Star Stuff chats with Lowell research scientists Dr. Joe Llama and Dr. Kyler Kuehn about how they got into astronomy, where their studies took them, and why they didn’t like math in school but majored in science. They also chat about how they got interested in their current studies: searching for exoplanets that could contain intelligent life and dark energy studies. Recorded on Mars Hill in Flagstaff, Arizona.

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In this episode of Star Stuff, Dr. Chip Shearer talks about his project with NASA to finally open a capsule of Moon rock collected in the early 1970s during the Apollo missions. We also discuss the “dark” side of the moon, what kind of rock makes up the Moon, and why NASA is interested in Moon core samples. Also, we decide the best way to pronounce the word “magma.”

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Learn about how eclipses have been represented in history and in lore, and find out some fun facts about the moon. 

The post The Total Lunar Eclipse: Myth, Lore, and History appeared first on Lowell Observatory.

In this episode of Star Stuff, the crew talks all about planets with two of Lowell’s planetary scientists, Dr. Amanda Bosh and Dr. Jennifer Hanley. Learn about our solar system’s big gassy planets, which moons we are researching that have the potential to support human life, and other mind-bending space facts.

The post Sol’s Planets – We Talk To Two Lowell Planetary Scientists appeared first on Lowell Observatory.

In this episode of Star Stuff, we talk to Grand Canyon “Dark Sky Ranger” Rader Lane about International Dark Sky Week (April 22 – 30) and how our neighbors at the Grand Canyon got their park named the first ever “International Dark Sky National Park.” Located just 80 miles north of Lowell Observatory, the Grand Canyon shares Flagstaff, Arizona’s enjoyment of incredible dark skies — but they worked hard to earn their designation and help preserve the incredible dark skies of Northern Arizona.  Transcript available at lowell.edu.

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A comet, an asteroid, and a centaur walk into a bar(red spiral galaxy)… If you want to be cool and get this joke, listen in on this episode of Star Stuff—we’ll let you know what these celestial objects are, what we consider to be the best sci-fi movie, and if organic life could live frozen on an interstellar comet.

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Star Stuff joins Todd Gonzales (Lowell Education Manager) and Ed Finn of ASU’s Center for Science and the Imagination to talk about what it means to imagine, and how we may imagine a better future for our species. Listen as we explore ideas about how imagining the future of space exploration may help change our future for the better. Ed Finn is the featured speaker for the April 16 special event in the ongoing program, “Lowell42.”

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Join the Star Stuff Crew as we talk about the basics of the James Webb Space Telescope, including what it will help us discover, why it took so long to launch, what happened when we accidentally dropped it, and why Wesley called it a “very expensive paper crane.” 

The post The $10 Billion Origami Project: We Review the Basics of the James Webb Space Telescope appeared first on Lowell Observatory.

Star Stuff sits down with Lowell Astronomer Dr. Gerard van Belle to talk about the life cycle of stars. Find out why Gerard lovingly refers to our sun as a “lump of screaming plasma” and how a star can to turn into a black hole.

The post The Life of Stars: We Talk to Lowell Astronomer Gerard van Belle appeared first on Lowell Observatory.

In this episode of Star Stuff, we talk about what constellations are in the Northern Hemisphere’s night sky right now, how to find them, and their stories throughout cultures around the world. In this episode: Ursa Major, Boötes, Virgo, Corvus, Leo, Coma Berenices, Cancer, and Gemini.

The post Star Stories (The Constellations Of Spring) appeared first on Lowell Observatory.