AWESOME ASTRONOMY

What to look out, and up, for in December.

We start with the broad constellation of Gemini and an easy binary star, a planetary nebula and a group of star clusters for astronomy beginners to find, before emabarking on a spot of exogazing!

Next up is the return of resplendent Jupiter and Venus to our skies. We bring you the phases and conjunctions of the moon and the Geminid meteor shower in December. Then we round up the best of the deep sky offerings for the month in the winter constellations of Orion, Eridanus & Lepus.

From the Autumn AstroCamp 2014, Cardiff University astrophysics student, Jeni Millard, presents our latest understanding of the structure, formation, and future of our neighbouring galaxies and the evidence for and against dark matter.

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The Discussion: Enjoying light pollution-free skies in the Ionian Sea and soaking up the atmosphere at the North West Astronomy Festival.

The News: In the news we have more findings about the interior and evolution of our moon from the GRAIL and Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter missions; Russian and Chinese lunar ambitions ratchet up a notch; the ExoMars mission narrows down its possible 2018 landing sites; sampling the atmospheres of Neptune-sized exoplanets; Comet Siding Spring brushes past Mars; Lockheed Martin claim to have made a breakthrough in fusion reactors; more doubt on the gravitational waves detection by the BICEP2 team and dark matter particles streaming from the sun.

The 5 Minute Concept: In a solar maximum year when we have tons of solar activity that we can enjoy in the form of visible details on the sun and auroral activity that's even reached as far south as central latitudes recently, this month Paul explains sunspots.

The Interview: Live interviews recorded from the North West Astronomy Festival from Jodrell Bank's Professor Philippa Browning, Astrophotographer of the Year 2011's Damian Peach, BBC Sky at Night presenter Professor Chris Lintott, writer and comedian Helen Keen and the host of the NWAF Andrew Davies.

Q&A: Listeners' questions via email, Facebook & Twitter take us on a journey into the astronomy issues that have always plagued our understanding or stretched our credulity. This month Ralph & Paul answer:

• I know the moon doesn't spin and that we cannot see the rear of it from Earth, but I wondered if we can ever see a little more of the right or left side (like at different times of the day or year or location on earth)? Ollie Broad from Thailand via Twitter.
• In your opinions should we send manned mission back to the moon or should we head straight to Mars? Lee Garner from the UK via Twitter .

What to look out, and up, for in November.

We start with the welcome return of the winter constellation of Taurus in our beginners' and young observers' challenge.

Next up is the planets, the phases and conjunctions of the moon and the Leonid meteor shower to enjoy this month.

We then round up the best of the deep sky offerings for the month with the open clusters and binary stars in the constellation Auriga.

The Discussion: Enjoying dark skies at the National Trust, Paul's astronomy outreach endeavours with Sirius Astronomy and predictions for the upcoming AstroCamp.

The Tour: In this special episode, Ralph and Paul bring record from the Surrey Space Centre at the University of Surrey in Guildford. We tour this world leading centre of excellence for low cost satellite design and innovation and explain the sights and work being conducted in the Ground Station and laboratories from where 30 satellites have already been launched and many more are currently in design.

The News: In the news we have the latest on the European Space Agency's ambitious Rosetta spacecraft as it circularises its orbit around Comet Churyumov Gerasimenko; Japan's Hayabusa2 mission to return pristine asteroid samples; watching asteroids colliding 1,000 light years away and yet another reminder of the asteroid lottery we're playing.

The 5 Minute Concept: Recording from the UK centre of satellite design and construction, what else should Paul be talking about this month, but the physics and history of satellites.

The Interview: This month the seat is filled by the Surrey Space Centre's Head of the Planetary Environments Group, Professor Craig Underwood as we discuss satellite innovation, the UK space industry and the future of space exploration.

Q&A: Listeners' questions via email, Facebook & Twitter take us on a journey into the astronomy issues that have always plagued our understanding or stretched our credulity. This month Ralph & Paul answer:

• I understand Jupiter has no solid mass inside, so how come it's classed as a planet and stays planet shaped? Mike Joy from Wales via Facebook
• Can you guys successfully explain the proton-proton chain in under 20 seconds?? Vicky Dews, @Woozydewsy via Twitter

What to look out, and up, for in October.

