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.

On this episode of Star Stuff, the crew and Lowell Cosmologist Dr. Kyler Kuehn sits down with Dr. Roedolph Opperman to talk about what life in outer space may look like — and what NASA is really looking for on Mars.

The post Life on Mars (Human and … Otherwise) appeared first on Lowell Observatory.

Hear from Lowell Observatory Cosmologist Dr. Kyler Kuehn about his project to capture Dark Energy “on camera.” We do a deep dive on what Dark Energy is and how it differs from Dark Matter. Also, find out what StarBugs are!

The post Capturing Dark Energy On Camera: We Talk to Dr. Kyler Kuehn appeared first on Lowell Observatory.

In this episode of Star Stuff, the crew talks to Dr. Dan Durda about his art, his research, and life on other planets. Dr. Dan Durda has a biography that is too long for our character count in this description, but in summary he is an astronomer, artist, and the 2015 recipient of the “Carl Sagan Medal” for excellence in public communication in planetary science. We talk about his interest in astronomy, his research crashing asteroids together, his incredible art, and what he thinks about life on other planets.

The post Life On Other Planets, In Art And In Our Universe: We Talk to Dr. Dan Durda appeared first on Lowell Observatory.

Historians, gather ’round! In this episode of Star Stuff, the crew sits down with Alden Tombaugh and discuss his father, Clyde Tombaugh, and what it was like being the son of the man who discovered Pluto. We talk about his father’s early life, crow puns, Clyde’s favorite planet (spoilers: it wasn’t Pluto!), and why Alden pursued a career outside of astronomy.

Star Stuff is made possible by Lowell Observatory members and donors.

The post Clyde Tombaugh, From The Eyes of His Son: We Talk to Alden Tombaugh appeared first on Lowell Observatory.

Hear about Dr. Donald Johanson — the man who traversed Africa in his late 20s, slept with the lions, narrowly escaped helicopter crashes and a bout of Malaria, and through it all discovered the Lucy hominid fossil. This real-life Indiana Jones shares his incredible stories and discoveries with the Star Stuff crew, ahead of his appearance in Flagstaff at The Orpheum for Lowell Observatory’s “Night of Discovery” evening event.

This episode was made possible thanks to Lowell Observatory members and donors.

The post The Real Indiana Jones: We Talk to Dr. Johanson, the Lucy Discoverer appeared first on Lowell Observatory.

In Episode 6 of Star Stuff, we sit down with famous planetary scientist Dr. Cathy Olkin, who has done everything from chasing occultations of Pluto in Switzerland to chasing Trojan Asteroids as the Deputy Principal Investigator of the Lucy Mission. Join the Star Stuff crew as we delve into her stories of incredible adventures and space exploration.

This podcast is a part of our celebration of the International Day of Women and Girls in Science and annual I Heart Pluto Festival, and was made possible by Lowell Observatory members.

The post The Adventures of a Shadow Chaser and Asteroid Hunter: We Talk to Dr. Cathy Olkin appeared first on Lowell Observatory.

Famous engineer and planetary scientist Dr. Alan Stern joins the Star Stuff crew to share his experience leading the New Horizons mission to Pluto and beyond. Listen as we discuss why Dr. Stern considers Pluto to indeed be a planet based on his coined definition of the “Star Trek Test.” 

The post “My Other Vehicle Explored Pluto” – We Talk To Dr. Alan Stern appeared first on Lowell Observatory.

Star Stuff discusses “Armageddon” — the movie from 1998 and a potential real-life asteroid that could hypothetically threaten Earth. Learn what a life-threatening asteroid may actually look like, what perfect conditions would need to exist, and how sailing could save the world.

This episode was made possible by Lowell Observatory’s members and donors.

The post What Would “Armageddon” Really Be Like? appeared first on Lowell Observatory.