Hostile Worlds: Exploring Space

In the last episode, we left a doomed Sarah, David and Dr. Cellarius as they plunged helplessly into the sun.

But their inevitable deaths will not be in vain. We’ll still have some time on this episode to learn about the structure of our main star before they reach the core and get burned to crispy cinders.

This is part two of our guest-written episode by William J. Meyer. And you can check out William’s own work at FireOnTheMound.com and StrangeLovePodcast.com

And a big thanks to guest cast member Tanja Milojevic for her excellent performance as Dr. Cellarius. You can find Tanja’s own work at http://www.lightningbolt.podbean.com/ (LightningBolt Theater of the Mind).

This also brings down the curtain on season one of Hostile Worlds. However, as we gear up to plan season two, we’d love to get your feedback, opinions, and suggestions. You can do that by filling out this very brief survey – we really would appreciate your input 

Things to Learn What’s so interesting about the sun’s corona?

How deep are the layers of the sun, and how do they compare to distances on earth?

Where does the sun’s light actually come from?

How many years does it take for the sun’s energy to pass through the radiation zone?

What is the Black Dwarf phase, and has it ever happened before?

What’s in the cold storage container?

Our lives literally revolve around it. That big yellow ball in the sky - The Sun.

But what do we really know about El Sol? Is it just a big ball of gas and flame? Or is there more to it than that?

On this episode, Sarah and David venture into the Sun's corona, to meet with Dr. Andrea Cellarius. A very bright and flame-boyant scientist.

This is the first part of a two-part episode, guest written by friend of the show William J. Meyer. You can find William's own spectacular podcasts at http://www.fireonthemound.com/ (FireOnTheMound.com) and StrangeLovePodcast.com

Oh, and don't forget to check out our Hostile Worlds merchandise Store too!

Things to Learn What is a solar bathysphere?

What is the standard atmospheric pressure of the Sun, compared to Earth?

What is the radius, circumference, and magnitude of the Sun?

What is a CME, and how did one nearly wreck Earth back in 2012?

The Brown Dwarf. Is it a star? Is it a planet? Is it a tabletop war gaming miniature? Is it an obscure Red Dwarf fan fiction series?

We need speculate no more, as observational astronomer Dr. Aleks Scholz of St. Andrews Observatory returns to the podcast with a detailed answer for us.

We also announce details of our brand new Hostile Worlds merchandise store on TeePublic. Want a Hostile Worlds-branded t-shirt, hoodie, poster, sticker, or mug? Then you're in luck!

Things to Learn What's the difference between a Brown Dwarf, a star, and a planet?

Why are Brown Dwarfs interesting to scientists?

Are Brown Dwarfs rare?

What makes a Brown Dwarf?

What do Brown Dwarfs look like?

Could we land on a Brown Dwarf?

Welcome to Venus, the second planet from the sun and the closest other planet to Earth.

So, why do we always think of Mars as the closest and likeliest candidate for off-world exploration and habitation? On this episode, Sarah and David head to the only planet named after a female deity.

With Sarah at the controls, David explores the surface of a planet which, despite its “hot and hellish landscape”, has more similarities to our own “Pale Blue Dot” than we realise.

Things to Learn • Does Venus have volcanoes? • What happened to the Soviet Union’s Venera rocket series? • Why does a year on Venus last longer than a day? • Why are the plains so flat? • Why is it so hard to see the surface from Earth? • Could we colonise Venus, despite its hostile environment?

Task Explore the world of highly-produced fictional podcasts and find some new shows to subscribe to!

Links http://www.windows2universe.org/ (The Continents of Venus)

https://www.space.com/18525-venus-composition.html (The composition of Venus)

https://theplanets.org/venus/ (Interesting facts about Venus)

As the crew of The Tardigrade prepare to land on Venus, Matthew heads back down to Earth to get some supplies.

Whilst back on the home planet, he pays a visit to St. Andrews Observatory to have a look at the James Gregory Telescope - the biggest telescope in Scotland.

The custodian of this fine piece of equipment is Dr. Aleks Scholz, an observational astronomer who studies problems in star and planet formation.

This was a good opportunity for us all to learn something new, so Aleks is going to talk us through the life cycle of a star.

Things to Learn

How do stars from?

Why does size matter when it comes to star formation?

How do stars die?

What determines the ultimate fate of a star?

What causes stars to explode?

How will our own sun die?

What impact will the sun dying have on the planets in our solar system?

If Aleks could visit anywhere in the universe, where would he go?

The solar system is a big place, and while Colin's testing the shuttle, Sarah and Matthew have a visitor.

David drops by to explain a bit about relativity and distance within the solar system and the universe in general.

And watch out for mighty Zordon of the Orcs.

Things to Learn

What happens when you're travelling close to the speed of light?

What's a light second?

How fast are you travelling right now, and why don't you realise it?

Why do two trucks seem to take ages over passing each other?

Since leaving Titan last month we’ve been doing a bit of deep space exploration in The Tardigrade.

And although space can look a bit… empty, it’s actually as hostile an environment as you’re ever likely to find.

Out here we’re totally reliant on some pretty fragile materials and equipment keeping us alive.

I’m sure everything will be fine of course, but what if something did go wrong?

On this episode we’ll create a simulation that shows a rather unfortunate “virtual Colin” tossed out into deep space wearing only his pants.

