Astronomy
Nights Astronomy
Former University of Canterbury Mt John Observatory superintendent Alan Gilmore joins us once again. Tonight he'll be taking a look at Comet Bernardinelli-Bernstein, The James Webb Space Telescope and… Audio
Protecting dark skies
Astronomer John Hearnshaw is determined to protect and maintain dark skies from light pollution and believes there should be a nationwide law for it. Audio
Early Māori astronomers predicted year ahead by stars of Matariki
By this time next year we would have already celebrated our very first Matariki holiday in New Zealand. Stardome astronomy educator and astro-photographer Josh Kirkley joins the show to discuss the… Audio
Stephen Curran: visiting Venus and giant comets
Kiwi-Scottish starman Dr Stephen Curran returns by popular demand to unpack cosmic goings-on. Audio
Stephen Curran: Star ovens and mass extinctions
Kiwi-Scottish starman Dr Stephen Curran returns by popular demand to unpack cosmic goings ons. This week: how all the iron in your blood came from a massive star which lived and died before the Sun… Audio
The truth is out there: Top Harvard astronomer believes in extraterrestrial life
In late 2017, scientists at a Hawaiian observatory glimpsed a strange object soaring through our inner solar system. The object dubbed "Oumuamua" was pancake-shaped, and as big as a football field. It… Audio
Jupiter and Saturn align in the skies for Christmas
Jupiter and Saturn are going to appear closer than they ever have in a rare astronomical event for the next few days. Gisborne astronomer John Drummond talks to Jesse about what to expect. Audio
Science - Astronomy
Former University of Canterbury Mt John Observatory superintendent Alan Gilmore joins us once again. Tonight he has news of some important observations from Mt John, damage to the Arecibo radio… Audio
Cosmic matter: Asteroid passes by Earth
Unbeknownst to many of us, a small asteroid was passing by planet Earth last night. Audio
Dr Rangi Mataamua - Sharing the Knowledge of Matariki
Māori Astronomer Dr Rangi Mataamua won the top communication prize at the recent Prime Ministers Science Awards, not bad for someone who failed fourth form Science at Hato Paora College. In the lead… Audio
Historic star-gazing spot could be saved in nick of time
New Zealand's earliest European-era star observatory on a farm near Featherston - built by an amateur astronomer/farmer in 1867 - could be saved in the nick of time. The Carkeek Observatory is now… Audio
New Horizons
Science regular Alan Gilmour discusses a recently discovered black hole. Audio
The quiet zone: the US town where Wi-Fi is banned
The Green Bank Radio Telescope is the largest steerable telescope in the world. The telescope needs to be isolated from all the radio noise that humanity produces. Which means that WiFi in Green Bank… Audio
Michele Bannister: interplanetary passions
Planetary astronomer Michele Bannister has recently arrived home after working in Canada at The University of Victoria in British Columbia, and at Queen's University in Belfast. A passionate… Audio
Ultrafast Star ejected from a black hole
Astronomers have spotted an ultrafast star, traveling at six million km/h, that was ejected by the supermassive black hole at the heart at the Milky Way five million years ago. Associate Professor… Audio
Southern Skies - astronomy in Aotearoa
Looking skyward and the importance the stars have had historically for Aotearoa-New Zealand. Science writer Naomi Arnold's book Southern Nights: The story of New Zealand's night sky from the Southern… Audio, Gallery
Richard Easther- what can a new interstellar comet tell us?
A new interstellar comet some 20 kilometres wide and trailing gas has recently been spotted entering our solar system. Audio
The science of Matariki
Professor Rangi Mātāmua talks about the 120-year-old book which has preserved his ancestors' knowledge of Māori astronomy. Audio
Our Changing World for 4 July 2019
To mark Matariki, the Māori New Year, we join Dr Rangi Matamua from the University of Waikato to hear about Māori astronomy. Audio
Astronomy - Alan Gilmour
Former University of Canterbury Mt John Observatory superintendent Alan Gilmore join us once again. In his gaze tonight he has the moon and asteriods, the black hole image and SpaceX's controversial… Audio