Please Look Up

Please Look Up

By Particle WAScienceAstronomy
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Please Look Up episodes

  • Oct 26: Saturn's New Shape, Potential Dark Matter & Space Potatoes
    This month Leon and Alyshia explore the wonders of the October night sky, starting with Saturn's intriguing new shape and the potential discovery of dark matter and some questionable pictures sent to the moon.
    Saturn's Decagon
    https://science.nasa.gov/missions/hubble/nasas-hubble-tracks-new-decagon-encircling-saturns-south-pole/
    Interesting Read:
    https://www.fearandwine.com/post/saturn-decagon-south-pole
    Leon's Space Pic -
    https://particle.scitech.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/crater-1.png
    Alyshia's Space Pic -
    https://particle.scitech.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/Moon_Art_Scale_Fingers.jpg
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moon_Museum
    Tarantula Nebula -
    https://science.nasa.gov/missions/webb/a-cosmic-tarantula-caught-by-nasas-webb/
    As the Milky Way shifts towards the western sky, spot constellations like Scorpius and Sagittarius. Venus and Mercury make a dazzling appearance alongside the moon on October 12. How to see the Orionids meteor with tips on the best viewing times. We also check out the Dorado constellation Large Magellanic Cloud and Tarantula Nebula & significance of Supernova 1987A, a pivotal moment in astronomical history.
    47 min
  • September 2026: Rogue Rockets, Untethered Astronauts & Extremely Large Telescopes
    September 2026: Rogue Rockets, Untethered Astronauts & Extremely Large Telescopes
    This month on Please Look Up, Leon and Alyshia look to the September skies, where Venus meets the Moon, Mercury makes a brief appearance and the constellation Ophiuchus wrangles a celestial snake.
    Back on Earth (and the Moon), a rogue SpaceX rocket creates a brand-new lunar crater, China has a spectacular space fail and an enormous Starship hitches a ride home. Plus, we revisit the terrifyingly brilliant time NASA let astronauts fly around completely untethered to retrieve broken satellites, and step inside the aptly named Extremely Large Telescope – a 38-metre-wide monster currently taking shape in Chile.
    Alyshia's Space Pic:
    https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/22/Satellites_For_Sale_-_GPN-2000-001036.jpg/960px-Satellites_For_Sale_-_GPN-2000-001036.jpg?utm_source=en.wikipedia.org&utm_campaign=parser&utm_content=thumbnail
    https://www.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/51a-46-057.jpg
    https://www.nasa.gov/image-article/capturing-satellite-november-1984/
    Leon's Space Pic:
    https://cdn.eso.org/images/screen/potw2627a.jpg
    Chinese Rocket that snapped in half & exploded
    https://teams.microsoft.com/l/message/19:67aad3c7-8912-4bb1-ae4e-868dc4da5dfb_e7ef984c-f199-4c38-8af5-4104649eb015@unq.gbl.spaces/1788418794605?context=%7B%22contextType%22%3A%22chat%22%7D
    47 min
  • What's up in August? Teapots at the centre of the Galaxy, Telstra GPS Fails, and Human Water Balloons
    This month Alyshia & Leon discuss Australia's accidental trip back to 2006, a giant space teapot, glowing red-hot rockets & the telescope hunting the universe's biggest mysteries.
    This month we're pointing to the centre of the Milky Way with a cosmic teapot, celebrating the launch of NASA's Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, watching Space X reusable rockets survive another test flight, and asking whether Australia is a little *too* reliant on GPS.
    Along the way we discover why Sagittarius A* has a star in its name, Dark Energy & how astronomers measure the expansion of the universe, and why a software bug sent parts of Telstra back to 2006.
    Alyshia's Space Picture
    https://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Images/2026/03/Plato_readies_for_space-like_tests
    PLATO Space Telescope in ESA's Large Space Simulator
    Credit: ESA
    Leon's Space Picture
    https://particle.scitech.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/image-3-scaled.png
    Inside Starship's Engine Bay
    Credit: SpaceX
    https://www.spacex.com/launches/starship-flight-13
    What's Up in the Night Sky for August?
    - Venus dominates the western sky.
    - Jupiter has disappeared into the Sun's glare.
    - Scorpius is high overhead.
