Astronomy
Mysterious signal found 95 light years from Earth
A team of scientists looking for signs of extraterrestrial life is investigating mysterious signal spikes from an ancient star. Audio
SETI investigate mysterious signal spikes from old star
A team of scientists at Califonia's Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence Institute, or SETI, is investigating mysterious signal spikes coming from a 6.3-billion-year-old star in the constellation… Audio
Nights' Science - Astronomy
Former Mt John University Observatory superintendent Alan Gilmore on Juno's arrival at Jupiter. Audio
High above NZ on board world's largest airborne observatory
For the past eight weeks, the world's largest airborne observatory has been cruising high above New Zealand and the Southern Ocean. RNZ's Veronika Meduna joined NASA astronomers on board. Audio
Huge asteroid helped shape 'Man in the Moon'
One of the Moon's biggest craters was created by an asteroid more than 250km across, a study suggests.
Meteor or space junk? South Island skies lit up by bright light
Are you still puzzling over what exploded over the southern skies last night? We get the answers from astronomer Ian Griffin from the Museum of Otago. Audio
New Zealander helps discover new dwarf planet
A New Zealander has helped to discover a new planet that is 65 times further from the sun than planet Earth. Audio
Orion Nebula shot is out of this world
A spectacular new image of the Orion Nebula star-forming region has revealed an abundance of planet-sized objects.
Juno spacecraft to unlock Jupiter's secrets
A NASA spacecraft has successfully entered the orbit of our solar system's largest planet, Jupiter. NASA scientist Jared Espley joins Checkpoint. Audio
Planet Hunter, Michael Albrow
Before 1995, the only planets we knew that existed, were those in our solar system. How things have changed! Audio
Exhibition shines light on Māori star lore
While many of us may have taken part in Matariki celebrations over the past few weeks, how much do we actually know about the traditional astronomy that underpins the Māori New Year?
The most powerful space telescope ever created
Dr. Amber Straughn from NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center explains how the most powerful telescope ever created will explore the mysteries of our origins and our future. Audio, Gallery
Mega telescope to map the stars
It could be one of the most ambitious astronomy projects, and it's underway, with the help of a team of New Zealanders. The Large Synoptic Survey Telescope (LSST), is being built in northern Chile… Audio, Gallery
New search of the cosmos
The University of Auckland is joining one of the most ambitious astronomy projects ever to scour the southern skies for extrasolar planets – while testing theories about the origins of the universe… Audio
Adult onset ADHD/Martian tsunamis
Dr Chris Smith with news about adult onset ADHD and tsunamis on Mars. Audio
Māori astronomy - Te Whānau Mārama
"First the sun, then the moon, then the stars". Waikato University Professor Rangi Matamua shares Māori understandings of the night sky. He's curated the Waikato Museum's current exhibition Te Whānau… Audio
NZers miss out on Mercury crossing the sun
Skywatchers across the globe have watched Mercury transit the Sun, but New Zealand is in a small band of countries that missed out.
Nights' Science - Astronomy
The large, slow rotation of Earth's axis called precession - former Mt John University Observatory superintendent Alan Gilmore raises our gaze to the bodies floating in space... Audio
Green streak lights up North Island skies
A Wellington man has captured a "once in a lifetime" photograph of a bright green meteor seen across the North Island. Audio
Cosmologist Janna Levin on gravitational waves
Dr Janna Levin is a professor of physics and astronomy at Columbia University, where she studies the Early Universe, Chaos, and Black Holes. She was given unprecedented access to the team behind one… Video, Audio