Intrigued? Well, I wouldn’t be. But whatever floats your space boat I suppose…

Things to Learn

What would happen to you if you were floating in deep space without a spacesuit?

Is it possible to survive in deep space?

What's the speed of light?

How do scientists talk about the massive numbers we're working with in space. 

Why is Earth’s ozone layer so important?

Task

Send us a tweet https://twitter.com/HostileWorldsHQ (@HostileWorldsHQ) and let us know where you’d like us to take The Tardigrade next.

Welcome to Titan, the biggest moon of Saturn, and the only known cosmic body other than Earth, that we know for certain has actual lakes and seas on its surface.

But that isn’t the only reason that makes this frozen moon such an interesting and fascinating place.

On this episode, our crew leave the comfort and warmth of our ship, The Tardigrade, to explore the surface of Titan.

Their mission is to report back on the curiosities and mysteries of this hazy extraterrestrial landscape.

A landscape which is, on the one hand, very familiar, yet on the other hand, truly alien to us.

Things to Learn What does a hydrocarbon ocean look like?

What’s so weird about the dunes on Titan?

What on Titan is “electric snow” and “electric sand”!?

What’s the story behind the “magic islands” in Titan’s seas? And what might they be?

What is a cryovolcano, and why might they exist on Titan?

Could life feasibly exist way out here?

Task Where would you like to see The Tardigrade visit and explore in a future mission, and why? Get in touch and tell us all about it!

Bonus Download Land O’Lakes: Secrets from Titan’s Seas – Originally published in http://astronomy.com/ (Astronomy Magazine)

Links New Scientist: Electrified sand could explain Titan’s odd backward-facing dunes

National Geographic: Building Block for ‘Vinyl Life’ found on Saturn’s moon Titan

Cosmos Magazine: Could there be life in Titan’s alien sea? 

Science Alert: Life “not as we know it” might be possible on Titan

Science Alert: NASA plans to send an autonomous submarine to explore Titan’s oceans

http://astro.cornell.edu/ (Cornell University Astronomy Department)

https://www.kielderobservatory.org/ (Kielder Observatory)

https://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/ (The Cassini Mission to Saturn)

https://www.iau.org/ (International Astronomical Union)

http://www.esa.int/ESA (European Space Agency)

The Tardigrade is on its way to Titan, the biggest moon of Saturn.

We're about to break through its hazy orange atmosphere and land on its surface.

Our ship won't be the first human-built device to land on Titan though. The Huygens probe made this place its home back in 2005, when it was dropped off here by the Cassini spacecraft.

The Cassini-Huygens mission has taught us so much about this fascinating region of the outer solar system over the last 20 years. Now we want to take you to Titan so you can experience it for yourself.

So suit up and strap in. It's nearly time to land on this fascinating landscape of hydrocarbon oceans, and icy mountains.

And we'll be joined over our radio comms interface by Alexander Hayes, an assistant professor at Cornell Universty in the Astronomy department. He’s part of the Cassini Mission to Saturn research team, so Titan is basically his second home. We're in good hands!

Things to Learn Perspective - how far away from the sun is Titan?

What's the story behind the Cassini-Huygens mission?

What did scientists expect to find on Titan? Were they right?

What does it look and feel like on Titan?

What kind of suit will you need to explore Titan?

How does sound work on Titan?

Why are regions and features on Titan named after places from Lord of the Rings, and Dune? Who decides on these names?

Tasks Enjoying the journey so far? We'd love it if you could drop us a wee five-star rating and review on Apple Podcasts, or your podcast app of choice.

Links http://astro.cornell.edu/ (Cornell University Astronomy Department)

https://www.kielderobservatory.org/ (Kielder Observatory)

https://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/ (The Cassini Mission to Saturn)

https://www.iau.org/ (International Astronomical Union)

http://www.esa.int/ESA (European Space Agency)

Would you like to go on an audio tour around some of the most fascinating yet deadly places in the universe? Of course you would.

Well, consider this inaugural episode of Hostile Worlds to be your invitation and boarding pass.

I say boarding pass, because we'd like you to join us on board The Tardigrade. An all-purpose exploration vehicle that can float, fly, dive, or dig through any environment.

It's (nearly) time to go and visit all the places you'd die to see, and places you'd die if you saw.

In this episode, I'm busy trying to set the scene of the show. On top of that, I need make sure the ship gets built, and hire a small crew so I don't need to do all the talking myself.

Things to Learn Perspective - we're going to make you feel really small.

What on Earth is a Tardigrade and why is that the name of our ship?

Why we're heading to Saturn's moon Titan for our first mission, and why it's such an exciting place.

I'd also like you to appreciate the fact that this is a space podcast, and a podcast launch, and we've totally avoided any lazy and cliched puns the whole time. That alone makes the show worth subscribing too, surely?

This podcast is created and presented by The Podcast Host - your number one source for podcasting hints, tips, tricks, and guides.

Tasks Subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, or your podcast app of choice.

https://twitter.com/HostileWorldsHQ (Follow Hostile Worlds on Twitter)

https://www.facebook.com/hostileworlds/ (Like Hostile Worlds on Facebook)

Links Tardigrades: Meet the Most Indestructible Species on the Planet

https://www.thepodcasthost.com/kraken (Kraken Mare: The Audio Drama)

https://www.kielderobservatory.org/ (Kielder Observatory)

http://astro.cornell.edu/members/alexander-hayes.html (Alexander Hayes - Cornell University)