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AWESOME ASTRONOMY

Awesome Astronomy explores the frontiers of science, space and our evolving understanding of the universe.

Join Ralph, Paul &amp; Jeni for informative and fun astronomy programmes dedicated to space and astronomy news and monthly podcast extras covering hot topics and special interviews in the world of science and astronomy.

Paul & Dr Jeni

Join Paul in his Astronomy lair as he live sketches the Eclipse, chats to neighbours and talks Astronomy news while spotting Perseid meteors. Produced by Paul, Jen, John, Damien & Dustin

The Eclipse and the Perseids

Angry episode where Paul and Jeni have their blood boiled by the decision to defund Jodrell Bank Observatory and the plans to launch over a million satellites. Produced by Paul, Jeni, Dustin, Damien, John

Jodrell Bank Murder Club

Summer is here, so is the heat and so is the Eclipse! Chat, tips and hints about August's Eclipse and the Perseid meteor shower, as well as summer vibes, emails and Jeni dressing up as Max Wall Produced by Paul, Jen, John, Damien & Dustin

Eclipse Girl Summer

This month it appears cosmology is saved, Swift maybe saved and exoplanets have their magnetosphere measured. Jeni has been in the States where she may have been turned into an android visiting Silicon Valley. Produced by Paul, Jen, John, Damien & Dustin

When Cosmologists get spicy

The idea that sparked a billion-dollar space telescope was recorded in the most unlikely of places: a scrap of paper fished out a pocket while gondolas sailed by in Venice. In this talk, award-winning astrophysicist and science communicator Steve Eales of Cardiff University takes us on the unlikely journey of the Herschel Space Observatory, the most sensitive far-infrared space telescope yet launched. This talk wes recorded at the recent AstroCamp in Cwmdu, Wales Produced by Paul, Jen, John, Damien & Dustin

The Secret History of a Space Mission

This month a bit of a JWST fest with news about the cosmic Web (Webb?! ) and those little red dots the seem to be breaking cosmology. There is also our normal skyguide and moon guide. Produced by Paul, Jen, John, Damien & Dustin

Objects in the Golden Mirror may be Closer

It's the chatty astrowaffle episode! Psyche rushing past Mars, Power instrument at VLT, GCSE Astronomy exams and listener emails. Produced by Paul, Jen, John, Damien & Dustin

Psyche, Poet and Astronomy Exams

A show recorded with the happy campers of Cwmdu. We talk smart scopes, late nights, planetary formation, news on Comet 3I and more on the Hubble tension. Produced by Paul, Jen, John, Damien & Dustin

AstroCamp Live Show

This month what else can we chat about? Paul and Jeni talk Artemis II. Produced by Paul, Jen, John, Damien & Dustin

Artemis Chat

This episode Paul and Jeni look at a possible gravitational wave solution to the Hubble tension, NASAs new nuclear deep space engine, Hubble telescope boosting, and more news on the destruction of British science. There is also our monthly skyguide to to get you looking up. Produced by Paul, Jen, John, Damien & Dustin

Gravitational musing and nuclear cruising

Our chatty astrowaffle episode this month is all about the Artemis re-jig and what the future now holds for the programme. Oh and update on Jeni's drains. Produced by Paul, Jen, John, Damien & Dustin

Artemis II Helium boogaloo

This month it is the curious case of a vanishing star and galaxies that shine no light...plus our monthly skyguide and Jeni has a blocked drain! Produced by Paul, Jen, John, Damien & Dustin

Vanishing Stars and Invisible Galaxies

This episode we chat about the potential ozone hole issue caused by mega constellations, how Jupiter has shrunk and what Aurora would look like when Earth's poles flip. Produced by  Paul, Jen, John, Damien & Dustin

Ozone Hole II Mega-Constellation Bogaloo

We discuss the British Government's vandalism of UK physics and astronomy. In better news we celebrate the refunding of NASA and the up coming Artemis II mission... will Paul finally get excited? Produced by Paul, Jen, John, Damien & Dustin

The End of British Astronomy?

So it looks like Low Earth Orbit is not just crowded but a disaster waiting to happen trapping humanity on this planet for a very long time... Produced by, Paul, Jen, John, Damien & Dustin

3 days to lose LEO

So it turns out Soundgarden nailed astrophysics in 1994. We explore latest thinking on Little Red Dots, Globular Custers, oldest supernovae, No-ceans on Titan as well as our monthly skyguide and moon guide. Produced by Paul, Jen, John, Damien & Dustin

Soundgarden win at Astrophysics

It's time for our annual review of the year, a look forward to next year and of course the Panto!...and the return of an old face! Produced by Ralph, Paul, Jen, John, Damien & Dustin

Panto 2025: Cometh the Comet, Comet the Ralph

In this chatty news episode we chat about more Artemis mission shenanigans and how the Russians have wrecked their only human rated launch pad. Produced by Paul, Jen, John, Damien & Dustin

Yeeting your office into a flamepit

This episode it is a new bananza with discussion of the Thirty Metre Telescope, shenanigans on Mars, asymmetrical supernovae and more trouble in the world of cosmology. There is a Xmas Telescope buying guide as well as our monthly skyguide! Produced by Paul, Jen, John, Damien & Dustin

Icy Telescopes and Martian Lightning

In our second episode of the month we chat about the weird mess that is now the Artemis Programme, whether there is even a new space race and what strange shenanigans rogue planets are up to! Produced by Paul, Jen, John, Damien & Dustin

What an Artimess!

