The most played episodes among Podcast App listeners.

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   Number 1: The Starless Galaxy That Shouldn’t Exist - But Does

   Space Nuts: Spanish Eclipse, Nancy Grace Roman Launch, Cloud Nine, and Venus's Mysterious CloudsAndrew Dunkley and Professor Fred Watson cover four big astronomy stories in this episode, from Fred’s trip to view a sunset eclipse in Spain to the launch of the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope. They also unpack a starless dwarf galaxy called Cloud Nine and a new way of thinking about the strange dark material in Venus’s clouds.Guests and speakersAndrew Dunkley - Host, frames the news, asks listener questions, and guides the discussion.Professor Fred Watson - Astronomer at large, explains the eclipse, the Roman telescope, Cloud Nine, and Venus’s clouds.Key topicsIn this episode, Fred recounts the Spanish eclipse expeditionThe eclipse was only 9 degrees above the western horizon at totality, making the viewing conditions unusually challenging.He and Marnie led a 16-person tour through France, Spain, and Switzerland before settling near Santander in northern Spain.They staked out a viewing site 2 kilometers from the hotel, set up a gazebo, and had to tie it down to a car to keep it from blowing away.The weather looked threatening, but a hole opened in the cloud just before totality, giving them a clear view of the corona.Fred described the yellowish corona, pink hydrogen clouds, and the crowd of around 2,000 people.We discuss the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope launchAndrew watched the launch live after being nudged by his own brain at the right moment.Fred noted the launch was flawless, with 27 Merlin motors firing.The telescope is headed for the L2 Lagrange point, about 1.5 million kilometers away.Roman is a 2.4-meter Hubble-class telescope but with 100 times the field of view.Its wide-angle infrared design should enable major surveys of dark matter, dark energy, and exoplanets via its coronagraph.Fred explains why Cloud Nine mattersCloud Nine is described as a starless dwarf galaxy about 14 million light years away.It lies near Messier 94 and was studied using the Gran Telescopio Canarias and its Hypercam instrument.The deep exposure was 2.36 hours, yet the team found no convincing stellar population.Fred says theory suggests the gas may be too hot to cool and collapse into stars because of the ultraviolet background radiation after reionization.He says Cloud Nine may be the first strong example of a galaxy predicted by standard cosmology but never before clearly identified.Venus’s clouds are still puzzling astronomersFred explains that Venus appears yellowish because we see the top of its cloud layer, especially in visible light.In ultraviolet, Venus shows dramatic global cloud patterns caused by an as-yet unidentified absorber.The new study uses radiative transfer modeling to constrain what the unknown absorber could be.The team compares Venus’s cloud droplets to cigarette smoke, tiny particles that look light-colored when dispersed but could become dark sludge in bulk.The result suggests the absorber must be very efficient, very concentrated, or both, but it is not being claimed as evidence of life.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/space-nuts-astronomy-insights-cosmic-discoveries--2631155/support.

   September 03, 2026·39min
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   Number 2: Cosmic Q&A: From Redshift to the Moon's Hidden Temperatures

   Space Nuts: Q&A on the Swift Satellite, Redshift, and Hypothetical White HolesIn this engaging Q&A edition of Space Nuts, hosts Andrew Dunkley and Professor Fred Watson dive into a myriad of intriguing questions posed by listeners. From the fate of the Swift satellite to the mysteries of redshift and the speculative nature of white holes, this episode covers a wide range of cosmic curiosities.Key topics include:- The fate of the Swift satellite and the challenges faced by the Link mission meant to boost its orbit.- An exploration of redshift and the implications of energy loss in distant light.- Insights into the temperature variations on the Moon and the potential for human habitation beneath its surface.- A thought-provoking discussion on the hypothetical merger of black holes and white holes, and what that could mean for our understanding of the universe.Join Andrew and Fred Watson as they tackle these questions with their signature blend of humour and expertise, providing listeners with a deeper understanding of the cosmos.00:00 - This is where the audience asks us questions, we scratch our heads01:20 - Do you always record on the same day and time02:56 - What are your thoughts on the red dots as seen by James Webb Telescope06:33 - A spacecraft called Link will boost the decaying orbit of the Swift satellite14:08 - Is distant light redshifted? What happens to the lost energy16:18 - Professor Fred Watson discusses Apollo 13 problems in Q and A edition17:19 - Fenton from Minnesota has a question about the temperature on the moon23:13 - European astrobiologist working on Roslyn Franklin rover on Mars26:03 - Fred Watson asks what would happen if a white hole merged with a black holeBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/space-nuts-astronomy-insights-cosmic-discoveries--2631155/support.

   September 07, 2026·31min
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   Number 3: Waves, Signals, and Cosmic Aromas: A Q&A Journey Through Space

   In this intriguing Q&A episode of Space Nuts, hosts Andrew Dunkley and Professor Jonti Horner tackle a variety of cosmic queries from listeners. Join them as they explore the fascinating world of radio telescopes and how they produce images from radio waves, delve into the complexities of gravitational waves, and ponder the sounds and smells of space.Key topics include:- How photographic images are generated from radio telescopes, despite only receiving radio waves, and the fundamental principles behind this technology.- A deep dive into gravitational waves, their impact on space, and how LIGO detects these minute disturbances in the fabric of spacetime.- An imaginative discussion on what sounds might exist in space and the potential smells one could encounter beyond Earth’s atmosphere, including the curious idea of cosmic fragrances.Join Andrew and Jonty as they demystify these concepts, providing clarity and insights into the wonders of astronomy and space science.00:00 - Space Nuts aims to answer questions from the audience about astronomy and space science01:37 - Were the pyramids built by aliens or were they built by humans04:26 - How is a photographic image produced from a radio telescope and not an optical telescope12:36 - Dean: I often hear about gravity waves and I have a hard time visualising20:15 - Andrew Dunkley: I think ideas become easier to explain over time22:45 - Our next question comes from David from Port Washington, New York30:37 - Several volcanoes have blown up since we've been to them32:08 - The metropolitan area of Auckland contains 53 volcanoes35:02 - If you could take a big inhale, what would space smell like36:22 - If you would like to send us some questions, please do through our websiteBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/space-nuts-astronomy-insights-cosmic-discoveries--2631155/support.