    - The Milky Way stretches across the winter sky.
    - Sagittarius sits beneath Scorpius - find the "Teapot" and point its spout towards the centre of our galaxy.
    Before sunrise (East/North-East)
    - Mars glows red in the north-east.
    - Saturn appears higher in the northern sky with its distinctive yellow tint.
    - Perseid meteor shower (best chance: 12–13 August, very low on the northern horizon).
    Dates of Interest
    - 12 August – Total Solar Eclipse (visible from Spain, Iceland, Greenland, Portugal & parts of Russia)
    - 12–13 August – Perseid Meteor Shower peak
    - 27 August – Partial Lunar Eclipse (not visible from Australia)
    - 30 August – Planned launch of NASA's Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope
    Constellation of the Month
    Sagittarius – A giant centaur wielding a bow & arrow & the Galactic Teapot
    Space Flight Focus
    Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope launches 30th August.
    Starship Flight 13 Success
    China String Catch Success
    Space Fail of the Month
    Australia's Accidental Trip Back to 2006
    A Telstra software bug caused widespread outages after a timing server misinterpreted a GPS week rollover.
    Please Look Up is recorded on Whadjuk Noongar Country.
    Produced by Leon Smith
    Hosted by Leon Smith & Alyshia Gatani,
    Edited by Alyshia Gatani.
    For more space news check out:
    https://particle.scitech.org.au/
    Got a question? Leave it in the comments and we might answer it next episode!
    Particle is powered by Scitech.
    57 min
  • What's up in July? Galaxy Subclumps, Space Jellyfish & Yelling at the moon
    This month Alyshia & Leon discuss galaxy sub-clumps, space jellyfish, weird egg shaped stars & yelling at the moon.
    *Disclaimer - There's a 4 letter swear word around 30 mins in that starts with an "s."
    Alyshia's Space Pic:
    https://particle.scitech.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/space-jellyfish-fuelburny.jpg
    Leon's Space Pic/ Space Fail:
    https://particle.scitech.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/twisty-telescope.png
    What's up in the Night Sky for July?
    In the West - Jupiter going going gone. Venus is still super bright & swings by Regulus in Leo constellation July 10. To the East - see Mars in the morning. Pleiades, Taurus, Aldebaran.
    Dates of interest:
    July 7: Earth at aphelion
    July 10: Venus close to Regulus in Leo
    July 20: International Moon Day
    July 29: Full Moon
    Buzz Aldrin yells at the moon in 30 Rock:
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AvG8qI0HCfY&t=96s
    Constellation of the month:
    Virgo & the wheat laden maiden
    Virgo Cluster: Subclumps, sub-subclumps & non cometary fuzzy objects
    Messier 87's cool plasma jet
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Messier_87_Hubble_WikiSky.jpg
    M87's Black Hole image
    https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/edu/resources/teachable-moment/how-scientists-captured-the-first-image-of-a-black-hole/
    Spica - Leon's Hypothetical Egg Boys
    https://particle.scitech.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/bin_000001-egg-boys.png
    Image: Hypothetical appearance of stars in an ellipsiodal binary. Credit: Smith/Scitech
    Space Flight Focus:
    Artemis 3 crew is announced! (Which was fresh news at time of recording!)
    Leon discusses the battle between Space X & Blue Origin on whose landing craft will be ready.
    Alyshia get's confused about the Artemis 3 confusing mission map from 2022.
    https://www.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/artemis_iii_mission_map_2022.jpg
    Space Fail of the Month:
    Deep Space Station 14 Azimuth Over-Rotation Mishap.
    How a cultural/workplace issue caused $4m worth of damage for NASA. Big Whoops!
    Read the very redacted document here.
    https://www.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/dss14-mishap-investigation-board-report-signed-final-redacted-hm-tagged-508.pdf?emrc=74c749
    For more space news check out https://particle.scitech.org.au/atoms-galaxies/the-sky-tonight-july-2026/
    Got a question? Chuck it in the comments and we will try to answer it next episode!
    Please Look Up is recorded on Whajduk Noongar Land.
    Particle is powered by Scitech.
    52 min
  • What’s Up In The Sky? Gigantic Jets, Exploding Rockets & Star Soup!