We start with the constellation of Perseus in our beginners' and young observers' challenge.

Next up is planets, the phases and conjunctions of the moon and the meteor showers to enjoy this month.

We then round up the best of the deep sky offerings for the month with the globular clusters and galaxies in the constellations Andromeda & Pegasus.

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A podcast extra episode to get you in the mood for the biannual dark sky weekend run by the podcast crew. We have BBC's The Sky at Night's Chris North joining us again to give a talk on the Herschel Space Observatory and Cardiff Uni's Jeni Millard explaining galaxies and dark matter. And of course, 3 nights of enjoying the wonders of truly dark skies.

If you're not coming to AstroCamp in April 2014, there's still a sky guide in this episode to give you stargazing inspiration wherever you are.

The Discussion: Sirius Astronomy and The Knowledge Observatory's educational outreach and preparation for our dark sky observing weekend in Wales: AstroCamp.

The News: In the news we have the latest on the European Space Agency's ambitious Rosetta spacecraft as it settles into it's science program at Comet Churyumov Gerasimenko; details of the science payload for NASA's 'Curiosity 2' Mars rover; revealing images of the Pluto system from the New Horizons spacecraft; China's lunar orbit & spacecraft return mission and turbulent happenings on Uranus (sorry).

The 5 Minute Concept: Distant radio sources that reveal unknown monsters from the past, unleashing hell from afar. In this month's 5MC, Paul takes us billions of light years away from home to explain one of the brightest and most energetic objects in the universe. Quasars.

The Interview: This month we return to the most exciting current space mission. In an attempt to understand the life of comets and unlock the secrets of the birth of the solar system, Ralph speaks to the European Space Agency's Rosetta mission Project Scientist, Matt Taylor.

Q&A: Listeners' questions via email, Facebook & Twitter take us on a journey into the astronomy issues that have always plagued our understanding or stretched our credulity. This month Ralph & Paul answer:

• Why does Venus rotate retrograde? Dave Bood from Scarborough, UK & Beatriz Caicedo, Guatemala .
• With the idea that all that is the universe originated in a speck with the big bang, and that the universe is expanding, how is it that things such as galaxies collide? Kurt Green, Chicago Illinois via email.
• How much would my 20 stone (280lbs) wife weigh on each of the planets in the solar system? Darren Knight .

What to look out, and up, for in September. We start with the constellation of Cassiopeia in our beginners' and young observers' challenge. Next up is planets, the phases and conjunctions of the moon to enjoy this month. We then round up the best of the deep sky offerings for the month with the large clusters and a nice easy nebula in the constellation Sagitta & Vulpecula.

The Discussion: Enjoying the delights of July's skies, writing articles for Astronomy magazine, STEM education and Paul becomes a European Space Agency ambassador.

The News: In the news we have the Rosetta spacecraft's approach to the almost unpronounceable comet Churyumov Gerasimenko – revealed to be a binary comet, and the Very Large Telscope in Chile takes a 2.5 year study of a supernova to crack the riddle of how dust is created and survives the extreme temperatures of its birth.

The 5 Minute Concept: In this month's 5MC, Paul looks at the summer phenomenon of noctilucent clouds and asks 'why is there no record of them before 1885'?

The Interview: We welcome back the General Secretary of the International Astronomical Union, Professor Thierry Montmerle to tells us about the International Year of Light, the IAU's new look communications strategy and their new project to allow the public to name exoplanets and their host stars.

Q&A: Listeners' questions via email, Facebook & Twitter take us on a journey into the astronomy issues that have always plagued our understanding or stretched our credulity. This month Ralph & Paul answer:

• Oolaaa Martian overlords. Where in your opinions does the solar system truly end. Thanks, your faithful servant Lee? Lee Garner from Norwich, UK.
• What's a Vampire Star? @TweetsByLou via Twitter

And we finish with the winners of last month's competition to win three DVD copies of the new film Gagarin – First in Space, and a copy of the book Yuri Gagarin – The First Spaceman.