Izzie and Dr Becky are turning up the heat and exploring the fiery worlds in our solar system. From planets close to the Sun to a distant world of volcanoes and lava.

Joining them are planetary scientist Professor David Rothery from the Open University and Professor Alfred McEwen from the University of Arizona, who wants to send a mission to Jupiter’s moon Io. Plus Dr Robert Massey takes on your questions and has his monthly guide to stargazing.

This is a Boffin Media production by Izzie Clarke and Richard Hollingham.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This month it’s all about the trapped charged particles around our planet - the Van Allen radiation belts. Izzie and Dr Becky find out all about them with the help of Dr Maria Theresia Walach from Lancaster University, and Dr David Devorkin from the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum explains how Explorer 1 discovered the belts in 1958. Plus, Dr Robert Massey joins to take on your questions and shares his top stargazing tips for July. 
The podcast is looking for sponsorship to keep the series running. It'll help fund the recording, editing and time needed to bring you the latest from space. If you have a business that would be interested in supporting the series - or just a single episode - then email [email protected] with the subject “sponsorship” for more information.

This is a Boffin Media production by Izzie Clarke and Richard Hollingham 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Grab your dustpan and brush… This month, Izzie and Dr Becky get to grips with the leftovers from space activity, it's all about space junk. Joining them are engineer Dr Hugh Lewis from the University of Southampton, who models how the debris builds up over time, and space archaeologist Dr Alice Gorman explains its historical significance. Plus, Robert Massey joins in to take on your questions and shares his top stargazing tips.

The podcast is looking for sponsorship to keep the series running. It'll help fund the recording, editing and time needed to bring you the latest from space. If you have a business that would be interested in supporting the series - or just a single episode - then email [email protected] with the subject “sponsorship” for more information.

This is a Boffin Media production by Izzie Clarke and Richard Hollingham 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Is it a planet? Is it a black hole? Is it even real? This month, Izzie and Dr Becky try and get to the bottom of the mysterious planet nine - an enigmatic - and so far invisible - ninth planet in our solar system. Helping them are the scientists that have made headlines trying to solve this puzzle, Mike Brown from the California Institute of Technology, and Jakub Scholtz from the University of Turin. Plus, Robert Massey joins in to take on your questions and explains how to see the upcoming eclipse.

The Supermassive podcast reached 100k listens this month - thank you to everyone who has listened so far. If you’re interested in sponsoring the series (or an episode or two) then please email [email protected] with the subject “sponsorship”.

This is a Boffin Media production by Izzie Clarke and Richard Hollingham 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

“It’s like the evidence left over after a crime.” This month Izzie and Dr Becky venture into the outer Solar System to explore a sea of weird rocks, a squashed snowman and ice volcanoes on a demoted planet.  They are joined by Dr Meg Schwamb from Queen’s University Belfast and Alice Bowman, Mission Operations Manager for the New Horizons mission at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory in Laurel, Maryland. Becky also explains the science behind a possible ‘fifth force of nature’ and Dr Robert Massey takes on your questions and tells us what to look out for in the spring night sky.  You can send your questions or space book club recommendations to [email protected] or tweet @RoyalAstroSoc using #RASSupermassive.
 
 The Supermassive Podcast is a Boffin Media Production by Izzie Clarke and Richard Hollingham. 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

"I was tracking down every signal that it picked up, and there was one signal that I couldn't make sense of."

Professor Dame Jocelyn Bell Burnell gives Izzie and Dr Becky a neutron star 101 and tells them how she discovered pulsars in the 1960s. Plus, Dr Robert Massey takes on your questions and tells us what to look out for in the spring night sky.

Book Club Recommendations 

• Forgotten Women: The Scientists - Zing Tsjeng 
• Six Impossible Things - John Gribbin 
• The End of Everything (Astrophysically Speaking) - Katie Mack 
• Vera Rubin: A Life - Jacqueline and Simon Mitton
• Cosmos - Carl Sagan
• The Book Nobody Read - Owen Gingerich

Don't forget to send your questions or space book club recommendations to [email protected] or tweet @RoyalAstroSoc using #RASSupermassive.

The Supermassive Podcast is a Boffin Media Production by Izzie Clarke and Richard Hollingham.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This month, Izzie and Dr Becky are shining a light on the first stars in the Universe. When did they form? And could any still exist today? Plus, they explore the life of Cecelia Payne Gaposchkin, the astrophysicist who discovered the structure of stars, and Dr Robert Massey joins them to discuss the latest NASA rover on Mars. 
With special thanks to Dr Emma Chapman from Imperial College London, author of First Light, and Donovan Moore, author of What Stars Are Made Of: The Life of Cecilia Payne-Gaposchkin.
The Supermassive Podcast is a Boffin Media Production by Izzie Clarke and Richard Hollingham. 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Izzie Clarke and Dr Becky Smethurst are kicking off the new year with the beginning of everything, the Big Bang. They speak with Professor David Wands who explains how our universe began, and dive into the historical debate behind this model with Professor Thomas Hertog. And, as always, astronomer Dr Robert Massey shares his top tips for stargazing this month. 
Send the team your questions, photos and science book recommendations on social media using #RASSupermassive or email [email protected]
The Supermassive Podcast is a Boffin Media Production by Izzie Clarke and Richard Hollingham.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This month, Izzie & Becky are taking astronomy to the extremes with gamma ray expert, Professor Paula Chadwick, and Professor Julian Osborne from the SWIFT Observatory.
Plus, Robert Massey shares his top tips for stargazing at home and how best to see the conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn on December 21st. Send your pictures and questions to [email protected] or tweet @RoyalAstroSoc using #RASSupermassive.

The Supermassive Podcast is a Boffin Media Production by Izzie Clarke and Richard Hollingham

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s about time we gave optical telescopes a break! This month, Izzie Clarke and Dr Becky Smethurst explore radio astronomy with Professor Tim O'Brien from the UK's Jodrell Bank Telescope and Professor Lisa Harvey-Smith, former project scientist for the Australian Square Kilometre Array.

Plus, Robert Massey shares his top tips for stargazing at home and choosing the right telescope for you. Send you pictures and questions to [email protected] or tweet @RoyalAstroSoc.

Space Book Club Recommendations: 

• When Galaxies Collide - Lisa Harvey-Smith  
• Space: 10 Things You Should Know - Becky Smethurst 
• Moon: Art, Science, Culture - Robert Massey & Alex Loske
• No Shadow of a Doubt - Daniel Kennefick 
• How To Be An Astronaut and Other Space Jobs - Sheila Kanani
• The End of Everything (Astrophysically Speaking) - Katie Mack

The Supermassive Podcast is a Boffin Media Production by Izzie Clarke and Richard Hollingham

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.