Time for a Comet 3I ATLAS deep dive, a chat about Paul's recent visit to the Cerne Abbas Starparty and our new extended skyguide.   Produced by Paul, Jen, John, Damien & Dustin

Comet I3 ATLAS and Cerne Abbas Star Party

This month we are at Astrocamp, our biannual dark sky retreat. We have a Q and A session with the campers and we talk a newly confirmed impact crater in the UK, Artemis II, ozone layer, and an upcoming comet bonanza!   Produced by Paul, Jen, John, Damien & Dustin

Camping, Craters and Comets

A bumper end of summer episode with Paul out in the world of science outreach and communication in a Summer music festival. There's also discussion of the new Astronomer Royal, China's moon programme, Starship and a deep dive on the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter.

Paul in Festival Land

This month we talk about Jen at the BBC, AI in science communication, a supernova in NGC7331, whether Betelgeuse has a companion, Exoplanet shenanigans, European hypersonic space planes, and of course our monthly sky guide and general chat.   Produced by Paul, Jen, John, Damien & Dustin

AI, Hypersonics and Betelbuddy

A bumper episode or is that a Jumper episode if Jeni has her way. Paul has new scope and Jeni has been seeing the Sun. We have terrible news from LIGO, the end of Milkomeda, Light pollution paradox, Vera Rubin first light, a new satellite from Wales, spaceX kablooie, leaks on the ISS and of course the usual skyguide and emails! Phew!

Vera Rubin, Welsh Satellites and LIGO disaster

This month we have Galactic sized lancing battles, Jupiter twice its size, Wales entering the space race and we have emails! Oh we have emails!

Lancing Galaxies and Angry Emails

We come at you with all the fun of AstroCamp in Welsh Wales. Chat, debate and birdsong!   Produced by  Paul, Jen, John, Damien & Dustin

AstroCamp Spring 2025!

We try to keep it upbeat this month with tales of blackholes, definitions of moons, and solar system science but unfortunately the fate of NASA and American science currently hangs in the balance... Produced by Paul, Jen, John, Damien & Dustin

Has NASA been Trumped?

It looks as though the European Southern Observatory is caught in an American light pollution pincer...starlink above and now the threat of an American industrial complex as a neighbour. Is this the end? We have eclipse news, launch round up and the usual inane chatter from Jeni & Paul.

Paranal Problems: Light Pollution at the VLT

The world veers towards madness, asteroids threaten destruction and Gaia is no more. But the planets are putting on a show and Pluto is 95, so that's alright... Produced by Ralph, Paul, Jen, John, Damien & Dustin

Asteroid Doom and Gaia Gloom

Happy New Year! This month we talk about an new climate history for Venus, a new origin story for Mars' moons and we chat about the new potential head of NASA...   Produced by Ralph, Paul, Jen, John, Damien & Dustin

Venus. Twined with Milton Keynes

It's that time of year again where the team get silly...this year Butch and Suni hijack the ISS...

Panto 2024!

This month we look at new old data about Uranus, a possible second dinosaur asteroid  the first image of a star in another galaxy and the image of a new planet forming. Plus sky and launch guides and a chat about Christmas present ideas! Produced by Ralph, Paul, Jen, John, Damien & Dustin

Re-examining Uranus

This month the episode is all about astronomy! Yep just astronomy. We catch up with the wonderful comet observations of the autumn, Jen's aurora cruise in Norway and we talk outreach astronomy in response to a listener's question.

Comets, Cruises and Outreach

The Team are taking a little break so here is a classic interview with Apollo astronaut Alan Bean.

Apollo 12

Meet Dr Anna Horleston from Bristol University. NASA's InSight lander was active on Mars from November 2018 to December 2022 – a total of 1446 sols (Martian days). InSight carried a suite of geophysical instruments designed to help us understand the interior structure of the red planet. The primary instrument was a seismometer – the first seismometer to be deployed to the surface of Mars – and my job was to analyse the seismic data, to find Marsquakes (like earthquakes but on Mars), and to figure out what was causing them. I'll take you through the highs and lows of working on an active NASA mission, the real meaning of "remote working", and show you some of the amazing results from the mission.

Gaining InSight

This month the episode comes from the user dark skies of Wales as it is AstroCamp time! Discussion of Hera and Europa Clipper probes, comet news and the live recording of the Astrocamp panel! Enjoy

AstroCamp Special!

Between 2nd and 5th October, the International Astronomical Union (IAU) are celebrating 100 hours of astronomy. We've caught up with good friend of the show Neill Sanders, founder of Go Stargazing, who's helped create an app to get you and all your friends involved with the celestial party! Enjoy!

100 Hours of Astronomy with Go Stargazing

A bit different this month as Paul is joined by Dustin as they chat about aurora on Ganymede, starliner, Polaris Dawn, Blue Origin and Dustin shares an interview at a local astronomy Festival. Produced by Paul, Jen, John, Damien & Dustin

Chatting Space within tent

In this podcast extra for Awesome Astronomy in August 2024, we bring you two of the Plenary Sessions from the British Planetary Science Conference 2024, hosted by Space Park Leicester and the National Space Center. The first, from Dr Aprajita Verma, discusses the upcoming Extremely Large Telescope (ELT), and the second, from Dr Steve Banham, gives you a new view of Mars Evolution, based on Curiosity's work at Gale Crater. Keep an ear out for activities to get involved with!

