Astronomy Cast

Astronomy Cast Ep. 674: Asteroid Early Warning Systems by Fraser Cain & Dr. Pamela Gay The asteroid apocalypse is one of those existential crises that keep astronomers up at night. But the DART mission showed us that we can push an asteroid off its trajectory if we have enough warning. Today we’ll talk about how humanity is building early warning systems to give us time to respond to a dangerous asteroid.   This video was made possible by the following Patreon members: David Burry Gowen Stephen Veit Jordan Young Venkatesh Chary Andrew Poelstra Brian Cagle David Truog Gerhard Schwarzer THANK YOU! - Fraser and Dr. Pamela

Astronomy Cast Ep. 673: How to See Satellites (or Avoid Seeing Them) by Fraser Cain & Dr. Pamela Gay Streamed live on Mar 13, 2023. If you’re in dark skies and look up, you’re certain to see a satellite. Lots of them. But how can you know which one you’re seeing, and how can you improve your chances of a sighting? Today we’ll talk about how to see satellites, or avoid seeing them.   This video was made possible by the following Patreon members: David Burry Gowen Stephen Veit Jordan Young Venkatesh Chary Andrew Poelstra Brian Cagle David Truog Gerhard Schwarzer THANK YOU! - Fraser and Dr. Pamela

Astronomy Cast Ep. 672: Space Debris Removal by Fraser Cain & Dr. Pamela Gay Streamed live on Mar 8, 2023. We’ve talked about the rising problem of space junk. Okay, we know it’s an issue. So what can be done about it? Today we’ll talk about ideas to remove space junk, making sure space is open to use for the centuries to come.   This video was made possible by the following Patreon members: David Burry Gowen Stephen Veit Jordan Young Venkatesh Chary Andrew Poelstra Brian Cagle David Truog Gerhard Schwarzer THANK YOU! - Fraser and Dr. Pamela

Astronomy Cast Ep. 671: The Consequences to Breaking Space Laws by Fraser Cain & Dr. Pamela Gay Streamed live on Mar 1, 2023. Last week we talked about the laws that govern space exploration. This week the rubber hits the road. What are the consequences for actually breaking these rules? Are they really going to stop anyone?   This video was made possible by the following Patreon members: David Burry Gowen Stephen Veit Jordan Young Venkatesh Chary Andrew Poelstra Brian Cagle David Truog Gerhard Schwarzer THANK YOU! - Fraser and Dr. Pamela

Astronomy Cast Ep. 670 - Governing Space: The 1967 Outer Space Treaty & More! by Fraser Cain & Dr. Pamela Ga Streamed live on Feb 13, 2023. The Universe was inaccessible for most of human history, but the first tentative steps to space in the 20th Century made humanity realize that science fiction was becoming science reality. New rules would have to be written to govern how we used this limitless expanse. Today we’ll talk about the Outer Space Treaty of 1967.   This video was made possible by the following Patreon members: David Burry Gowen Jeanette Wink Stephen Veit Jordan Young Venkatesh Chary Andrew Poelstra Brian Cagle David Truog Gerhard Schwarzer THANK YOU! - Fraser and Dr. Pamela  

Astronomy Cast Ep. 669: Challenges to Dark Energy by Fraser Cain & Dr. Pamela Gay Streamed live on Feb 6, 2023. It’s been over 20 years since astronomers first discovered that the expansion of the Universe is accelerating thanks to dark energy. And in these decades, astronomers still don’t have much evidence for what could be causing the increased expansion rate. Maybe there’s something else going on to explain it.   This video was made possible by the following Patreon members: David Burry Gowen Jeanette Wink Stephen Veit Jordan Young Venkatesh Chary Andrew Poelstra Brian Cagle David Truog Gerhard Schwarzer THANK YOU! - Fraser and Dr. Pamela

