Kielder Observatory Podcast

In this episode, we venture beyond the dark skies of Northumberland to the launchpads of Florida. We dive deep into the Artemis II mission, NASA’s historic first crewed flight to the Moon in over half a century. We discuss the the crew’s journey, and why this mission is a pivotal stepping stone for the lunar south pole landings. Since recording the conversation the mission launch has been delayed until the first week of March following issues found during the "wet testing" over the weekend. Plus, we look at the transition from winter to spring in our night sky, highlighting the "Planetary Parade" and the best time to see Orion before he departs for the season. Book your tickets for our February events at kielderobservatory.org.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, Ian Brannan and Director of Astronomy Dan Pye explore the fascinating world of solar flares and their impact on Earth's auroras. Dan shares insights on the recent X5.1 solar flare and its significance, as well as its ability to trigger stunning auroras across the globe. We also discuss the interstellar comet 31P/ATLAS, its unique characteristics, and the potential for alien life in the clouds of exoplanets.  Plus a look ahead to what to expect in the night sky for November!     Chapters:   (00:00) The aurora has been back with a vengeance thanks to a solar flare (01:26) Solar flares are the biggest thing that drive aurora here on Earth (10:25) People worry about Earth's magnetic fields drifting and polar reversal (16:33) Keep an eye out for the aurora. It is going on at the moment (18:31) We have an interstellar comet that could predate our solar system (25:13) Do we know where this comet came from or where it might have been (29:42) Scientists have been able to see the very early stages of a supernova (32:37) Dense cloud coverage is something astronomers are looking out for on distant exoplanets (39:50) Jupiter and Saturn are always around this time of year (42:40) There's plenty of sessions and events going on at Keeldra ObservatorySee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Summer means light nights but that doesn't mean there's nothing going on at the observatory, far from it there has been lots both at the observatory and in space to talk about!Director of Astronomy Dan Pye joins Ian Brannan on the deck at Kielder to chat about why all eyes are on the North East when it comes to space. Plus the things you can look out for even if the nights are a little lighter, and how you can book for some of the great family events in the school summer holidays.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Recorded live in Hexham Andy Saunders, the author of Apollo Remastered, discusses wit Dan Pye & Ian Brannan how he brought the Moon landings to life with stunning, high-definition images restored from NASA’s original Apollo film footage, which had been stored away for decades.  His groundbreaking work reveals never-before-seen spacewalks, astronaut portraits, and breathtaking views of Earth and the Moon. You can see the exhibition at Queen's Hall in Hexham until the end of May.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Join us in this captivating episode of the Kielder Observatory podcast as we explore the origins of life and the universe with Dr. Luke Daly, an expert in planetary geoscience from the University of Glasgow. Discover how space rocks like asteroids and meteorites may hold the key to understanding the formation of our solar system and the potential for life beyond Earth. Alongside hosts Ian Brannan & Dan Pye, delve into the fascinating journey from a waterless desert planet to our vibrant blue Earth, and uncover the secrets of water delivery mechanisms from comets to early terrestrial planets. This episode promises an engaging exploration into the mysteries of planetary science and the exciting prospects for future discoveries.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Crisp winter nights are back, and with clear skies that makes for perfect star gazing conditions for the whole family to wrap up warm and see some amazing things..! It is a busy time for meteor showers, a number of planets are visible to the naked eye, and we now have the best chance for the next 11 years of seeing the aurora too..!Get a full update of what's happening at the observatory as well as space in general with Ian Brannan & Director of Astronomy Dan Pye, who also have news of 1 very special guest joining us on the podcast soon..! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We are recording on location at the Kielder Observatory. As the seasons change and autumn approaches, join host Ian Brannon and a panel of space experts as they delve into the latest celestial events and missions. From the best time to view the Milky Way and Saturn to upcoming lunar eclipses and the fascinating missions to Mercury and Europa, this episode is packed with astronomical insights. Discover how you can make the most of the night sky with just your naked eye, binoculars, or a telescope, and get the latest updates on space missions and discoveries. Kielder Observatory, Night Sky, Astronomy, Milky Way, Saturn Rings, Lunar Eclipse, Boeing Starliner, Spacex, Bepicolombo, Mercury Mission, Europa Clipper, Search For Life, Jupiter Moon, Space Missions, Telescopes, Stargazing, Autumn Equinox, Zodiacal Light, Open Cluster, Cepheus ConstellationSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As we head through the middle part of the year, Ian Brannan and Director of Astronomy Dan Pye look at the Summer Triangle, a collection of constellation which take centre stage in the night sky at this time of year. We also discuss the discovery of frost on Mars, which has been found at the top of the biggest mountain in the Solar System Olympus Mons, which is 3x bigger than Mount Everest! And we look ahead to a potential comet with could be visible this autumn! For more news and info visit kielderobservatory.orgSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This month we record the podcast at the observatory itself, and it's a Dan fest. Host Ian Brannan is joined by Director of Astronomy Dan Pye, and Director of Astrophotography Dan Monk, to discuss a couple of hot topics and give you some top tips heading into April! On April 8th there is due to be a total eclipse which will be best viewed in the United States, but discover Kielder's plans to bring this event to you LIVE from one of our astronomers who is heading to Texas to take in and share the spectacle with you. Plus with the constant likelihood of an Aurora display at this time of year, Dan Monk explains how to maximise your chances of getting an awesome photo, and shares his adventures to Iceland chasing the phenomenon..!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

February is the month of love, and in this episode of the Kielder Observatory Podcast discover how to see a heart light years away in space! Our Director of Astronomy Dan Pye explains the other celestial events occurring through February including our Pye in the Sky challenge!The main theme of this episode is the Aurora, our science communicator Ishbel Wright has recently ventured north of the Arctic Circle as part of a university project to install a network of cameras to give us a better understanding of this phenomenon. But of course she also saw the northern lights for herself more intensely than ever! As we move towards another peak time to see the Aurora in the UK, we also give you a few tips to improve your chances of bagging a photo for yourself! Aurora Borealis, Arctic Circle, Night Sky, Planetary Conjunctions, Venus, Heart Nebula, Cassiopeia, Pleiades, Constellations, Andromeda Galaxy, Science Communicator, Ionosphere, Tromso Norway, Astronomy, Astrophysics, Star Clusters, Caroline Rose Cluster, Ishbel Wright, Dan PyeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This month we are joined by Adrian West, an astronomer with over 30 years' experience. Better known as Virtual Astro, he has one of the largest independent astronomy and space accounts on social media. He's passionate about the night sky and inspiring people to look up. Adrian is author of the book "The Secret World of Stargazing", and is now touring the UK with his show "The Night Sky Show Live". You can see Adrian performing in the North East at the Sunderland Empire on January 6th 2024. For more info visit thenightskyshow.co.uk See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This month Ian and Dan head out to combine recording a podcast, with a spot of stargazing as they highlight some of the other great and free locations across the North East offering a great view of the night sky. They have a chat on a hill near Derwent Reservoir which despite some patch weather on the day is a great vantage point to see the Aurora, the Milky Way and meteor showers. August sees the return of proper astronomical darkness at night, but it's also a month filled with great events such as the Perseids meteor shower, the Milky Way being visible, and the possibility of the Aurora putting on a show! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.