Big Picture Science

Mass Transits


Listen Later

On June 5, our sister planet Venus will slowly slide across the face of the sun. This will be the last transit of Venus until 2117, so there’s no subsequent chance to observe this celestial spectacular for anyone alive today.

Join us for a special episode devoted to this rare event. Two centuries ago, nations were locked in a race to be the first to measure the Venus transit. From the first observation by the “father” of British astronomy to Captain Cook’s Tahitian expedition in the 18th century, meet the pioneers who were trying to nail down the scale of the cosmos

Plus, tips for observing the 2012 transit … how the Kepler spacecraft uses transits to detect Earth-like worlds … and could there be life floating in Venusian clouds?

Guests:

  • Jay Pasachoff - Astronomer, Williams College
  • Peter Aughton - Astronomer and author of The Transit of Venus: The Brief, Brilliant Life of Jeremiah Horrocks, Father of British Astronomy
  • Nick Lomb - Former Curator of Astronomy, Sydney Observatory, and author of Transit of Venus: 1631 to the Present
  • Andrea Wulf - Author of Chasing Venus: The Race to Measure the Heavens
  • David Grinspoon - Curator of Astrobiology at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science
  • Jon Jenkins - Lead analyst with the Kepler Mission and senior scientist with the SETI Institute

    Descripción en español

    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    ...more
    View all episodesView all episodes
    Download on the App Store

    Big Picture ScienceBy Big Picture Science

    • 4.5
    • 4.5
    • 4.5
    • 4.5
    • 4.5

    4.5

    912 ratings


    More shows like Big Picture Science

    View all
    Dan Carlin's Hardcore History by Dan Carlin

    Dan Carlin's Hardcore History

    63,999 Listeners

    Common Sense with Dan Carlin by Dan Carlin

    Common Sense with Dan Carlin

    11,417 Listeners

    Scott Sigler Slices by Scott Sigler

    Scott Sigler Slices

    1,087 Listeners

    The Deadpod by J.Henrikson

    The Deadpod

    1,227 Listeners

    The Naked Scientists Podcast by The Naked Scientists

    The Naked Scientists Podcast

    599 Listeners

    Nature Podcast by Springer Nature Limited

    Nature Podcast

    756 Listeners

    Planetary Radio: Space Exploration, Astronomy and Science by The Planetary Society

    Planetary Radio: Space Exploration, Astronomy and Science

    1,356 Listeners

    SpaceTime with Stuart Gary by Stuart Gary

    SpaceTime with Stuart Gary

    321 Listeners

    Meditation Oasis by Mary and Richard Maddux

    Meditation Oasis

    3,910 Listeners

    Mac OS Ken by Ken Ray

    Mac OS Ken

    903 Listeners

    Astronomy Cast by Fraser Cain and Dr. Pamela Gay

    Astronomy Cast

    2,882 Listeners

    Universe Today Podcast by Fraser Cain

    Universe Today Podcast

    566 Listeners

    The Quanta Podcast by Quanta Magazine

    The Quanta Podcast

    544 Listeners

    Discovery by BBC World Service

    Discovery

    965 Listeners

    BBC Inside Science by BBC Radio 4

    BBC Inside Science

    410 Listeners

    Science Magazine Podcast by Science Magazine

    Science Magazine Podcast

    818 Listeners

    Science Friday by Science Friday and WNYC Studios

    Science Friday

    6,467 Listeners

    Philosophy Bites by Edmonds and Warburton

    Philosophy Bites

    1,532 Listeners

    Unexpected Elements by BBC World Service

    Unexpected Elements

    363 Listeners

    CrowdScience by BBC World Service

    CrowdScience

    471 Listeners

    Dan Carlin's Hardcore History: Addendum by Dan Carlin

    Dan Carlin's Hardcore History: Addendum

    8,312 Listeners

    Daniel and Kelly’s Extraordinary Universe by iHeartPodcasts

    Daniel and Kelly’s Extraordinary Universe

    2,367 Listeners

    Why This Universe? by Dan Hooper, Shalma Wegsman

    Why This Universe?

    384 Listeners