Astronomy Cast Ep. 668: The Crisis In Cosmology by Fraser Cain & Dr. Pamela Gay Streamed live on Jan 30, 2023. Astronomers have made extremely accurate measurements of the expansion rate of the Universe and come up with different results. And the error bars for the observations don’t overlap, so there’s something strange going on. What’s the answer and how can the Crisis in Cosmology be resolved?   This video was made possible by the following Patreon members: David Burry Gowen Stephen Veit Jordan Young Venkatesh Chary Andrew Poelstra Brian Cagle David Truog THANK YOU! - Fraser and Dr. Pamela

Astronomy Cast Ep. 667: JWST First Science by Fraser Cain & Dr. Pamela Gay Streamed live on Jan 23, 2023. Astronomers came together in January to present their newest research. And not surprisingly, the winter AAS meeting was heavy on news from the James Webb Space Telescope. What were some of the new results that were announced?   This video was made possible by the following Patreon members: Burry Gowen Stephen Veit Jordan Young Jeanette Wink Kevin Lyle J.F. Rajotte Venkatesh Chary Andrew Poelstra Brian Cagle David Truog Aurora Lipper David Gerhard Schwarzer THANK YOU! - Fraser and Dr. Pamela

  Sign up through to make a difference in the climate crisis, and Wren will plant 10 extra trees in your name!   Streamed live on Jan 17, 2023. Well, we did it. We made it to episode 666, an auspicious number to be sure. What can we do to celebrate this accomplishment? An episode all about things in the Universe that have been named after mythological people and places in the underworld!   This video was made possible by the following Patreon members: Burry Gowen Stephen Veit Jordan Young Jeanette Wink Kevin Lyle Venkatesh Chary Andrew Poelstra Brian Cagle David Truog Gerhard Schwarzer THANK YOU! - Fraser and Dr. Pamela   We've added a new way to donate to 365 Days of Astronomy to support editing, hosting, and production costs.  Just visit: and donate as much as you can! Share the podcast with your friends and send the Patreon link to them too!  Every bit helps! Thank you! ------------------------------------ Do go visit for cool Astronomy Cast and CosmoQuest t-shirts, coffee mugs and other awesomeness! T

Astronomy Cast Ep. 665: The Age of Reionization by Fraser Cain & Dr. Pamela Gay The Cosmic Microwave Background Radiation tells us so much about the Universe. After that era, the Universe went dark. Then, as gas pulled together into the first stars and eventually galaxies, light returned, beginning the Age of Reionization.   This video was made possible by the following Patreon members: Burry Gowen Stephen Veit Jordan Young Jeanette Wink Kevin Lyle Venkatesh Chary Andrew Poelstra Brian Cagle David Truog Gerhard Schwarzer THANK YOU! - Fraser and Dr. Pamela

Astronomy Cast Ep. 664: The First Stars by Fraser Cain & Dr. Pamela Gay This show is sponsored by BetterHelp.  Visit today to get 10% off your first month.   The Sun is a third-generation star, polluted with metals from long-dead suns. Astronomers have also discovered second-generation stars, with very low metallicity. But theories suggest there must be a first generation, with stars made from only pure hydrogen and helium. Can we ever find them?   This video was made possible by the following Patreon members: Burry Gowen Stephen Veit Jordan Young Jeanette Wink Kevin Lyle Venkatesh Chary Andrew Poelstra Brian Cagle David Truog Gerhard Schwarzer THANK YOU! - Fraser and Dr. Pamela

Astronomy Cast Ep. 663: End of Year Observing Events by Fraser Cain & Dr. Pamela Gay We generally save our stargazing suggestions for the summer, when it’s warmer in the northern hemisphere. But you’re tough, you can handle a little cold. And it’s worth it because there are some wonderful things you can see in the night sky this time of year.   This video was made possible by the following Patreon members: Burry Gowen Stephen Veit Jordan Young Jeanette Wink Kevin Lyle J.F. Rajotte Venkatesh Chary Andrew Poelstra Brian Cagle David Truog Aurora Lipper David Gerhard Schwarzer THANK YOU! - Fraser and Dr. Pamela

