Can JWST see galaxies at different life stages? What is a "former" constellation? And why do we see Jupiter in monochrome? This month, Izzie Clarke, Dr Becky Smethurst and Dr Robert Massey take on your questions from The Supermassive Mailbox. Want to support The Supermassive Podcast? Why not buy our book The Year In Space - https://geni.us/jNcrw The Supermassive Podcast from the Royal Astronomical Society is a Boffin Media Production. The producers are Izzie Clarke and Richard Hollingham. Hosted...
Jun 13, 2023•15 min•Ep. 41
We love stargazing on The Supermassive Podcast, so we thought it was about time we had an episode on the future of ground-based telescopes. From the brilliant named Extremely Large Telescope to the Square Kilometre Array Observatory, Dr Aprajita Verma from Oxford University and science journalist, Sarah Wild, tell Izzie and Dr Becky about the observatories that will transform our understanding of the universe. Searching African Skies by Sarah Wild - https://www.waterstones.com/book/searching-afr...
May 27, 2023•46 min•Ep. 41
What's the most efficient way of space travel? How does longitude change your night sky view? Why does M87* look different? This month, Izzie Clarke, Dr Becky Smethurst and Dr Robert Massey take on your questions in The Supermassive Mailbox. Want to support The Supermassive Podcast? Why not buy our book The Year In Space - https://geni.us/jNcrw The Supermassive Podcast from the Royal Astronomical Society is a Boffin Media Production. The producers are Izzie Clarke and Richard Hollingham. Hosted ...
May 13, 2023•16 min•Ep. 40
It's FINALLY happening. Izzie is letting Dr Becky have an entire episode about her favourite planet, Saturn. Professor Geraint Jones from UCL's Mullard Space Science Laboratory tells the Supermassive Team about the Saturnian system. Plus, Professor John Zarnecki shares his experiences of being involved with the Cassini-Huygens mission. And, as always, Dr Robert Massey is on hand to take on listener questions and share his stargazing tips for the month. The Supermassive Podcast is a Boffin Media ...
Apr 29, 2023•50 min•Ep. 40
Are gravitational waves destructive? Will the universe ever expand faster than the speed of light? Should we only send robots to space? This month, Izzie Clarke, Dr Becky Smethurst and Dr Robert Massey take on the BIG questions in The Supermassive Mailbox. Want to support The Supermassive Podcast? Why not buy our book The Year In Space - https://geni.us/jNcrw The Supermassive Podcast from the Royal Astronomical Society is a Boffin Media Production. The producers are Izzie Clarke and Richard Holl...
Apr 07, 2023•14 min•Ep. 39
Izzie and Dr Becky explore the largest planet in our solar system, Jupiter. What do we know about this big ol’ planet? And what are the missions that will find out even more? The team is joined by Scott Boulton, Principal Investigator of NASA's Juno mission, and Professor Emma Bunce from the University of Leicester, also involved with ESA's Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer (aka JUICE). Plus Robert Massey shares his top stargazing tips for spring. Everyday STEM Science - Space! by Izzie Clarke https://...
Mar 24, 2023•47 min•Ep. 39
Is there a Cosmological Horizon? Can we change a comet's orbit to see more of them? What's the most distant human-made object in space? Izzie, Dr Becky and Robert dive into The Supermassive Mailbox to answer your questions. Want to support The Supermassive Podcast? Why not buy our book The Year In Space - https://geni.us/jNcrw The Supermassive Podcast is a Boffin Media Production by Izzie Clarke and Richard Hollingham. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Mar 10, 2023•13 min•Ep. 38
The Supermassive team take on their toughest challenge (and most tenuous title) yet…Gravitational Waves. Izzie and Dr Becky explore what they are and ask how the heck to detect something so small? With special thanks to Prof. Mark Hannam from Cardiff University and Prof Sheila Rowan, Director of the Institute for Gravitational Research at the University of Glasgow. Plus Dr Robert Massey takes on your questions and shares his stargazing tips for spring. Get your copy of our book, The Year in Spac...
Feb 24, 2023•44 min•Ep. 38
You spoke. We listened. We're releasing more episodes! Izzie, Dr Becky and Robert answer your questions in this first bonus episode of The Supermassive Podcast. How hard is life for an astronomer that's a morning person? How do we know if a star is really red or just red-shifted? And more. To add your questions, photos, messages to The Supermassive Mailbox then email podcast@ras.ac.uk, tweet @RoyalAstroSoc or find us on Instagram @SupermassivePod. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more ...
Feb 11, 2023•14 min•Ep. 37
Can a black hole eat a black hole, whole? Is there a Universal now? Which household appliances wouldn't work on the International Space Station? Izzie Clarke puts your questions to Dr Becky Smethurst, Dr Robert Massey and Richard Hollingham. Here are the websites to help find Comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF) https://theskylive.com/ https://in-the-sky.org/ If you have a burning question for the team email it to podcast@ras.ac.uk , tweet @RoyalAstrocSoc or finds us on Instagram @SupermassivePod This is a Bof...
