology, and expert interviews.

Welcome to Astrophiz Episode 233

This month, we are joined by Dr. Ian Musgrave for the May Sky Guide. We explore the planetary alignments, the upcoming Eta Aquariid meteor showers, and how you can track Comet C/2025 R3 (PANSTARRS). Plus, we dive into the fascinating world of sun-grazing comets and how you can get involved in citizen science.

In this episode:

Planetary Watch: Venus and Jupiter dominating the evening; Saturn and Mars rising in the morning.

Moon Phases: Full Moon details, the "Blue Moon" on May 31st, and the occultation of Antares.

Meteor Showers: What to expect from the Eta Aquariids (and how to watch them away from the Moon).

Comet Hunting: Tracking Comet C/2025 R3 (PANSTARRS) and finding "sun-grazers" via SOHO and STEREO spacecraft imagery.

Citizen Science: Tips on how to hunt for comets using online archives.

Upcoming: Join us on May 15th as we speak with Dr. Jacob Parrott from the ESA Space Research and Technology Centre about the Mother's Day solar storm and Mars' atmosphere.

Support Independent Science:

Astrophiz is free, ad-free, and unsponsored. For full transcripts, show notes, and celestial charts, please visit: https://astrophiz.com

#Astrophiz #Astronomy #Stargazing #SciencePodcast #MaySkyGuide #IanMusgrave #CitizenScience #Space #CometHunting #AstronomyPodcast

Discover the hidden science of the Northern Lights! In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Maria-Theresia Walach to uncover the physics behind the aurora and the fascinating complexities of space weather.

In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

The Science of the Aurora: What actually causes the different colors and shapes in the night sky?

Space Weather Impacts: How solar activity affects our satellites, power grids, and GPS systems.

The Ionosphere: A deep dive into the layer of Earth's atmosphere that acts as a gateway to space.

Current Research: Dr. Walach shares insights from her latest work on magnetospheric physics.

Timestamps:

00:56 - Introduction to Dr. Maria-Theresia Walach

05:15 - How Auroras are formed: Solar wind meets the Magnetosphere

12:30 - The impact of Space Weather on modern technology

22:45 - Researching the Ionosphere: Challenges and breakthroughs

35:10 - Future missions and what’s next for Space Physics

42:00 - Closing remarks and where to find more research

About the Guest:

Dr. Maria-Theresia Walach is a leading researcher specializing in Space Physics and the Earth's Ionosphere. Her work is vital for understanding the Sun-Earth connection and protecting our planetary infrastructure.

Links & Resources:

AstroPhiz Website: https://astrophiz.com/

Follow us on Twitter: @AstroPhiz

Keywords: Astronomy, Aurora Borealis, Northern Lights, Space Weather, Physics, NASA, Dr Maria-Theresia Walach, Science Podcast, Ionosphere.

Will we see a "Headless Comet" this month? ☄️ Join Brendan O’Brien and Dr. Ian Musgrave for the April 2026 SkyGuide as we track the rare C/2026 A1 (MAPS) Comet and a spectacular Morning Planet Parade.

In this episode, you’ll discover:

The "Planet Dance": How to spot Mercury, Mars, and Saturn clustering in the morning twilight.

Double Comet Watch: Updates on C/2026 A1 and C/2025 R3 (PANSTARRS)—will they survive perihelion?

Deep Sky Targets: Finding the "Sickle of Leo" and the blue-white star Regulus.

Lunar Events: When to catch the "Lunar X" and "Lunar A" on the moon’s surface.

Viewing Tips: Why the April 5th end of Daylight Saving is your best friend for early stargazing.

Links & Resources:

Full Transcript & Imagery: astrophiz.com

Detailed Star Charts: Visit Ian’s Astroblog

Subscribe: Never miss an episode—follow us on SoundCloud, Youtube podcasts, Audible podcasts, Spotify, or Apple Podcasts.

Connect with Astrophiz: https://astrophiz.com/2026/03/31/astrophiz-231-april-2026-skyguide-two-rare-comets-and-the-morning-planet-dance/

Produced on Yorta Yorta, Pangarang, and Kaurna country. We acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land and the first astronomers of Australia.

Host: Brendan O’Brien: Astronomers, Astrophysicists & Space Scientists.

Guest: Dr. Ian ‘Astroblog’ Musgrave.

#Astronomy #SkyGuide #Comet #Space #Stargazing #SciencePodcast #PlanetParade #STEM

Welcome to the Astrophiz March SkyGuide, where Ian tells us about the Total Lunar Eclipse and all the observation and astrophotography tips that go with it.

Also you get highl;ights of the morning and evening skies and how to find the Variable star, Mira.

A fantastic interview with an amazing pulsar astrophysicist who is unravelling the secrets of misbehaving pulsars using his phenomenal coding skills.

Subscribe and/or Listen here... or read the transcript on Astrophiz.com

Dr. Ian ‘Astroblog’ Musgrave give us 'February' in his monthly SkyGuide series. This month you get moon phases, the Beehive Cluster, nice planetary action, Lunar X, the Pleiades and the Southern Pleiades.

Our audio files and transcripts are available on our website at Astrophiz.com, and our MP3 files can be freely streamed or downloaded to your favourite device from our SoundCloud channel, our free Amazon Audible stream, YouTube podcasts, Podbean, Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

Dr. Laura Hayes (ESA) joins us to reveal the explosive physics of "Solar Fireworks." Discover how the Solar Orbiter is capturing the closest-ever images of our Sun.

The Solar Cycle: Why we are heading toward a Solar Maximum.