Astronomy Cast Ep. 662 - Looking Ahead at New and Recycled Missions by Fraser Cain & Dr. Pamela Gay Last week we talked about the missions we’re saying goodbye to. This week, we’re going to talk about some upcoming missions to say hello to. Some are brand new ideas, others are, uh, recycled.   This video was made possible by the following Patreon members: Burry Gowen Stephen Veit Jordan Young Jeanette Wink Kevin Lyle J.F. Rajotte Venkatesh Chary Andrew Poelstra Brian Cagle David Truog Aurora Lipper David Gerhard Schwarzer THANK YOU! - Fraser and Dr. Pamela

Astronomy Cast Ep. 660: Runaway! Runaway! Escaping Stars, Planets & Small Bodies by Fraser Cain & Dr. Pamela Gay Moons orbit planets, planets orbit stars, stars orbit within galaxies. It’s orbits all the way down. But occasionally objects can receive a powerful kick that sends them on a journey, never to return.   This video was made possible by the following Patreon members: Burry Gowen Jordan Young Kevin Lyle Jeanette Wink Stephen Veit J.F. Rajotte Andrew Poelstra Venkatesh Chary David Truog TheGiantNothing Aurora Lipper David Gerhard Schwarzer Will Hamilton Brian Cagle   THANK YOU! - Fraser and Dr. Pamela

Astronomy Cast Ep. 659: Clear Skies, Bright Satellites by Fraser Cain & Dr. Pamela Gay Streamed live on Nov 8, 2022. Light pollution is big problem and it’s only getting worse. Not just near cities, but everywhere thanks to increased satellite constellations. How bad is the problem, and how can we fix it?  

Astronomy Cast Ep. 658: Space Exploration Horror Stories by Fraser Cain & Dr. Pamela Gay Streamed live on Oct 31, 2022. We’re recording this episode on Halloween, so how could we resist but take advantage of this opportunity. Space is already terrifying enough, you know, with the vast endless emptiness, the incomprehensible mysteries, and the uncaring coldness. But here are some scary stories to spook it up a notch.

Astronomy Cast Ep. 657: Astronomical Naming Schemes by Fraser Cain & Dr. Pamela Gay Space is a big place, with lots of galaxies, stars, planets, moons, and that means a lot of names. So how do astronomers name stuff, like comets, asteroids, exoplanets, craters?   This video was made possible by the following Patreon members: Burry Gowen Jordan Young Kevin Lyle Stephen Veit Gerhard Schwarzer J.F. Rajotte Andrew Poelstra Aurora Lipper Brian Cagle David David Truog Jeanette Wink TheGiantNothing Venkatesh Chary Will Hamilton THANK YOU! - Fraser and Dr. Pamela

Astronomy Cast Ep. 656: Smashing Asteroids for Science! by Fraser Cain & Dr. Pamela Gay Streamed live Oct 3rd. This week we saw the incredible image of DART smashing into asteroid Dimorphous. Beyond avenging the dinosaurs, what can we learn scientifically from this and other asteroid/comet impact missions.

Astronomy Cast Ep. 655: 65 Years of Space: Sputnik 1 Anniversary by Fraser Cain & Dr. Pamela Gay Streamed live on Sep 26, 2022. It’s been about 65 years since the Soviets launched the first orbital satellite into low Earth orbit: Sputnik 1. Now there are thousands of satellites in orbit, with tens of thousands on the way. Let’s look at the impact that Sputnik had on the history of spaceflight.

Astronomy Cast Ep. 654: The Side Effects Of Clean Energy by Fraser Cain & Dr. Pamela Gay To battle climate change, we’ll need to rapidly move to carbon-free sources of energy. But this technology isn’t a free lunch. They require metals, generate waste and deplete the environment. What’s the best way to balance this shift?