Jan 31, 2023•48 min•Ep. 37
Find out what happened when Izzie Clarke and Dr Robert Massey used a 12 tonne telescope at an observatory in Herstmonceux, Sussex. Plus, Dr Becky Smethurst explains the benefit of using space telescopes and takes on your questions. With special to Dr Sandra Voss at The Observatory Science Centre in Hertsmonceux: https://www.the-observatory.org/ Get The Year In Space for a month-by-month guide to the night sky: https://geni.us/jNcrw If you have a question for the team, email podcast@ras.ac.uk or ...
Dec 21, 2022•47 min•Ep. 36
The Astronaut Alarm is in overdrive... Izzie, Dr Becky, and his excellency Richard Hollingham have not one but TWO astronauts on this month's episode. From the archive, Richard speaks to NASA astronaut Gene Cernan about Apollo 17 and being the last man on the Moon. ESA Astronaut Matthias Maurer talks about the upcoming Artemis missions which will see humans (hopefully, Matthias himself) return to our rocky neighbour. Plus, Robert Massey is on hand to answer your questions and share his stargazin...
Nov 25, 2022•51 min•Ep. 35
Terrified that an asteroid could wipe out the planet? Don’t panic…the Supermassive team are here to help. Izzie and Dr Becky talk to Professor Alan Fitzsimmons about the results of the DART asteroid deflection mission and Samuel L Jackson (who knew he’s studying for a Phd at the Open University?) tells us how scientists plan to track and tackle threatening space rocks. Plus why the Deep Impact movie terrifies both Izzie and Dr Becky, but for very different reasons, and Dr Robert Massey takes us ...
Oct 27, 2022•46 min•Ep. 34
It's been an exciting time for space exploration, so Izzie and Dr Becky celebrate the year in space.... co-incidentally the title of The Supermassive Podcast's book which is out in October. How do plants grow in the ISS? Has JWST changed ideas about cosmology? And when will we get a home gravitational wave detector? The honourable Izzie Clarke, Dr Becky Smethurst, Dr Robert Massey, and (his excellency) space and science journalist Richard Hollingham take on your questions. Pre-order our upcoming...
Sep 30, 2022•54 min•Ep. 33
Izzie and Dr Becky freak out over the first images from the James Webb Space Telescope. From seeing the deep (not so deep) field with Steve Wilkins from the University of Sussex, to exploring exoplanet atmospheres with Dr Hannah Wakeford from the University of Bristol. Plus, Dr Robert Massey takes the team through the September night sky. Pre-order The Year in Space, out October 27th 2022 https://geni.us/jNcrw Send in your questions for next month's Year in Space Q&A to podcast@ras.ac.uk The...
Aug 27, 2022•55 min•Ep. 32
The Supermassive team dust off their wellies and peg down their tents for Standon Calling. And to celebrate 10 years of NASA's Curiosity rover landing on Mars, Izzie and Dr Becky are asking the question everyone at the festival wants answered... Is there life on Mars? With special thanks to Dr Robert Massey, David Rothery, Professor of Planetary Geosciences at the Open University, and Alice Armstrong from Agile Rabbit. Pre-order our book, The Year In Space, out October 2022: https://geni.us/jNcr...
Jul 29, 2022•43 min•Ep. 31
Izzie and Dr Becky are flying closer to home to look at the Rocky Planets; Mercury, Venus, Earth and Mars. How are they different? How are they similar? And can understanding their past tell us anything about Earth’s future? Plus, Dr Robert Massey has his stargazing tips for summer. With special thanks to Dr Suzie Imber from the University of Leicester, and Sian Prosser from the Royal Astronomical Society. Thank you to Brilliant for sponsoring this episode. Head to brilliant.org/supermassive to ...
Jul 01, 2022•52 min•Ep. 30
From hexagonal shaped storms to spinning sideways, Izzie and Dr Becky are exploring our weird and wonderful Gas Giants. Joining them are Dr Tom Stallard from the University of Leicester and Dr Robert Massey, Deputy Director of the Royal Astronomical Society. Plus editor, Richard Hollingham, takes a trip to the Royal Astronomical Society’s library to see Galileo’s first observations of Saturn’s rings and William Herschel’s notebook from when he discovered Uranus. See Jupiter's fast rotation (than...
May 31, 2022•49 min•Ep. 29
How does a galaxy evolve and die? Izzie and Dr Becky find out with help from Tim Davis at Cardiff University. Plus, Dr Robert Massey from the Royal Astronomical Society answers your questions and explains how to spot galaxies in the night sky. Thank you to Brilliant for sponsoring this episode. Head to brilliant.org/supermassive to start free courses in maths, science, and computer science. The first 200 subscribers will get 20% off. The link below has more information on the RAS Public Talk wit...
Apr 30, 2022•44 min•Ep. 28
Izzie and Dr Becky are attempting to tackle the massive subject of building a galaxy. Professor Mike Merrifield from The University of Nottingham explains how galaxies form and our very own galaxy expert, Dr Becky, tells us why they come in different shapes and sizes. Plus, Dr Robert Massey has his top tips for stargazing in spring. Thank you to Brilliant for sponsoring this episode . Head to brilliant.org/supermassive to start free courses in maths, science, and computer science. The first 200 ...
