Astronomy Cast

AstronomyCast 389: Roundtable with Paul M. Sutter by Fraser Cain & Dr. Pamela Gay

This week astronomers announced an unusual transit signal from another star. Although it’s most likely a natural phenomenon, one remote possibility is that this is some kind of alien megastructure. Freeman Dyson and others have considered this idea for decades. Today we’ll talk about the kinds of structures that aliens might want to build.

AstronomyCast 387: Water on Mars (Again) by Fraser Cain & Dr. Pamela Gay

Have you heard the big news? NASA has reported that Mark Watney is alive and well on the surface of Mars. No, wait, they’ve reported that there’s water on Mars. Didn’t they already report this? Today we’ll update you on the latest discovery and what this means for the search for life on Mars.

AstronomyCast 386: Orbiting Observers by Fraser Cain & Dr. Pamela Gay

The atmosphere keeps us alive and breathing, but it really sucks for astronomy. Fortunately, humanity has built and launched space telescopes that get above the pesky atmosphere, where the skies are really clear. Let’s take a look at the past, current and future of orbital observation.

Taking pictures of distant worlds is great and all, but the best science happens with boots on the ground. Or in this case... wheels. This week we'll talk all about robotic rovers and the places they rove.

AstronomyCast 385: Rovers on the Run by Fraser Cain & Dr. Pamela Gay

The gravity of the Earth is a tough thing to escape, but breaking free from the gravity of the Sun is on a whole other level. But humans have achieved this amazing accomplishment, and right now there are several spacecraft leaving the Solar System and never coming back.

AstronomyCast 384: Escaping Probes, by Fraser Cain & Dr. Pamela Gay