HD and the Void
I pick a topic I want to know more about and dig into it for a year. 2017 is all about space! I'll look at anything that sends me down a research tangent. I do take requests, I don't keep it formal, I do my research, I don't like describing complex math but I do try. Wander with me into the cat’s-cradle tangle of society, history, science, and anything I thought was cool to mention.
Episodes
34 episodes
Ep. 34 Stargazing
Not enough people in the real world listened to my stories about my recent stargazing adventure, so I distilled my process and plans so that the process of selecting a site and using a stargazing app seems more attainable for those who have nev...
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15:36
Ep. 33 Comets
There are over 3,500 comets that we know of, so this is just a brief overview of what comets are, and then a list of some Great Comets and a few well-known comets. I also discuss some of the missions that various organizations and nations (i.e....
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20:21
Ep. 32 Black Holes
I have mentioned black holes in previous episodes, but now feels like the right time to talk about them in their very own episode! I also discuss the new photos of the supermassive black hole in the galaxy Messier 87 and the telescope that was ...
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14:32
Ep. 31 Astrogeology
There is a branch of study where rocks and space meet (sometimes to explosive effect, when asteroids and meteorites are concerned)... It can be called planetary geology, exogeology, or astrogeology. Listen to hear more about what the life of an...
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21:49
Ep. 30 Coriolis Effect
The Coriolis force is a force in physics that has profound impact on us here on Earth. Listen to hear how this apparent force has influence over the weather, tides, and even some creatures. I refuse to talk about the formulas surrounding it but...
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20:25
Ep. 29 Unusual Scales
From Bortle to Torino, from asteroids to aliens, scientists have been working to classify experiences in a useful way. Some of those experiences are very specific, unusual, speculative, or just bizarre. Hear about a selection of scales currentl...
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23:46
Ep. 28 Tidal Forces
Tidal forces are not only the cause of ocean tides, but affect how satellites orbit objects in space, and they can even tear some objects apart under their extreme stresses. Learn about types of tides on Earth and in our solar system.
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23:27
Ep. 27 Edmond Halley
Edmond Halley was heavily involved in the establishment of modern astronomy, whether through his direct observational work or through the support he offered others in his field. Hear a quick overview of the man who's popped up so much throughout t...
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27:35
Ep. 26 Transits and Oppositions
It's a history-heavy episode this week! Hear about the transits of Mercury and Venus, and learn what they have in common with the oppositions of planets like Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn—they're like eclipses, but with planets instead of the Moon.
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20:12
Ep. 25 Southern Stars
I live in the Northern Hemisphere of Earth, which means I see some constellations and stars that people in the Southern Hemisphere don't see. The opposite is true as well, and it's more interesting for me to talk about the constellations I don't g...
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18:21
Ep. 24 Airborne Infrared Astronomy
I have spoken about radio astronomy, so it makes sense to move on to infrared astronomy. The method for gathering infrared data involves telescopes mounted in planes that can fly above Earth's atmosphere, and there is a rich history of airborne as...
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23:16
Ep. 23 Quasars and Blazars
Hear an overview of two of the major types of active galaxies: quasars and blazars! I discuss the history of the study of quasars as well as where we're going with future studies of these extragalactic objects.
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16:54
Ep. 22 African-American Astrophiles
As Black History Month 2018 wraps up, learn about some of the African-American men and women who have contributed to space research and exploration! 7 astronomers and 9 astronauts shine in this episode, which spans from the 1700s to modern-day folks.
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23:21
Ep. 21 Radio Astronomy and RQZs
Be brave in the face of an extremely technical episode where I tackle radio astronomy! Astronomers collect radio waves to map distant objects. To do their work they need a level of quiet that's hard to find without some help from Radio Frequency I...
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26:18
Ep. 20 Challenger
January 28th was the anniversary of the Challenger space shuttle disaster, and while I do discuss what happened, I talk more about the American space shuttle program and what the repercussions of this disaster were for NASA as an agency. I ...
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20:58
Ep. 19 Astronauts - Long-Term Space Living
How to astronauts shower? How many astronauts are on the International Space Station right now? How do you pack enough food for them? What kind of comfortable housing options are available when orbiting Earth? What can you pack and not pack? All t...
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32:51
Ep. 18 Zombie Stars and Supernovae
Zombie stars were in the news in November but get in the holiday spirit by hearing about them now! Learn about the life cycle of a star, the power of a supernova, and what undeath looks like in a star.
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24:37
Ep. 17 Dark Sky Reserves
Dark Sky Reserves exist to prevent light pollution in select areas. Learn about the reasons why these reserves are so important, and also hear about the Bortle Scale, which amateur astronomers use to quantify sky conditions when they are out obser...
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21:04
Ep. 16 Voyager Golden Record
Full disclosure: this is a kissing story. A kissing story about the ultimate mixtape and alien communication plan, sent out in 1977 and now in interstellar space. Hear about the Voyager Golden Record and the people who put it together as a compila...
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26:00
Ep. 15 Dark Energy Part 2
I've talked about dark matter, now it's time to talk dark energy. Learn why it exists as a theoretical (and maybe actual) object, how we see its effects manifest in the universe, and what it means for all our theories if it is or is not real.
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22:11
Ep. 14 Dark Matter Part 1
In preparation for a future interview with someone who knows much more about astroparticle physics and dark matter than I do, tune in this week for a quick-and-dirty breakdown of a theoretical particle that, if it exists, would clarify a couple of...
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21:00
Ep. 13 Lunar and Solar Orbits
This is a short one but I do explain concepts you can see and track yourself over the months with very little effort. The shapes of the Moon and how long it takes different planets to orbit the Sun! Time is a human construct! Tidal forces and the ...
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17:09
Ep. 12 Longitude
The hardest part of determining longitude was figuring out how sailors could find their longitudinal coordinates at sea. There were a lot of methods proposed but adding a ship into the equation makes precision difficult. Learn about the Longitude ...
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29:47
