AAASky

In this episode of AAASky, we dive into the latest cosmic discoveries with Dr. Shanil Virani of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific and host of 'Our Island Universe.' What are "Little Red Dots," and why are they reshaping our understanding of the early universe? We explore how the James Webb Space Telescope is uncovering young galaxies, their supermassive black holes, and what these findings mean for the story of cosmic evolution. Join us for a fascinating journey through time, space, and the mysteries hidden in the universe's earliest light. Have a question or a comment? Reach out to us at aaasky@aaa.org, even if just to say hi!

In this episode, we speak with Nicolas Altobelli, the science operations and development manager for the Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer (Juice) mission. Launched in April 2023 by the European Space Agency, this interplanetary spacecraft is currently on its way to orbit and study three icy moons of Jupiter: Ganymede, Callisto and Europa, and what would make them potentially habitable for extraterrestrial life. Have a question or a comment? Reach out to us at aaasky@aaa.org, even if just to say hi!

In this episode MJ interviews Alfredo Viegas, the new President of the AAA. Alfredo details his vision for the future of the club, and highlights various new programs the club has for its members and New Yorkers in general. MJ and Stanley discuss the AAA's collaboration with other groups and tell us about the various upcoming club events. And they develop a new title for all astronomers, with a bit of help from Mark Twain. Links Hayden Planetarium Astronomy on Tap A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court American Museum of Natural History 2024 Total Eclipse How to photograph a solar eclipse Solar Eclipse Photography with Stan Honda Stan Honda Photography Stan Honda on AAA Eyepiece AAA Eyepiece: Astrophotography Have a question or a comment? Reach out to us at aaasky@aaa.org, even if just to say hi!

In this episode Stanley interviews Alan and Aaron Sliski, a father-son team of professional observatory builders. In a discussion full of anecdotes, Alan and Aaron give useful tips, advice, and discuss the various types of observatories and the reasons for building one, as well as the numerous pitfalls to avoid. We welcome our new AAA President, Alfredo Viegas. And MJ and Stanley give us a heads-up about the various upcoming Club observing events. Links Amateur Telescope Makers of Boston CKD 17 ASCOM Alpaca Astro Haven Ash-Dome Backyard Observatories Center for Backyard Astrophysics NexDome SkyShed POD Home-Dome Pier-Tech Gemma Observatory Have a question or a comment? Reach out to us at aaasky@aaa.org, even if just to say hi!

In this episode Stanley interviews Paige Godfrey, Senior Software Systems Engineer at Lockheed Martin about life at Lockheed, her inspiring career path, the dichotomy between scientists and engineers and oh yes, the Orion Space Capsule and Artemis missions.  Brian says farewell, and MJ and Stanley speculate about life in a capsule and give us a heads-up about various astronomy events around NYC. Links Orion Spacecraft Slooh Online Telescope For Educators, Students, Astronomers & Space Enthusiasts Artemis-I Have a question or a comment? Reach out to us at aaasky@aaa.org, even if just to say hi!

Welcome back to AAA SKY! In this episode we introduce MJ, the newest member of the AAA SKY team. Kat interviews Brian Levine, science educator, who shows us a novel way of modeling the distances between planets in the solar system. And Brian and Kat discuss Astronomy on Tap. Have a question or a comment? Reach out to us at aaasky@aaa.org, even if just to say hi!

In this final episode of the season Yui Hasegawa, AAA member and high school student extraordinaire, tells Maggie how she came up with an idea for how to make stargazing vastly more accessible to the New York public, and how she made it a reality. By combining the respective resources of the AAA and the Brooklyn Public Library, Yui developed a library loaner program for telescopes which she hopes will serve as a model for cities and clubs worldwide. Hear our first all-women episode with Kat joining Maggie for the discussion. Have a question or a comment? Reach out to us at aaasky@aaa.org, even if just to say hi!

In this episode Kat interviews Tony Hoffman, AAA Member and Citizen Scientist. Tony recounts his adventures photographing eclipses from airplanes in Africa, in northern Norway and wherever else the path of the sun and moon has taken him. He also gives tips on finding comets and even exoplanets. Kat and Stan discuss citizen science more generally and we have a new Listeners Challenge. Links PlanetHunters.org - Planet Hunters TESSTravelQuest InternationalTony Hoffman on Flickraavsoanecdata AAASky Listener Challenge Every 10 years, NASA engages a committee of scientists who develop a list of programs called the decadal survey, which they collectively recommend NASA should focus on. The new decadal survey has just come out. What is the number one priority they recommend NASA should do over the next 10 years? Email us your answer at listenerchallenge@aaa.org by May 10th at 11:59pm. We'll select a random person with the correct answer and send them a AAASky hoodie! Have a question or a comment? Reach out to us at aaasky@aaa.org, even if just to say hi!

In this episode Stanley interviews physicist and astronomer George Greenstein about Quantum Mechanics, how he became fascinated with the subject and why this highly successful theory still defies visualization and remains essentially strange to us.  It is precisely the unfamiliarity of the quantum world which George captures and explains in his book, Quantum Strangeness. Links Bell's theoremEPR paradoxThe Uncertainty principleQuantum entanglementSoho Photo Gallery AAASky Listener Challenge The White House just made a request to Congress for NASA's next budget, which is a record in terms of nominal dollars. How much is that budget, to the nearest billion? Email us your answer at listenerchallenge@aaa.org by April 20th at 11:59pm. We'll select a random person with the correct answer and send them a AAASky hoodie! Have a question or a comment? Reach out to us at aaasky@aaa.org, even if just to say hi!