British Planetary Science Conference

  This month the team talk Comet Olbers, black holes in globular Clusters, the cancellation of Vixen, the ultra calm lakes of Titan, more phosphine news from Venus and look forward to this months Perseids. Produced by Ralph, Paul, Jen, John, Damien & Dustin

Comet Olbers in Silly Season

Celebrating 55 years since humans first set foot on the Moon with Project Apollo, in this podcast extra, Dr Jen meets with Benoit Faiveley and Mario Freese, founder and chief engineer of Sanctuary on the Moon, a daring project to leave a legacy of humanity on our nearest celestial neighbour. In the late 2020s, 24 coaster-sized sapphire disks will sail to the Moon as part of NASA's Artemis CLPS program. Engraved upon them will be the essence of humanity. One hundred billion pixels depicting the human genome, the work of masters, and the every day - one pixel for every human that ever lived. It is an exploration of ourselves, our world, and our epoch.   Produced by Ralph, Paul, Jen, John, Damien & Dustin

Sanctuary on the Moon

This month the team discuss keeping the elderly Hubble alive with a single gyro, how Starliner is currently marooned in orbit and are usually round up of other news from the cosmos, a skyguide for what to look out for and a this month in astronomy history that explores the life of Henrietta Swan-Leavitt. 

Starliner Marooned and Playing Gyros!

This month is indulgent and ranty! Well it is summer...Jen waxes lyrical about a night out, Paul has written a book and in amongst it is some astronomy! There is a big dive into the huge aurora display in May, talk of new exoplanets and old ones vanishing. The usual skyguide and this months history moment is all about X rays. Produced by Paul, Jen, John, Damien & Dustin

Aurora at Home

Dustin and Jeni talk about their Eclipse adventures from last month. 

Totally Eclipse

This month excitement builds for the predicted Nova outburst in Corona Borealis as well as looking forward to China launching a sample return mission to the far side of the Moon. We have our usual skyguide and chat about upcoming missions and some fun insights into the methane on Mars.

Nova predictions and China to the Moon

This month Dr Jen is off to the US for the Solar Eclipse while Paul is just back from Goonhilly Earth Station. We chat about the imminent demise of the Chandra Space Telescope, more news on the Hubble tension, and of course the Great North American Eclipse.  Chinese Lunar ambitions, Starship making it to space and the first Boeing Starliner crew make the news while in this months history moment we talk about the brightest Stellar event witnessed by humans.  

Episode 142 Awesome Astronomy April 2024

This podcast extra is our full length interview with Dr Helen Sharman, Britain's First astronaut and the first woman to visit the Russian Mir Space Station in 1991. 

Britain's First Astronaut

This month our intrepid crew of the good ship Awesome investigate sub surface oceans on the moons of the solar system, smoking stars, distant blackholes, oversized structures and of course tippy over lunar landers. There is also the monthly skyguide and a look at the astro history of March!

Wet Moons and Tippy landers

  This month Dr Jen talks to Dr Phil! Dr Phil Metzger, 30 years at NASA where he has worked on various missions and programmes including the ISS snd Space Shuttle, while more recently he has been investigating how rocket efflux interacts with soil and what this will mean for future landings on the Moon and Mars…

Blasting Soil - Interview with Dr Phil Metzger

This month we explore the exciting announcements from the European Space Agency as they outline their new missions for the 2030s. LISA, a space based gravitational wave detector and EnVision, a Venus mission that will map the surface and under-surface of that planet in unprecedented detail.  We have the usual skyguide, chat about recent lunar missions and emails from the listeners.

Awesome Astronomy Episode #140

This episode, it's Jen and a special guest exploring the inexplicable Big Ring, the first proof connecting supernovae to black holes and neutron stars, cyclones on a far-away world, dazzling images of Io, and the true colour of Neptune. We also take a deep dive into humanity's efforts to explore the Moon – the failing Peregrine lander and Artemis pushbacks.  There's also a sky guide for the second half of January, and our discussion topic this time involves a most impossible restaurant.  Produced by Paul, Jen, Dustin, John & Damien.  

#139 Awesome Astronomy January 2024

Festive silliness (bit naughty!), a review of the Space and astronomy year and a look ahead to what 2024 has in store for us. Not forgetting the outakes!

Awesome Astronomy Panto and Review of the Year 2023!

This month we explore what might have happened to the Planet Theia after it hit the Earth, what Lucy saw on its first asteroid encounter, the mystery of a new double crater on the Moon and what the first images from the Elucid telescope show.  We have our monthly skyguide, launch round up and emails and questions from listeners. Produced by Paul, Jen, John, Damien & Dustin

#138 Awesome Astronomy December 2023 Pt1

This month Jeni talks to Paul. No not our Paul  Paul Cornish, planetarium and science outreach extraordinaire at Bristols We the Curious. They chat about one of our favourite topics on Awesome, constellation Mythology and this time it has a very Welsh flavour...enjoy!

Astronomy Mythology of Wales

This month we talk about what might have been in the Arthur C Clarke Awards, the latest weird discovery from JWST, the most detailed simulation of the Universe yet, British space plans, giggle at a Space Force painting, and have a look at what you can see in the sky this month.   Produced by Paul, Jen, John, Damien & Dustin

#137 November 2023 Awesome Astronomy

This month we give you a recording of our live panel show from AstroCamp, held in September. The team answer questions and comments from the public about a range of space and astronomy topics.

