The Astroholic Explains

You can’t save the dark skies without convincing people it matters, and education is crucial to this. Across the world, so many are working on that specific aspect, and we will hear from some of these extraordinary communicators in this episode.The episode features:Rayan Khan, founder of Cosmic TribeShweta Kulkarni, founder of AstronERADr John Berentine, Principal Consultant at Dark Sky Consulting LLCRobert Massey, Deputy Executive Director of the Royal Astronomical SocietyBettymaya Foott, Engagement Associate at DarkSky InternationalDr Michelle Wooten, Assistant Professor of Astronomy Education at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

For most people, a dark enough sky can only be accessed on holiday, away from cities. There is a growing movement of astrotourism, so we look into what that’s like, and how it helps the fight against light pollution. The episode features:Rayan Khan, founder of Cosmic TribeMegan Eaves, author of NightfaringShweta Kulkarni, founder of AstronERADani Robertson, Dark Sky Officer for Eryri National Park and the Areas of Outstanding Natural BeautyCarol Redford, Founder & CEO of Astroturism Western AustraliaMichael Rymer, Dark Sky Places Program Associate at DarkSky International.

In this introductory episode, we will be talking about dark skies and light pollution in general, and what some organizations are doing to protect the night sky, as well as some of the misconceptions about reducing light pollution.Featuring:Rayan Khan, founder of Cosmic TribeMegan Eaves, author of NightfaringShweta Kulkarni, founder of AstronERADr John Berentine, Principal Consultant at Dark Sky Consulting LLCRobert Massey, Deputy Executive Director of the Royal Astronomical SocietyBettymaya Foott, Engagement Associate at DarkSky International

Chris and I decided to find out when humans realized that meteorites came from beyond Earth: it could be a lot older than it was once thought! Egyptologist Dr Victoria Almansa-Villatoro joins us to discuss meteorite artifacts and intriguing hieroglyphs from Ancient Egypt.

In this episode, we tackle the classic concept of sound in space, what can we measure, and why it is important that some sound waves move through the cosmos.

I'm writing a book all about the astronomy we do with the light we cannot see with our own eyes. It's called Invisible Rainbows and features astronomers from all around the world. If you are interested in finding out more and maybe pledge for a copy, click on this link.

We don't know and will likely never know what happened before the Big Bang, but Chris is curious about it, so we take a journey in the land before time and space!

We sat down with KeShawn Ivory to talk about satellite galaxies, something weird happening around the Milky Way, and how it feels to win a major award from the Royal Astronomical Society!

When we think of asteroid impacts, we often just picture Chicxulub and the mass extinction of three-quarters of the plant and animal species on Earth, 66 million years ago. But asteroid impacts can be less impactful to life, like the Popigai and Chesapeake impactors - not as big as Chicxulub but still big enough to create craters of over 80 kilometers across, way back around 35 million years ago. Cosmic material could even actually help life bloom.

In this episode, we focus on alternative energy approaches for future missions to Mars. NASA Ames' Dr Victoria Hartwick has recently published research about utilizing wind power on Mars, showing that it is not all solar or nuclear when it comes to exploring other worlds in the Solar System.

Our Christmas Special this year is a little tale of realistic sci-fi, set just a few years from now. An astronaut is being interrogated about the events that took place in a space station around the Moon: The Gateway. Playing the characters are Chris and Alfredo, with a cameo from the ever-wonderful Katy Evans.

We got to play with a Unistellar telescope and even collect data about an exoplanet, to learn we talked with Unistellar Chief Scientific Officer Dr Franck Marchis

In this episode, we turn back time to the moment known as cosmic dawn ready to understand the first stars and how they changed the Universe. A guiding light in this journey is Dr Emma Chapman, author of the book First Light.