Mar 25, 2022•45 min•Ep. 27
Who doesn’t love looking up at the moon?! Joining Izzie and Dr Becky, Professor Katherine Joy from the University of Manchester explains what past and future lunar missions can tell us, and Dr Megan Barford from Royal Museums Greenwich gives us a tour of two stunning moon maps from the 17th century. Plus, Dr Robert Massey takes on your questions and shares his top tips for moon-gazing. See the moon maps here... By Riccioli & Grimaldi, 1651: https://www.sciencephoto.com/media/1179815/view By ...
Feb 25, 2022•52 min•Ep. 26
The Supermassive team is finally doing something about all the questions that have been sent in. It’s Q&A time! From "fluffy" planets, to cake on the moon, join Izzie Clarke as she puts your questions to Dr Becky Smethurst, Dr Robert Massey and science and space journalist Richard Hollingham. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Jan 28, 2022•44 min•Ep. 25
Join Dr Becky Smethurst and Dr Robert Massey as they explore eclipses; what are they and how have they been studied throughout history? Plus Izzie Clarke visits the Royal Astronomical Society Library to discover what the society has in the archives, and astronaut Nicole Stott and her husband, Fellow of the RAS, Chris Stott send us their eclipse audio diary from Antarctica. The RAS Bicentenary Timeline can be found here: https://ras.ac.uk/timeline The Supermassive Podcast is a Boffin Media produc...
Dec 24, 2021•40 min•Ep. 24
What will the end of days actually look like? And how will it happen? This month, Izzie and Dr Becky explore the end of the Universe with cosmologist Dr Katie Mack - author of The End of Everything (Astrophysically Speaking). They also chat to astronomy journalist and author of The Unknown Universe, Dr Stuart Clark, who explains the role of dark energy. Plus, Dr Robert Massey takes on your questions and shares when it is best to see Jupiter, Saturn and Venus in December. Send your astronomy ques...
Nov 26, 2021•44 min•Ep. 23
Finally, Izzie and Dr Becky are talking about the James Webb Space Telescope but why is this telescope so impressive? NASA’s Keith Parrish, the observatory manager for Webb, covers the basics and Professor Gillian Wright, the principal investigator for the mid-infrared instrument (MIRI), explains how it will help us see stars and planets born from clouds of dust. Plus Dr Robert Massey takes on your questions and shares his top stargazing tips for the month. Thank you to the UK Space Agency for s...
Oct 29, 2021•40 min•Ep. 22
Wrap up warm, because this month Izzie and Dr Becky are exploring the icy worlds in the solar system. To help, they're joined by Caroline Harper, Head of Space Science at the UK Space Agency, to discuss the new mission heading to explore Jupiter’s icy moons. And they hear from Professor Michele Dougherty from Imperial College London, who sent Cassini to investigate Saturn’s moon Enceladus. Plus Dr Robert Massey takes on your questions and shares his latest stargazing tips for autumn. Join the Ro...
Oct 01, 2021•40 min•Ep. 21
Izzie and Dr Becky are turning up the heat and exploring the fiery worlds in our solar system. From planets close to the Sun to a distant world of volcanoes and lava. Joining them are planetary scientist Professor David Rothery from the Open University and Professor Alfred McEwen from the University of Arizona, who wants to send a mission to Jupiter’s moon Io. Plus Dr Robert Massey takes on your questions and has his monthly guide to stargazing. This is a Boffin Media production by Izzie Clarke ...
Aug 27, 2021•43 min•Ep. 20
This month it’s all about the trapped charged particles around our planet - the Van Allen radiation belts. Izzie and Dr Becky find out all about them with the help of Dr Maria Theresia Walach from Lancaster University, and Dr David Devorkin from the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum explains how Explorer 1 discovered the belts in 1958. Plus, Dr Robert Massey joins to take on your questions and shares his top stargazing tips for July. The podcast is looking for sponsorship to keep the ser...
Jul 30, 2021•41 min•Ep. 19
Grab your dustpan and brush… This month, Izzie and Dr Becky get to grips with the leftovers from space activity, it's all about space junk. Joining them are engineer Dr Hugh Lewis from the University of Southampton, who models how the debris builds up over time, and space archaeologist Dr Alice Gorman explains its historical significance. Plus, Robert Massey joins in to take on your questions and shares his top stargazing tips. The podcast is looking for sponsorship to keep the series running. I...
Jun 25, 2021•45 min•Ep. 18
Is it a planet? Is it a black hole? Is it even real? This month, Izzie and Dr Becky try and get to the bottom of the mysterious planet nine - an enigmatic - and so far invisible - ninth planet in our solar system. Helping them are the scientists that have made headlines trying to solve this puzzle, Mike Brown from the California Institute of Technology, and Jakub Scholtz from the University of Turin. Plus, Robert Massey joins in to take on your questions and explains how to see the upcoming ecli...
May 28, 2021•43 min•Ep. 17