The AstroCamp Panel!

This month Paul and Dr Jen talk about the recent astrocamp where yet more Aurora was seen. Later there is a guide to seeing Aurora at lower latitudes. JWST is at it again with a possible detection of biological signals on an exoplanet, AND breaking and rewriting galaxy morphology history. There is an autumnal sky guide and the low down on the Bennu return mission OSIRIS-REx.  

#136 - October 2023 Awesome Astronomy

This months interview looks at that stunning imagery that JWST took of the Ring Nebula - that familiar Messier planterary nebula in Lyra and favourite of star parties. This new study has revealed new and unexpected details and once again demonstrated the brilliant science of our golden wonder telescope in space. Dr Jeni talks to Dr Robert Wessen, Research Associate at Cardiff University who has worked on the Ring Nebula data, about what astronomers have revealed as well as talking about his career and life astronomy. He also exclusively reveals what is going to happen next in this area of study. Enjoy!

JWST looks at the Ring - Interview with Dr Roger Wessen

This month we are joined by special guest Neill Sanders from Go Stargazing who is making a special announcement about astronomy cruise Holidays. We have news of a new type of star, mud on Mars and JWST breaking cosmology once again. After our skyguide we chat about the recent Indian and Russian moon missions.  In our discussion topic we have a Battle of the Planets as we decide which should get in the bin, Saturn or Jupiter.

#135 - September 2023 Awesome Astronomy

For this podcast extra, we return to NAM 2023, this year held at Cardiff University. We're delighted to bring you the conversational style of Dr Stephen Wilkins, public engagement extraordinaire. Dr Stephen is an STFC Public Engagement Fellow (so you know this talk will be just brilliant) and serves as a Director of Outreach and Public Engagement for the School of Mathematical and Physical Sciences at the University of Sussex. This episode, we have the Tale of Two Telescopes, exploring NASA's new flagship James Webb Space Telescope, and ESA's pioneering Euclid, set to uncover the Dark Universe. Enjoy! Produced by Paul, Jen, John, Damien & Dustin

#134 August 2023 Pt2 Awesome Astronomy

This month we have a packed show, with stories about the European space agency launching a new space telescope to study The Dark Universe. India going to the moon with Chandrayaan-3, astereroid boulders, a key ingredient for life just 1 billion years into the Universe's history, measuring a crater with highway seismology, hot lava piles on the moon, and a farewell to Ariane 5. We discuss observing meteor showers in our monthly skyguide and we ask the important question- where would you let superman take you in the solar system?

#134 - August 2023 Awesome Astronomy

Once a year, astronomers descend upon an unsuspecting UK city in the greatest gathering of astronomically curious minds: the National Astronomy Meeting, otherwise known as NAM (no, not that 'Nam, though it is quite the battle of the minds). Jen was lucky enough to attend this year and this episode is the first in a series of talks recorded at NAM 2023.  We're delighted to bring you the expertise of none other than Dr Becky Smethurst of Oxford University (you may know her as Dr Becky on Youtube). In this talk, Dr Becky teaches us how to grow a supermassive black hole – and it's not as easy as you think! Always picture a black hole as a gigantic hoover, sucking up everything that dares to stray too close? Think again…

How to grow a supermassive black hole with Dr Becky Smethurst

It's a summer vacation special with Jeni in the mountains of South America astronomising at altitude and visiting the Vera C Rubin telescope as well as obstech.   We have an interview with a Vera Rubin Observatory astronomer as well as a skyguide and an astronomy news round up.

#133 Awesome Astronomy July 2023

We chat to Dr Kathy Thornton, nuclear physicist turned NASA astronaut who went on to fly on four Space Shuttle missions. Dr Thornton flew for over 40 days and completed over 21 hours of EVA, including the famous operation to fix the blurry Hubble Space Telescope. We talk about her life as an astronaut, the Hubble fix and that fateful day in mission-control on Columbia's last re-entry.

Interview with Dr Kathy Thornton

This month Jeni and Paul talk about the recent supernova in galaxy M101; volcanic exoplanets; the growing observational evidence putting the current Big Bang theory under strain and the history of water on both Earth and Mars. There is discussions on alien contact; exoplanet detection and how long it would take to accelerate to the speed of light. Paul does a summer reading book review with three space books to keep you entertained on the beach this summer. Jeni has a look at the Juice mission, Axiom 2, future space station plans and a round up of launches. This months skyguide includes discussion noctilucent clouds and deep sky in the centre of our galaxy.

#132 - June 2023 Awesome Astronomy

To celebrate the Skylab 50th anniversary here is one our favourite astronaut chats from 2012 where we caught up with Skylab 3 and STS-3 astronaut, Jack Lousma. Jack was also capcom during Apollo 13 and he tells us about taking that ominous 'Houston, we've had a problem' call and how they solved each life-threatening issue in sequence to get the astronauts back alive. He talks about missing out on flying Apollo 20 to the moon, being a crew member on the Skylab space station and taking one of the first space shuttles out for a test drive.

Skylab 50 - Interview with Astronaut Jack Lousma

This month Paul and Jeni in astronomy news talk about new data on the M87 blackhole, the architecture of planetary systems, the hottest stars, an impact crater in France and how Mars might not have been oxygen rich. In exploration news there is the latest on  JUICE and they welcome an old friend back to the show to talk about Starship. There is a review of the recent AstroCamp where the team witnessed one of the biggest geomagnetic storms of recent times and saw one of the most impressive Auroral displays while standing on a Welsh mountain.

