Pythagorean Astronomy: Black holes – too big and too small

Posted on 3 September 2020 by Chris North

If there’s anything that pricks up the ears in astronomy, it’s black holes. And this month we have not one, but two black hole stories. And, depending on how you count them, four black holes, though two of them no longer exist – if that sounds confusing, then don’t worry, it’ll become clear! Regular listeners
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Pythagorean Astronomy: Solar Obiter – Not Suitable for Vegetarians

Posted on 30 July 2020 by Chris North

In astronomy, the month of July has been the month of two things: comets, and Mars. Comet Neowise, or to give it it’s full title C/2020 F3 NEOWISE, has graced the skies of the northern hemispheres, becoming the first naked eye comet for some time. Some have even argued it’s the best comet for decades.
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Pythagorean Astronomy: Mass Gaps and Radio Bursts

Posted on 2 July 2020 by Chris North

Science news stories normally revolve around something new that’s been learned, or some question that’s been answered. But sometimes, and these are often the most interesting times, there’s an observation or discovery that raises a whole new set of questions – and the mystery deepens. This month we discuss two such discoveries. First of all,
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Pythagorean Astronomy: SmallSpark

Posted on 5 June 2020 by Chris North

Amid the turmoil of not only coronavirus, but also anti-racism protests across the US and now internationally, it’s been a notable month for spaceflight. At the end of May, SpaceX launched their first crewed Dragon capsule, which became the first private vehicle to dock with the International Space Station. But the private space sector is
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Pythagorean Astronomy: Hubble at 30

Posted on 1 May 2020 by Chris North

The Hubble Space Telescope is 30 years old – something that even its most enthusiastic supporters couldn’t have dreamt of when it launched in 1990. With the help of a host of astronomers and space scientists, Chris North explores the history of the mission and the revolutionary discoveries that have been made. Prof Anu Ojha
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Pythagorean Astronomy: Isolation Space

Posted on 3 April 2020 by Chris North

In these unprecedented times, it’s hard to argue that much of space science and astronomy is key infrastructure, or its staff key workers. And while that’s true, like many organisations work cannot simply stop altogether. The European Space Agency runs a multitude of missions, from space observatories to interplanetary explorers, and from solar probes to
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Pythagorean Astronomy: out with the old, in with the new

Posted on 27 February 2020 by Chris North

Betelgeuse is still misbehaving, though we’re starting to get more information in from new observations by some of the largest telescope. Astronomers are narrowing in on the possible explanations. Chris, Edward and Claudia discuss what the implications might be. While the dimming of Betelgeuse isn’t anything to do with aliens, the SETI programme is still
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We’re Hiring! Join our Outreach Team as the Ogden Outreach Officer

Posted on 31 January 2020 by Chris North

Apply Now! An opportunity has arisen in the School of Physics and Astronomy to join a well-established outreach team as the Ogden Outreach Officer. This position is funded collaboratively by the Ogden Trust, Compound Semiconductor (CS) Hub and the School of Physics and Astronomy. The Ogden Trust aims to increase the uptake of physics for
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Pythagorean Astronomy: Dimming stars, Galactic waves and misbehaving gas clouds

Posted on 31 January 2020 by Chris North

The astronomy world has been a-buzz with news of Betelgeuse, the bright red star in Orion, which appears to be dimming. Chris North, Edward Gomez and Claudia Antolini discuss how unusual this is, and what it means for the star’s future. Further afield, there’s a newly identified wave in our Galactic neighbourhood, changing our understanding
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Pythagorean Astronomy: What the future holds

Posted on 29 December 2019 by Chris North

The final episode of 2019 includes a look back at a few things that have happened this year, and a look forward to the future. Chris North & Edward Gomez discuss the developments in exoplanet discoveries, and what future missions (such as CHEOPS, Plato and Ariel) may be able to tell us about the wide
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