Kielder Observatory Podcast

Crisp winter nights are back, and with clear skies that makes for perfect star gazing conditions for the whole family to wrap up warm and see some amazing things..! 

It is a busy time for meteor showers, a number of planets are visible to the naked eye, and we now have the best chance for the next 11 years of seeing the aurora too..!

Get a full update of what's happening at the observatory as well as space in general with Ian Brannan & Director of Astronomy Dan Pye, who also have news of 1 very special guest joining us on the podcast soon..!

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Life IS 100% out there, we just need to find it, however that's not to say other life hasn't found us..! A few of the insights from evolutionary astrobiologist Wallace Arthur, who joins us once again to discuss the latest discoveries relating to Exo Planets, and why they could be the key for discoveries..!

If you want to know where we may find alien life, and why the conversations could be fairly lengthy if we do, then make sure you listen to this one!

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We are recording on location at the Kielder Observatory. As the seasons change and autumn approaches, join host Ian Brannon and a panel of space experts as they delve into the latest celestial events and missions. From the best time to view the Milky Way and Saturn to upcoming lunar eclipses and the fascinating missions to Mercury and Europa, this episode is packed with astronomical insights. Discover how you can make the most of the night sky with just your naked eye, binoculars, or a telescope, and get the latest updates on space missions and discoveries.

Kielder Observatory, Night Sky, Astronomy, Milky Way, Saturn Rings, Lunar Eclipse, Boeing Starliner, Spacex, Bepicolombo, Mercury Mission, Europa Clipper, Search For Life, Jupiter Moon, Space Missions, Telescopes, Stargazing, Autumn Equinox, Zodiacal Light, Open Cluster, Cepheus Constellation

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In this episode of the Kielder Observatory podcast, we venture into the fascinating world of remote sensing with Professor Danny Donoghue from Durham University.

Discover how legacy satellite data from as far back as the 1960s is being utilised to enhance our understanding of Earth's resources, environmental changes, and even archaeology.

Learn about the declassified Cold War-era satellite programme, Corona, and its modern applications. Join us as we delve into the past, present, and future of satellite technology, its impact on climate change studies, and the exciting potential of drones in remote sensing.

Further Links:

Kielder Observatory
https://www.kielderobservatory.org

Durham University
https://www.dur.ac.uk

Landsat Programme
https://landsat.gsfc.nasa.gov

Corona Programme
https://www.nro.gov/History-and-Studies/Center-for-the-Study-of-National-Reconnaissance/CSNR-Programs/Corona/

James Webb Space Telescope
https://www.jwst.nasa.gov

Remote Sensing and Photogrammetry Society
https://www.rspsoc.org.uk

Institute for Data Science, Durham University
https://www.dur.ac.uk/research/institutes-and-centres/data-science/

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As we head through the middle part of the year, Ian Brannan and Director of Astronomy Dan Pye look at the Summer Triangle, a collection of constellation which take centre stage in the night sky at this time of year.

We also discuss the discovery of frost on Mars, which has been found at the top of the biggest mountain in the Solar System Olympus Mons, which is 3x bigger than Mount Everest!

And we look ahead to a potential comet with could be visible this autumn!

For more news and info visit kielderobservatory.org

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In this episode Ian Brannan & Director of Astronomy Dan Pye take a look at some of the recent space stories making the news, including the discovery of an Exo Planet dubbed "Super Earth". Find out why though it is probably not a place you want to book a holiday to just yet.

We also look at Black Holes, NASA have simulated what it would be like to fall into one..!

And a new kind of rocket is set to blast off to space, built by Boeing..! It however doesn't resemble the kind of Boeing craft you might be used to..!

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This month we record the podcast at the observatory itself, and it's a Dan fest. Host Ian Brannan is joined by Director of Astronomy Dan Pye, and Director of Astrophotography Dan Monk, to discuss a couple of hot topics and give you some top tips heading into April!

On April 8th there is due to be a total eclipse which will be best viewed in the United States, but discover Kielder's plans to bring this event to you LIVE from one of our astronomers who is heading to Texas to take in and share the spectacle with you.

Plus with the constant likelihood of an Aurora display at this time of year, Dan Monk explains how to maximise your chances of getting an awesome photo, and shares his adventures to Iceland chasing the phenomenon..!

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The spring equinox is approaching, and in this month's episode Director of Astronomy at Kielder Observatory Dan Pye joins us to look ahead to an interesting time of year as the seasons change! Plus will look at a few news stories from the universe including the discovery of the oldest Black Hole ever found, lurking near the very dawn of time!

We are also joined by 2 CEOs, as way say goodbye and look back on the time of Catherine Johns, who has been CEO of the observatory since 2019. We also meet new CEO Leigh Venus, who has spent many years in culture and tourism, and both speak about why CEO of Kielder Observatory is a job like no other!  

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February is the month of love, and in this episode of the Kielder Observatory Podcast discover how to see a heart light years away in space! Our Director of Astronomy Dan Pye explains the other celestial events occurring through February including our Pye in the Sky challenge!

The main theme of this episode is the Aurora, our science communicator Ishbel Wright has recently ventured north of the Arctic Circle as part of a university project to install a network of cameras to give us a better understanding of this phenomenon. But of course she also saw the northern lights for herself more intensely than ever! As we move towards another peak time to see the Aurora in the UK, we also give you a few tips to improve your chances of bagging a photo for yourself!

Aurora Borealis, Arctic Circle, Night Sky, Planetary Conjunctions, Venus, Heart Nebula, Cassiopeia, Pleiades, Constellations, Andromeda Galaxy, Science Communicator, Ionosphere, Tromso Norway, Astronomy, Astrophysics, Star Clusters, Caroline Rose Cluster, Ishbel Wright, Dan Pye

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In this episode we are joined by some of the team behind out "Kielder Narratives" project: Composer Will Todd, Poet Dan Simpson, and musician & Producer Chad Male join Ian Brannan & Director of Astronomy Dan Pye to tell the story behind the work, and we will also hear the final production in full too!

Kielder Narratives is a collaborative project which builds upon the work we have already delivered with Southpaw Dance Company as part of Kielder Dark Skies.
We wanted to find different ways of engaging the communities in and around Kielder, so that they themselves can tell their story of working, living and playing in such a unique environment.

Funded by Arts Council England, Kielder Observatory were able to commission a poet, Dan Simpson, to complete a residency in the area- engaging with local communities to find out what the dark skies mean to them. The poet co-created poems, plays, songs and spoken word pieces to help articulate the thoughts and feelings of the communities were work in. 

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