#131 - May 2023 Awesome Astronomy

Jeni visits Space Forge for an update on their mission to build reusable satellites to manufacture materials that that are impossible on the ground. She talks to CEO Joshua Western about that fateful launch from Cornwall on Virgin's Cosmic Girl, how they are getting ready for their next test aboard a Falcon 9, their re-entry tech nicknamed 'Mary Poppins in Space' and the company's future plans to scale up the manufacturing process from grams to tons!  

Interview with Joshua Western CEO of Space Forge

In this episode Jeni and Paul talk about exoplanet atmospheres, the latest thinking on solar system visitor Oumuamua, Vigin Orbit's woes, Relativity's 3D success, and the oldest orbiting satellite. There is the sky guide for April, a discussion about what new telescope Jeni should buy and listener emails, as well as Paul's miserable weather and Jeni's gala dinner talk for International Women's Day.

#130 - April 2023 Awesome Astronomy

Paul takes time out from outreach at the Festival of Tomorrow at the Swindon STEAM museum to chat with Professor Robert Walsh of the University of Central Lancashire, who with artist Alex Rinsler has created a giant representation of the Sun as an outreach and art project that uses the data of the Solar Dynamics Observatory. They talk about solar science, the coronal heating problem, sounding rockets, space missions professor Walsh has been involved with, space weather and why he has his own Sun.

Interview with Solar Astronomer Professor Robert Walsh

In this episode Jeni tells us about her TEDx talk, dressing up for Mama Mia and eating insane burgers, while Paul appears to have started a modelling career. In astronomy news the team explore the latest JWST findings that may have broken cosmology and changed everything we thought we knew about the history of the universe, as well as a potential new explanation for dark energy and black holes. There is the sky-guide looking at the highlights for March as well as the Messier marathon, while in spaceflight news it is all change on the ISS, Boeing may finally be getting its act together and Starship may be going to orbit. Emails and questions complete a packed show

#129 - March 2023 Awesome Astronomy

Interview with astronomer Dame Jocelyn Bell Burnell Jeni talks to the legendary discoverer of pulsars, champion of women in science and Oxford University astronomer about her astronomy career, inspirations, motivations and key discoveries.  

Interview with Dame Jocelyn Bell Burnell

The Discussion:  Our dark sky practical astronomy event, AstroCamp Farewell Apollo 7's Walt Cunningham Comet C2022 E3 ZTF reaches naked eye brightness      The News: Rounding up the astronomy news in February, we have:  Incredible finding: stars have not always been made the same way throughout the history of the Universe The debacle of the first space launch from UK soil 3 rocky water worlds found by the Kepler Space Telescope  The big news story: a decade-long study finds light pollution is worse than we thought   The Sky Guide: This month we're taking a look at the large winter constellation of Ursa Major with a guide to its history, how to find it, a few deep sky objects to seek out and a round-up of the solar system views on offer in February.   Q&A: Does the James Webb Space Telescope have to take calibration frames like I do from Earth - darks, flats, and bias frames to then stack? From our good friend Peter Coates in East Yorkshire.

#128 - February 2023

Bringing back the much-missed Awesome Astronomy interviews with a bang, we're joined by friend of the show Chris Lee.   Chris began his career in the 80s in the UK space industry at British Aerospace, Matra Marconi and SCISYS where he worked on the Hubble Space Telescope, the Giotto mission to Halley's Comet, Beagle 2, Exomars and LISA Pathfinder.   He then became the UK Space Agency's first Head of International Space Policy and then Head of Space Science Programmes before becoming Chief Scientist at the UK Space Agency.   Now retired, he's a keen amateur astronomer with Bristol Astronomical Society, an astroimager and listener to the show that we've been wanting to record a chat with for quite a while.

Interview with Chris Lee

The Discussion:  A refreshed format coming to Awesome Astronomy in 2023 A look back at the festive season      The News: Rounding up the astronomy news in November, we have:  Something in the solar system is producing light that's not unaccounted for A leak on the International Space Station's lifeboat NASA's Mars lander comes to an end A new way to look for aliens    The big news story: As the UK gets ready to launch space vehicles for the first time, we take a look at the long history of UK space activity and the concept of launching to space from aircraft.   The Sky Guide: As many people will have got new observing equipment this Christmas,  we're taking a look at the beginner-friendly constellation of Taurus with a guide to its history, how to find it, a few deep sky objects to seek out and a round-up of the solar system views on offer in January.   Q&A: The brightest GRB ever recorded occurred on 9th October 2022. Its effects on the Earth's ionosphere was strong enough to be observed by amateur radio astronomers. How did dust form the expanding halo observed around the GRB source? From our good friend Andrew Thomas.

#127 - January 2023

*** Beware, stiff profanity (phnar phnar) in the outtakes at the end ***   Our Christmas Pantomime sees the Awesome Astronomy crew exploring strange new worlds on the Astronomy Star Ship (ASS) Penetrator.   Between the puerile skits you've come to expect from our end of year shows, we bring you a roundup of the best astronomy and space exploration news from 2022. And, of course, a look forward to the highlights to come in 2023.   To all our listeners, a very merry Christmas, happy holidays and a prosperous 2023 (download or die!).