    This episode has some adult themes, and language.

    Join Alyshia & Leon this month, discussing all things space, as well as exploding rockets, star soup, and now footy. Book the bus Freo fans!

    Space Picture of the Month

    Leons Space Pic - Space X Starship Heat Shield Comparison

    Alyshia's Space Pic - Gigantic Jet from ISS

    More info on jets

    Spriteactular site - https://spritacular.org/

    The Night Sky

    In the West, Venus and Jupiter get cozy on the 10th of June, while Mercury & Gemini watch.

    Turn to the East & see Scorpius starting to appear. Mars and Saturn visible in the morning.

    Constellation of the Month – Ara the Altar

    Cool things inside Ara

    • Westerland 1
    • NGC 6397
    • Star Soup!

    Special dates

    • June 21 - Winter solstice
    • June 30 - Micro full moon!
    • June 30 -International asteroid day! Remember to Live laugh & remember asteroids! (They can destroy us at anytime)

    Space Flight Focus

    • Starship, (the Big Friendly Rocket) launches, but its booster goes rogue.
    • Blue Origin goes BOOM! In a surprise Space Fail of the month.

    Alyshias Space Cat T-Shirt

    1 hr
  • What’s Up In The Sky? Birds, Blue Moons and Space Crushes!

    Join Leon and Alyshia as they talk all things volcanoes, movies, Artemis II, space crushes and crows! And once in a blue moon they'll sprinkle in what's up in the sky in the month of May - no but for real there's a blue moon this month.

    Tune back in in a month for the space news and what's up in June!

    Picture Links:

    Alyshia's space picture of the month

    Leon's space picture of the month

    Artemis II photo gallery

    Stay up to date on all the space news with monthly 'The Sky Tonight' articles on our website: WA science. Done different. | Particle

    50 min
  • What’s Up In The Sky? Venus, Jupiter, Dawn Planets, and Artemis Updates!

    Leon and Morgan share April night-sky highlights and space news, starting with Venus low in the west after sunset and Jupiter in the northwest, plus a tip for spotting satellites near Orion (steady, non-blinking lights) and using NASA’s “Spot the Station” for ISS passes. They mention viewing the faint stars Tau Ceti and 40 Ari tied to Project Hail Mary, and set pre-dawn “homework” to look east for Mercury, Mars, Saturn (and Neptune with a telescope), with April 16 best for seeing them near the Moon. Leon explains why Earth looks small from lunar distance, suggests the pinky-nail Moon size check (full moon April 2), and notes April 12 (Yuri Gagarin’s flight anniversary) and April 22 (Earth Day). Constellation of the month is Libra, historically Scorpius’s claws, and they discuss Gliese 581 and past radio messages. Space news covers Artemis schedule changes, a 2028 Moon goal, ISS funding to 2030 with a shift toward private stations, and they end with “space pitches” on simulated Martian wind in crops and artist concepts of space-based data centers, plus an After Dark “knees” prank story.

    36 min
  • What’s Up In The Sky? March's Stellar Stargazing Guide

    Happy March!

    With Alyshia away, Leon and Morgan guide you through everything you can see in the night sky in March.

    They talk about planets, stars, the moon... the moon... the moon... they talk about the moon a lot. Theres just so much going on with it!

    Stay up to date on all the space news with monthly 'The Sky Tonight' articles on our website: WA science. Done different. | Particle

    52 min
  • What’s Up In The Sky? February's Stellar Stargazing Guide

    We're going to the MOON!

    This episode Alyshia and Leon discuss the exciting Artemis II launch returning humans to the moon. Space fails include the Cancellation of Mars Sample Return, an Indian Polar Satelite Rocket Explodes taking 14 satellites with it - oops! Alyshia's brain breaks and Leon received yet ANOTHER spam call during recording.

    Night sky - Jupiter, Canis Minor.

    Space Pics

    Artemis II Movie Poster

    https://assets.science.nasa.gov/content/dam/science/missions/webb/science/2026/01/STScI-01KCMATAPPC5QXWSD5BM6VRT9M.png

    Space pictures

    Alyshia - James Webb Helix Nebula

    1. https://assets.science.nasa.gov/content/dam/science/missions/webb/science/2026/01/STScI-01KCMATAPPC5QXWSD5BM6VRT9M.png
    2. Comparison Video - https://youtu.be/F3nm9oUggrE?si=kz2KmS17NrSGO72w

    Leon - Crawler Preps for Artemis II Rollout.

    https://www.nasa.gov/image-article/nasas-crawler-preps-for-artemis-ii-rollout/


    Mars Sample Return Video -

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t9G36CDLzIg&t=1s


    Australian of the Year

    https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/jan/25/astronaut-katherine-bennell-pegg-named-australian-of-the-year-for-2026


    54 min
  • What's Up In The Sky? January 2026's Stellar Stargazing Guide

    Happy New Year!

    This month, join the Please Look Up team for this special episode of reflection - looking back on our favourite moments from the year of 2025.

    Leon and Alyshia will be back in February well rested and ready to return to regular space news programming.

    But fear not! We wouldn't leave you without your monthly dose of space news. If you want to read about what's happening in the night sky in January, check out the latest 'The Sky Tonight,' on the Particle website.

    Just click this link: WA science. Done different. | Particle

    31 min

About Please Look Up

From the publisher's feed

Tune in each month for a guided tour of the night sky as seen from Perth, Western Australia. Each episode highlights all of the fascinating constellations, planets, and asteroids that you should be…