   August 31, 2026·38min
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   Number 4: SpaceX Hit the Moon, and the Real Problem Is Just Beginning

   Space Nuts: Moon impact, Roman Observatory launch, and Neptune’s odd moonsAndrew Dunkley is joined by Professor Jonti Horner, Professor of Astrophysics at the University of Southern Queensland, for a wide-ranging astronomy update. They cover SpaceX’s out-of-control rocket body hitting the Moon, the imminent launch of the Nancy Grace Roman Observatory, and a new result that may explain the strange origin of some of Neptune’s moons.We discuss why lunar impacts matter far beyond the Moon itself, how Roman will study exoplanets and dark energy, and why clay minerals on Neptune’s small moons are such a big clue about a violent early solar system.Key topicsSpaceX’s rocket body impacted the Moon after being left in a long, uncontrolled orbitWhy lunar impacts are a real concern for future habitats, infrastructure, and Apollo heritage sitesThe sheer scale of human-made objects that have already hit or landed on the MoonElon Musk’s vision for lunar factories, rail-gun launches, and large-scale off-Earth manufacturingWhy the same company could end up both creating the risk and needing to solve itThe Nancy Grace Roman Observatory launching around 9 months ahead of scheduleRoman’s 2.4 metre mirror, 300 megapixel wide-field camera, and hydrazine-fueled journey to L2How Roman will study dark energy, gravitational lensing, exoplanets, and free-floating planetsNew James Webb observations of Neptune’s moons showing clay-type minerals on Larissa and GalateaWhy those clays suggest a much older, more violent system shaped by Triton’s capture and moon-to-moon collisionsTimestamps:00:00 - Studio prep, muting phones, and getting ready to record01:53 - Episode intro: SpaceX lunar impact, Roman Observatory, and Neptune moons03:00 - Jonti Horner joins the show04:26 - SpaceX rocket body crashes into the Moon07:03 - Predicted impact plume and expected crater size08:54 - Korean spacecraft Danuri captures post-impact images10:19 - Why Moon impacts matter for future lunar bases11:47 - Protecting Apollo landing sites and lunar archaeology12:15 - More than 3,000 human-made objects have hit the Moon14:32 - Law, responsibility, and the problem of cleanup beyond Earth16:07 - Musk’s plans for Moon factories and Starlink-style expansion18:12 - Rail guns, Optimus robots, and scaling lunar industry19:34 - SpaceX’s own industry could be threatened by its own debris21:24 - Balancing commercial benefits and environmental costs23:46 - The Nancy Grace Roman Observatory launch approaches26:03 - Roman’s orbit, hydrazine fuel, and five-year mission plan27:57 - From WFIRST to Roman: how the telescope evolved29:23 - Roman’s mirror, 300 megapixel camera, and survey power30:14 - Exoplanets, microlensing, and the coronagraph33:29 - Roman’s launch status and the excitement ahead34:17 - Neptune’s moons and the role of TritonBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/space-nuts-astronomy-insights-cosmic-discoveries--2631155/support.

   August 27, 2026·46min
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   Number 5: From Diamond Rain to Rogue Planets: Unpacking Cosmic Curiosities

   Sponsor Link:This episode of Space Nuts is brought to you with the support of NordVPN. Protect your online activities with a special deal at www.nordvpn.com/spacenuts.In this Q&A episode of Space Nuts, hosts Andrew Dunkley and Professor Jonti Horner tackle a variety of fascinating questions from listeners. From the intriguing phenomenon of planetary atmospheres that may rain diamonds and sapphires, to the complexities of satellite approvals and the possibility of planets forming without a star, this episode is packed with cosmic insights.Key topics include:- Nick from Perth asks about the science behind the claims of diamond and sapphire rain on distant planets, prompting a discussion on spectral analysis and the nature of scientific reporting.- Sandy from Melbourne raises concerns about the recent FCC approval for Reflect Orbital's satellite, leading to an exploration of the regulatory landscape surrounding space launches and the implications for global cooperation.- Rennie from California queries whether planets can form without a sun, which sparks a deep dive into the theories surrounding rogue planets and the role of dark matter in planetary formation.Join Andrew and Jonty as they navigate these thought-provoking questions, shedding light on the mysteries of the universe and the ever-evolving field of astronomy.00:00 - This is a Q and A episode and in this particular show we're answering audience questions01:00 - Professor Jonty Horner joins us to discuss astrophysics01:29 - The heat stays a bit longer than summer and the cold stays too much past winter02:55 - Nick in Perth has a question regarding planetary atmospheres11:29 - Scientists are extrapolating from what they know about planets' interior12:49 - Andrew Dunkley: Question comes from Sandy in Melbourne, Australia14:51 - FAA proposing to circumvent environmental laws for commercial launches and spacecraft reentries21:54 - Fast developing industry with no regulation developed around it25:20 - Space Nuts Q and A edition with Andrew Dunkley and Jonty Horner25:38 - Can planets form without a sun because dark matter would be the gravity33:41 - You can send in your Space Nuts questions via our websiteBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/space-nuts-astronomy-insights-cosmic-discoveries--2631155/support.

   August 24, 2026·38min
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