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.

Society & Culture History Technology Astronomy Education

Update frequency: every 19 days
Average duration: 25 minutes
Episodes: 34
Years Active: 2017 - 2019

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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…

00:15:36 | Mon 26 Aug 2019

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…

00:20:21 | Mon 27 May 2019

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 …

00:14:32 | Mon 22 Apr 2019

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. …

00:21:49 | Mon 25 Mar 2019

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 …

00:20:25 | Mon 21 Jan 2019

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 bizar…

00:23:46 | Mon 17 Dec 2018

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 tide…

00:23:27 | Mon 27 Aug 2018

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…

00:27:35 | Mon 30 Jul 2018

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 ec…

00:20:12 | Mon 04 Jun 2018

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 f…

00:18:21 | Mon 07 May 2018

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 atmosp…

00:23:16 | Mon 16 Apr 2018

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 extragalact…

00:16:54 | Mon 19 Mar 2018

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 episo…

00:23:21 | Mon 26 Feb 2018

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 …

00:26:18 | Mon 12 Feb 2018

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 thi…

00:20:58 | Mon 29 Jan 2018

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 orbit…

00:32:51 | Mon 08 Jan 2018

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 sta…

00:24:37 | Mon 18 Dec 2017

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…

00:21:04 | Mon 04 Dec 2017

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…

00:26:00 | Mon 20 Nov 2017

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 fo…

00:22:11 | Mon 06 Nov 2017

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