End of Year Show

The Discussion:  Meteor shower disappointment Lecturing course started Dr Jen's 30th birthday party karaoke – with audio! more resources for astronomy and astrophotography over at nightskypix.com    The News: Rounding up the astronomy news in November, we have:  JWST picks up chemical reactions in an exoplanet atmosphere ESA's latest astronaut recruitment Virgin Galactic gets go ahead to launch from Cornwall UK spaceports pop up all over the place Rocket Lab continue chasing the reusable rocket dream  The big news story: What else? Artemis 1 launches to make NASA's return to the moon a reality.   The Sky Guide: This month we're taking a look at the winter constellation of Perseus with a guide to its history, how to find it, a few deep sky objects to seek out and a round-up of the solar system views on offer in December.   Q&A: Does the x-ray end of the electromagnetic spectrum have Fraunhofer lines like the visual part? And if not, how is x-ray spectroscopy done? From our good friend Graeme Durden, who we all wish the very best as he continues his radiotherapy treatment.   For all listeners that are male and over 50 or have a dad, brother, husband, partner or friend who is male and over 50, please do take a few seconds to assess your prostate cancer risk at: prostatecanceruk.org/risk-checker

#126 - December 2022

The Discussion:  Enjoying the recent eclipse (weather permitting) Jeni is officially recognised as being great Visiting the Herschel Museum  And listeners' emails on:  Having astronomy on the brain Cartoon characters in space A reflection of Venus off swamp gas!    The News: Rounding up the astronomy news in November, we have:  Why spiral galaxies seem to line up from our perspective The origin story for Saturn's rings Still waiting for NASA's first Artemis moon mission Farewell Apollo 9's Jim McDivitt Boeing's zombie Starliner spacecraft gets a crew  The big news story: Hipparchus' star charts found buried in early Christian parchments   The Sky Guide: This month we're taking a look at the winter constellation of Andromeda with a guide to its history, how to find it, a few deep sky objects to seek out and a round-up of the solar system views on offer in November.   Q&A: What are the wispy striated filaments visible in the JWST images of the Carina Cliffs? From our good friend Rachel Kronick

#125 - November 2022 Part 1

Christmas 1980. Suffolk, England. Two US airmen witness what they believe is an aircraft coming down in the forest next to their base. So begins the story of the UKs most notorious UFO sighting, the Rendlesham Forest incident. Paul dives head first into a 'Hat of Woo' special as he explores the mysterious forest of Rendlesham on the Suffolk coast and considers what this famous conspiracy story says about time and place and of course what really happened.

Rendlesham Forest Incident

Jeni and Paul talk to Professor Mike Edmunds, President of the Royal Astronomical Society  and Emeritus Professor of astrophysics at Cardiff University, who is also Dr Jeni's academic grandfather....   Paul gives a quick look at the sky highlights for October and then Jeni, John and Paul host an open panel discussion at AstroCamp where the audience talk about where space begins, JWST, the worth of Artemis and how the infamous Elephant Trunk nebulae incident happened...

#124 - October 2022 Part 1

The Discussion:  Farewell Frank Drake It's uncrewed, not unmanned! Filming with the BBC again Listeners' emails on city astronomy and the missing AweAst show this month      The News:  JWST unearths a huge cosmic riddle Artemis 1 moon launch delays Solar astronomers solve one of the great mysteries about the Sun A round up of all the incredible things that have happened in space this month (thanks to @jessicaxlis for the inspiration… and much of the content!)      Skyguide: As we're a little late in the month for a September skyguide, this is a quick guide to the astronomy events to observe over the next few months. Pay attention because there's some great oppositions, occultations, eclipses, meteor showers and possibly even a couple of naked eye comets!     Q&A: Can red-shift, spectroscopy, mass evaluations etc still be counted on even after the images have been distorted & magnified by foreground galaxies? Can the effect of gravitational lensing be accurately accounted for? From our good friend Alan Beech in the UK.

#123 - September 2022 Part 2

Hear ye! Hear ye!  Al Worden (went to the moon on Apollo 15): https://tinyurl.com/56w9rkr4 Al Bean (walked on the moon on Apollo 12): https://tinyurl.com/2ewb5vj3 Charlie Duke (walked on the moon on Apollo 16): https://tinyurl.com/5fhacvmk 

#123 - September 2022 Part 1

The Discussion:  The Perseids meteor shower Another heatwave in the UK The Orville on Disney+      The News:  NASA is going back to the moon – this month! SpaceX join the companies dropping space debris on Australia Northrop Grumman & Firefly's new rocket  The news discussion: Loads of news around the International Space Station     Q&A: What would we like to see happen to the ISS instead of being deorbited? From our good friend Mindy Scott in South Africa.

#122 - August 2022 Part 2

The Discussion: The release of JWST's first images, the press conferences and media coverage. Emails on astrophotography, Dr Jen's TV appearances and a more politically correct alternative name for JWST.   The News: Rounding up the astronomy news in August, we have:  We now know why Jupiter doesn't have rings like Saturn A huge triple star system with a violent past A fossil galaxy – one of the first galaxies from the early universe Some good news for the prospects for life on Mars  The big news story: What else? It's JWST innit?   The Sky Guide: This month we're taking a look at the summer constellation of Cygnus with a guide to its history, how to find it, a couple of deep sky objects and a round-up of the solar system views on offer in August.   Q&A: No time for Q&A – we've got JWST to prattle on about!