ESA Solar Orbiter: Insights from the front lines of heliophysics.

Space Weather: How CMEs impact Earth’s technology.

Dr Laura Hayes’ research focuses on solar flares, coronal mass ejections (CMEs), and space weather—phenomena that can disrupt satellites, communications, power grids, and create auroras. Using data from ESA’s Solar Orbiter mission, she studies how magnetic energy is stored and explosively released in the Sun’s atmosphere, why some flares produce CMEs, and how tiny, fast-evolving structures may drive flare energy release and coronal heating.

Key Takeaways from Episode 226

Decoding the Solar Cycle: Dr. Laura Hayes explains why the Sun is currently reaching its "Solar Maximum" and what these frequent "Solar Fireworks" mean for Earth.

Inside the ESA Solar Orbiter Mission: A behind-the-scenes look at how this cutting-edge spacecraft captures the closest-ever images of the Sun and its mysterious polar regions.

The Science of Solar Flares & CMEs: Understand the physics behind Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs) and how scientists track these massive bursts of solar plasma across the solar system.

Space Weather Impacts: Discover how solar activity affects our satellites, GPS, and power grids, and why predicting "space weather" has become a global priority.

Laura highlights the collaborative nature of solar physics, the importance of mentors and community, and the challenges facing early-career researchers. Hayes is also passionate about public outreach, emphasising the value of sharing publicly funded science and inspiring future scientists during what she calls a “golden age” of solar research.

Dr Laura Hayes, an eminent Irish solar physicist and research fellow at the Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies, discusses her career path, scientific motivations, and cutting-edge research on our closest star. Growing up in coastal Ireland, Laura developed an early love of maths and physics driven by curiosity and problem-solving rather than a clear plan to become an astrophysicist. University research opportunities led her into solar physics, followed by a PhD at Trinity College Dublin and international postdoctoral work in the US and Europe.

FULL TRANSCRIPT: Dr Laura Hayes interview at Astrophiz.com

Key Takeaways from Episode 226

Decoding the Solar Cycle: Dr. Laura Hayes explains why the Sun is currently reaching its "Solar Maximum" and what these frequent "Solar Fireworks" mean for Earth.

Inside the ESA Solar Orbiter Mission: A behind-the-scenes look at how this cutting-edge spacecraft captures the closest-ever images of the Sun and its mysterious polar regions.

The Science of Solar Flares & CMEs: Understand the physics behind Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs) and how scientists track these massive bursts of solar plasma across the solar system.

Space Weather Impacts: Discover how solar activity affects our satellites, GPS, and power grids, and why predicting "space weather" has become a global priority.

Are "leaky" satellites drowning out the early universe? 🛰️

Dr. Dylan Grigg (Curtin University/ICRAR) joins Astrophiz to reveal groundbreaking research into Unintended Electromagnetic Radiation (UEMR). As satellite constellations like Starlink proliferate, their electronic "noise" is leaking into protected radio astronomy bands.

In this episode, we explore:

76 Million Images: How Dr. Grigg isolated satellite signals from the Murchison Radio-astronomy Observatory.

The SKA-Low Connection: Why the Square Kilometre Array is at risk from these "noisy" neighbours.

The Epoch of Reionization: What happens when satellite interference masks the faint signals from the first stars.

The Regulatory Frontier: The urgent need for new international spectrum management.

Guest Bio: Dr. Dylan Grigg is a researcher at Curtin University and ICRAR, specializing in radio frequency interference and its impact on deep-space observation.

Full show notes & more interviews: Astrophiz.com

Our MP3 files can be freely streamed or downloaded free to your favorite device from our SoundCloud channel, from Pocketcasts, Spotify, our free Amazon Audible stream, YouTube podcasts and Apple Podcasts.

Listen:

Viewing Highlights

Both morning & Evening skies are good for planets

Evening Skies:

Mars is very low in NW skies setting about an hour after sunset.

Mercury is above Mars also down in the Sun’s glare.

Mercury and Mars are 1° apart on 13 November

Saturn is high in the NE, the rings are almost edge on, but becoming more obvious over the next few years until they reach maximum tilt again in 2032.

Uranus, high near Pleiades, binocular viewing.

Morning Skies:

Jupiter (and its 4 Galilean moons) is always beautiful to look at, and can be seen for about 4 hours from about 2am till sunrise

Comets:

C/2023 R2 Swann – currently in Aquarius, fading, about Mag 5.6, high in evening skies, binoculars

C/2025 A6 (Lemmon) – Magnitude 4, near horizon, so difficult.

Leonid Meteor shower will be quite poor this year, despite the absence of the moon ☹

Astrophotography Challenge

1. Take photos of the moon at apogee and at perigee using the same camera settings to measure the difference in the moon’s apparent size when it is at its closest and furthest from earth

2. Capture the Lunar X

Ian’s Tangent

Comet Atlas is being misrepresented by ‘conspiracy theorists’ on social media who claim, without a shred of evidence, that Comet Atlas is an “Interstellar Spacecraft reversing its thrust”

There is a long history of comets inducing panic and fear in humans. Sad.

Next Episode:

Our next episode, coming as soon as I finish the edit … features Dylan Grigg, a fabulous PhD from Perth in Western Australia.

Dylan has been doing amazing work that impacts on the effectiveness of every radio telescope on the planet.

He has revealed the presence of unintended radio frequencies leaking from the tens of thousands of low earth orbit satellites above us , and these leaking frequencies are threatening to drown out the very faintest of frequencies that tell us what was happening at the very dawn of time.

This is important work, and it was great to speak with Dylan.

You’ll enjoy his stories!

See ya soon