Kielder Observatory Podcast

This month we talk to observational astronomer Dr Victoria Fawcett, about some of the research she has been involved in including the DESI & MOONs projects. 

As we get more data about the deeper universe scientists like Victoria hope to learn more about the formation of galaxies and even the origins of the universe.

Dr Victoria is also very active sharing her knowledge via outreach programmes, and was awarded an outstanding contribution award at the North East STEM awards last year.

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In this month's episode Ian Brannan, and astronomers Dan Pye & Ellie Macdonald  explore the relationship between humans and the night sky, with cultural astronomy expert Dr Jarita Holbrook. 

Since the dawn of time humans have gazed into the night sky, with many civilisations drawing their own inspiration and meaning from what they saw. Timeless stories, even whole religions has been formed from the inspiration the universe has given particularly in times of great turbulence and upheaval.

We also look at some of the great space superstitions held by various civilisations and cultures around the globe too.

Plus we have a look at the latest news from Kielder Observatory, and who to look out for in the night sky over the coming final few weeks of 2022.

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This weekend, James Wilton Dance are performing at Dance City Newcastle, the Four Seasons. Our Science Lead, Ellie Macdonald, chats to James Wilton about what inspiration the Universe has had on this piece. Using Max Richter’s recomposed version of Vivaldi’s seminal work The Four Seasons James Wilton Dance has created a work of immense physicality, driving energy and sweeping beauty. "We wanted to do something that moved away from the traditional Earth Seasons, and look at something more spacey astronomical, and looking at the timeline of the Universe, so we have linked each season to a stage of the Universe" - James Wilton Get your tickets now at https://www.dancecity.co.uk/performance/198300/the-four-seasons-james-wilton-dance/

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This month the spotlight is on both wind, and astro photography..! Firstly we introduce our new crowd funding initiative to raise money for a 2nd wind turbine on the Kielder Observatory site.  

One of the first features many visitors notice will be the general hum coming from the existing wind turbine. In order to rely less on a diesel generator we are looking to add a second turbine elsewhere on the site. Dan Pye our director of astronomy explains why the wind turbine is so important, and how you can get involved to help out.

This month we also catch up with Dan Monk, our director of Astro Photography. You will likely have seen some of Dan's stunning images, but this month he explains a few of the ingredients you need to get a stunning shot of the night sky, as well as a few of the things to particularly point your camera at through the winter months.

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Ever wondered what would happen if the Earth should fall into a black hole?

A black hole is a region of spacetime where gravity is so strong that nothing, no particles or even light can escape from it, and time literally ends.

Prof Martin Ward is currently the Temple Chevallier Chair of Astronomy at Durham University and has spent over 50 years studying black holes. In this episode he shares his findings, and explains what a black hole is, why planets can exist perfectly well near one, and what might happen if we were to venture into one..!

Martin is joined by Kielder astronomer Finn Burridge to explore black holes, and why there's no reason for us here on earth to have any worries about them, for a few million years at least. 

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Joining us this month is Chris Lintott, a Professor of Astrophysics at Oxford University but known to millions as a current presenter on the BBC's The Sky At Night, a show which has been on our screens ever since 1957!

He co-authored Bang! – The Complete History of the Universe and The Cosmic Tourist with Sir Patrick Moore and Queen guitarist and astrophysicist Brian May. A book which has had a recent revision having been published originally in 2006.

He's also co founder of Galaxy Zoo, an online crowdsourcing project where members of the public can volunteer their time to assist in classifying over a million galaxies.

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In our July episode we try and explain as simply as possible, exactly what we are seeing in the first stunning images from the James Webb Telescope. 

Positioned 1 million miles away from earth, and looking billions of light years into the universe, to a time relatively shortly after the Big Bang, we are already seeing thousands of previously unknown galaxies. Not only that, but even in the first images there are some questions posed which scientists are very intrigued by.

Joining us in this episode is someone who worked on the James Webb project, Jurgen Scholl, Senior Optical Engineer at the Centre for Advanced Instrumentation (CfAI) of Durham University. So who better to explain how we are seeing these images than someone who helped create the technology right here in the north east!

Along with Jurgen are our own Kielder astronomers Finn Burridge and Adam Shore.

You can also watch this episode on our Facebook page, head to videos and you will see the original live recording.

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This month Ian Brannan chats with Kielder Observatory Director of Astronomy Dan Pye, about the Secret Life of Stars. From our nearest star, The Sun, to how that compares with the very largest star in the known universe..!

We also explore the life cycles of stars, from the birth, to their slow but dramatic deaths. Plus find out how things might end for for our own Sun, and what that would mean for life on Earth, and the rest of the Solar System.

In addition we bring you a round up of all the latest things going on at Kielder Observatory, and a look ahead to the events in the summer night sky to look out for over the next few weeks!

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As we head towards the mid point of the year and the nights become lighter, we explore some of the unique things about the summer night sky. The north of England is a fantastic place to see Noctilucent Clouds, a phenomena only visible at this time of year. In this episode Director of Astronomy Dan Pye explains what they are, and how you can see them anywhere in the north.

We are also joined by Helen McGhie, Kielder Observatory's Photographic Artist in Residence, and Senior Lecturer at the University Of Sunderland.

Helen is behind a new artistic installation called "Another Dimension", and you will drive through the exhibition if you are visiting us over the summer months..!  Another Dimension has been supported by the Arts and Humanities Research Council, and she explains to us the story behind it.

PLUS, NASA scientists have shared for the first time, what a Black Hole sounds like..! We take a listen and debunk the science around space silence..!

All this and much more in this month's Kielder Observatory Podcast..!

ALSO: If you do see Helen's photographic exhibition she would love to hear your thoughts..!  [email protected] if you wish to share your experience of the banner or online exhibitions - It all helps her PhD thesis!

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This episode was recorded live during #internationaldarkskyweek. Kielder Observatory is situated in the Northumberland International Dark Sky Park, and we will linked up with a Dark Sky Park about as far away as you can get on this planet..!

We were joined live from New Zealand by Gareth Davies from Dark Sky Network NZ, and Nalayini Davies who is the Vice President of the Royal Astronomical Society of New Zealand and an International Dark-Sky Association board member, and Nalayini was the driving force behind making New Zealand's Dark Sky Reserve, Aotea/Great Barrier Island, happen.

We also linked up with The Royal Observatory Greenwich, and astronomer Dr Ed Bloomer, who explains how you can still enjoy the night sky in the brightest of cities.

PLUS we want you to head outside tonight and take a picture of the night sky wherever you are and share it with us. 

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