#122 - August 2022 Part 1

The Discussion:  Another heatwave in the UK Dr Jen on TV covering the latest JWST news The Orville on Disney+ Night Sky on Amazon Prime      The News:  Preparations for the launch of Starship and an unexpected explosion! Artemis 1 readied for launch to the moon The topsy turvy world of international cooperation in space Virgin Galactic's next plans  The news discussion: NASA's CAPSTONE mission to lunar orbit     Q&A: If you let your breath out couldn't you dash across 100m of lunar surface in a damaged spacesuit? From our good friend Ben Harding in the UK.

#121 - July 2022 Part 2

The Discussion:  More filming for the BBC Longer days and shorter nights L Showcasing amateur photography on noctilucent clouds Listeners' emails on   Less well known cultural names for Ursa Major The current planetary alignment in the sky        The News: Rounding up the astronomy news in April, we have:  The Milky Way once went through a massive rate of star formation Solving the riddle of how Mars' storms can be so big and violent A new data release from the incredible Gaia space telescope Solving the riddle of Barnard's Loop  The big news story: A big boost in the search for life in the universe     The Sky Guide: This month we're taking a look at the constellation of Serpens with a guide to its history, how to find it, a couple of deep sky objects and a round-up of the solar system views on offer in July.     Q&A: Will a black hole always look like a donut whichever direction you observe it from? From our good friend Mitch Sevier, presumed to be in the United States.

#121 - July 2022 Part 1

The Discussion:  Discrimination in science and academia Returning to the Welsh valleys to attempt astronomy Free NASA merch from Official NASA Gear Listener's comments on Boeing and the state of spaceflight innovation.      The News:  Assembly of China's Tiangong space station Artemis 1 wet rehearsal attempt #2 France join the Artemis Accord NASA outsources moon suit developments SpaceX's critical approval for starship flight tests  The news discussion: NASA to formally investigate UFOs – is this wise?     Q&A: How many people can you get on the International Space Station? From our good friend O G Duddy (@Derry_Man1) in Derry, Northern Ireland.

#120 - June 2022 Part 2

The Discussion:  You can now watch Jen presenting on  BBC TV's Weatherman Walking (from 06:40) Walking, astronomy and animal abuse in the New Forest NASA find the Awesome Astronomy  bunker on Mars! Listeners' emails on   Obscure names for constellations Podcast editorial suggestions Sending us your astrophotography        The News: Rounding up the astronomy news in April, we have:  A companion star that survived a supernova! Galaxies that had their dark matter stripped away Everything we thought we knew about galaxy evolution is wrong L We were just buzzed by an asteroid a mile wide.  The big news story: Only an image of the black hole region at the centre of our galaxy!     The Sky Guide: This month we're taking a look at the constellation of Draco with a guide to its history, how to find it, a couple of deep sky objects and a round-up of the solar system views on offer in June.     Q&A: What sites and activities could you recommend for disabled amateur astronomers? From our good friend Ash in Wales.

#120 - June 2022 Part 1

The Discussion:  Getting back in the studio Watch us recording in our behind the scenes 10th Anniversary show Inspiring children to think about careers in science Listener's emails about swearing in the podcast and catching objects from space.      The News:  Our favourite Welsh satellite space company, Space Forge Rocket Lab's attempt to catch a falling rocket booster with a helicopter More JWST updates Jeff Bezos buys every western rocket (that's not owned by Musk) for the next 5 years UK Space Energy initiative's concept for a Bond villain style space-based solar power plant    The news discussion: The ongoing saga of Boeing's Starliner spaceship     Q&A: Blue Origin have New Glenn and New Shepard rockets, named after American pioneers of spaceflight. Assuming that this isn't going to just be the men, does this mean that in the future we can expect a rocket called "New Ride"? From our good friend Andy Burns in the UK.

#119 - May 2022 Part 2

The Discussion:  Jeni's magazine article on 'everything JWST' UK government's social mobility commissioner gets us wound up Listeners' emails on:   Professional vs amateur astronomy Artificial Intelligence in consumer telescopes JWST's Early Release Observations        The News: Rounding up the astronomy news in April, we have:  New type of nebula discovered by an amateur astronomer Detecting life-giving hydrothermal vents on Saturn's moon Europa An exoplanet around a dead star in a potential habitable zone 'Impossible' galaxies with no dark matter  The big news story: the Planetary Science Decadal Survey is out!     The Sky Guide: This month we're taking a look at the constellation of Ursa Major with a guide to its history, how to find it, a couple of deep sky objects and a round-up of the solar system views on offer in May.     Q&A: Will JWST be able to confirm the existence of the Ort Cloud? From our good friend Oren Wyche in Maryland USA.

#119 - May 2022 Part 1

Also check out our YouTube channel here for much more astronomy and spacey goodness: https://www.youtube.com/awesomeastronomy?sub_confirmation=1 The Discussion:  Watching a SpaceX Starlink launch Tales from this month's AstroCamp star party Jeni on the radio and TV again A listener's email on JWST's first image.    The News:  NASA's moon rocket finally undergoes testing for the Artemis 1 moon mission next month! Rocket Lab attempt to catch a falling rocket booster with a helicopter Further affects of the war in Ukraine to the spaceflight industry Jeff Bezos buys every western rocket (that's not owned by Musk) for the next 5 years  The news discussion: The Axiom-1 mission to the International Space Station   Nebulas: A look at the weird and wonderful nebulae that you can see through telescopes or use to understand the interstellar medium and star formation. This month we close this segment of the show with a focus on Dark Nebulas.

#118 - April 2022 Part 2

The Discussion:  Observing trip with Cardiff Uni students Really bright ISS passes Jen's first TV presenting gig about to be released Watching a SpaceX launch Listeners' email about previous episodes    The News: Rounding up the astronomy news in April, we have:  NASA think JWST will perform better than expected! (see also https://youtu.be/YJMBvcG7nRM) A milestone 5,000 confirmed exoplanets (see also https://youtu.be/ByfigQW-6Mk) The carbon impact of running large observatories 'Impossible' supermassive-blackhole orbits discovered    The Sky Guide: This month we're taking a look at the constellation of Leo with a guide to its history, how to find it, a couple of deep sky objects and a round-up of the solar system views on offer in April.   Q&A: How soon, at current space travel speeds, would we as a species have to leave the galactic neighbourhood in order to avoid the inevitable Milky Way/Andromeda galaxy collision catastrophe?

#118 - April 2022 Part 1

The Discussion:  A little bit of singing to brighten your day and abuse your ears It's Messier Marathon season A Messier challenge A great listeners' email on naming space missions    The News: Rounding up the space exploration news this month we have:  Space Forge's reusable satellites demonstrator ESA's demonstrator for extracting oxygen from the lunar surface The countdown to the death of NASA's Mars Insight lander SpaceX's Starship developments The future for ExoMars and the ISS    Main news story: The knock on effects to cooperation in space caused by the situation in Ukraine.   Nebulae Our section of the show explaining every type of nebulae in the galaxy that you can oberse or image for yourself. This month we cover Reflection Nebulae.

#117 - March 2022 Part 2

The Discussion:  Stargazing & post-covid travel A lovely email from our good friend @SsonnyY The joys of being an astronomy beginner Pioneer 10's 50th anniversary    The News: Rounding up the astronomy news in March, we have:  A new planet discovered in our neighbouring Alpha Centauri system A massive new dataset of 4.4m brand new radio objects to get excited about Quasars, blazars, - turns out they're all the same thing The first observation of a free floating black hole Mini-Neptunes may evolve into super Earths    Big News Story: First light of the IXPE X-ray telescope   The Sky Guide: This month we're taking a look at the constellation of Camelopardalis with a guide to its history, how to find it, a couple of deep sky objects and a round-up of the solar system views on offer in March.

#117 - March 2022 Part 1

The Discussion:  Techniquest in Cardiff Bay Our Good friend Dylan O'Donnell at Star Stuff A listener's email on the naming of spacecraft, prompting a debate on history, cultures and tearing down statues.    The News:  Britain's ambitious spaceports hit regulatory purgatory China's plans for this year include space station completion, comet and asteroid missions Unknown heroines of space & astronomy for International Women in Science Day  The news discussion: NASA contract a Mars Sample return rocket.   Nebulas: A look at the weird and wonderful nebulae that you can see through telescopes or use to understand the interstellar medium and star formation. This month we focus on Emission Nebulae.   Q&A: Why do astronauts travelling from the earth to the moon appear to experience complete weightlessness? From our good friend Paul Waterhouse in the Forest of Dean, UK

#116 - February 2022 Part 2

The Discussion:  AstroCamp returns for listeners to observe with us 2-5th April. Book tickets here. Listeners' emails on:   A Venus sample return mission Why our website is so poor L        The News:  A very big far away star with a very big planet Unpicking the riddle of where the matter is that makes up all the stars Another of Saturn moons may be hiding an ocean Why there are no newly formed stars within 500 light years of the Sun  Big News Story: a mysterious radio signal points to a new type of magnetar     The Sky Guide: This month we're taking a look at the constellation of Auriga with a guide to its history, how to find it, a couple of deep sky objects and a round-up of the solar system views on offer in February.   If you want to help chart the advancing light pollution:  cpre.org.uk/what-we-care-about/nature-and-landscapes/dark-skies/star-count-2022/     Q&A: How are black holes able to evaporate? From our good friend Mitch in the United States.

#116 - February 2022 Part 1

The Discussion:  Astronomy in Lego Jeni on the BBC Listeners emails on space traffic control and the Chinese space programme      The News:  SpaceX's troubled start to 2022 New York Times reports sexual harassment at SpaceX International Space Station operations extended to 2030 A look at Arianespace  The news discussion: JWST     Nebulas: A look at the weird and wonderful nebulae that you can see through telescopes or use to understand the interstellar medium and star formation. This month we focus on supernova remnants.

#115 - January 2021 Part 2

The Discussion:  Astronomy Christmas presents Listener's email about the value of early human space endeavours Listener's email about the marvelousness of Musk    The News: Rounding up the astronomy news in October, we have:  The largest valley in the solar system (on Mars) is packed with water More evidence to suggest there may be living organisms in Venus' atmosphere The sharpest images yet of the region around our galaxy's supermassive black hole Astronomers find 70 new rogue planets free-floating in space The James Webb Space Telescope finally launches!    The Interview: this month we interview… the constellation Orion!   The Sky Guide: This month we're taking a look at the constellation of Orion with a guide to its history, how to find it, a couple of deep sky objects and a round-up of the solar system views on offer in January.