In this episode we mix it up! Join AAA President Brian Berg and Executive Vice President Bart Fried as they debate the merits and demerits of public vs. private space launches. From Sean Connery to Elon Musk, from Apollo to Artemis, our adversaries discuss the operations, financing and legality of putting people and robots into space. And we introduce the newest member of our AAASKY team, co-host Kat Troche. Links Strategic Defense Initiative (Star Wars)OutlandDiamonds Are Forever AAASky Listener Challenge Matthias Schmitt told us that the greatest concentration of dark sky parks in the world is in one of the 50 US states. Which one did he say it was? Hint: You can find the answer in last month's episode. Email us your answer at listenerchallenge@aaa.org by March 10th at 11:59pm. We'll select a random person with the correct answer and send them a AAASky hoodie! Have a question or a comment? Reach out to us at aaasky@aaa.org, even if just to say hi!

In this episode Maggie discovers the amazing personal and professional journey of astronomer Matthias Schmitt, Dark Sky Coordinator at Cedar Breaks National Monument in Utah and an astronomy guide for Stargazing Zion. He is an avid eclipse chaser with observations in Oregon, Argentina, Oman, the Antarctic, and other locations. Find out how joining an astronomy club, surrounding yourself with passion, and following your bliss, can change your life forever. Read about Matthias's most recent eclipse adventure to the Antarctic in an upcoming issue of the AAA newsletter, Eyepiece. AAASky Listener Challenge As Bart Fried described it, Jacob Campbell had a very, very large observatory in New York City in the 19th century. In which New York neighborhood was this observatory located? Hint: You can find the answer in last month's episode. Email us your answer at listenerchallenge@aaa.org by February 12th at 11:59pm. We'll select a random person with the correct answer and send them a AAASky hoodie! Have a question or a comment? Reach out to us at aaasky@aaa.org, even if just to say hi!

In this episode telescope historian Bart Fried recounts how New York City became the nation's center for telescope-making in the early 19th century, and he discusses with Stan some impressive early observatories located in the city.  An episode chock full of anecdotes! And Maggie and Stan discuss Cassegrain telescopes and 19th century light pollution as well as their first telescope experiences. Notable Topics Henry DraperHenry FitzLewis Morris RutherfordJohn ByrneFitz/Clark 12-in RefractorStephen V. White AAASky Listener Challenge For which agency was Stan Honda working when he photographed the space shuttle launches? Email us your answer at listenerchallenge@aaa.org by January 13th at 11:59pm. We'll select a random person with the correct answer and send them a AAASky hoodie! Have a question or a comment? Reach out to us at aaasky@aaa.org, even if just to say hi!

Have you ever dreamed of photographing rocket launches at Cape Canaveral? In this episode Maggie interviews renowned photographer Stan Honda about his experiences shooting launches of the Space Shuttle. Stan takes us to the Kennedy Space Center and recounts some humorous anecdotes all while giving us useful photography tips and techniques. And Maggie and Stan discuss why Florida's weather is worth enduring. Find all of Stan's imagery on his website: https://www.stanhonda.com/images AAASky Listener Challenge Where is the smart telescope Stellina made? Email us your answer at listenerchallenge@aaa.org by December 10th at 11:59pm. We'll select a random person with the correct answer and send them a AAASky hoodie! Have a question or a comment? Reach out to us at aaasky@aaa.org, even if just to say hi!

Cyril Dupuy is the founder and CEO of Vaonis, the French startup company which makes the smart telescope Stellina. What is a Smart Telescope? We'll get into that a bit later. Cyril grew up in southern France and has been a stargazer since while still a boy he first visited the observatory in the city of Nice. He joined his local astronomy club in Montpellier, of which he eventually became president, and became increasingly interested in how different kinds of telescopes work. He studied optics and aerospace engineering at the university, and while there began to imagine a telescope that would be as easy to use as a point-and-shoot camera. He founded Vaonis in 2014 to make such a telescope, and in doing so, inaugurated a new class of smart telescopes. He was featured as an entrepreneur in Forbes 30 under 30 in 2019. We spoke to Cyril at his office in Montpellier, via Zoom. Notable Topics DevialetStellinapp for iOSStellinapp for Android AAASky Listener Challenge What inspired John Bills to start taking more pictures of the sky? Email us your answer at listenerchallenge@aaa.org before midnight on November 5th. We'll select a random person with the correct answer and send them a AAASky hoodie! Have a question or a comment? Reach out to us at aaasky@aaa.org, even if just to say hi!

For our last episode of the season and our first post-pandemic in-person interview, Irene and Stan together speak with John Bills, Chairman of the AAA, about the technology of and his experience in observing from the heart of the city that never sleeps. And we announce the winner of the last Listener Challenge of the season. Thanks for all your support on season 1! Notable Topics STELLINAPlate solvingStarSense Explorer TelescopesBrooklyn's Prettiest TelescopeNYPL Telescope Loan ProgramAAA Classes (including Mauri's and Alfredo's Urban Astrophotography)ManhattanhengeAAA Events CalendarJohn Bills' Leo Triplet from his rooftop Have a question or a comment? Reach out to us at aaasky@aaa.org, even if just to say hi!

In this episode Irene interviews David Pentecost about building and using a Planetarium at the Lower East Side Girls Club. Stanley and Irene discuss how the organization takes advantage of the Planetarium for more than just astronomy. And we announce our first winner of the AAASky Listener Challenge! Notable Topics Spitz PlanetariumsEast Village PlanetariumUNIVIEWOpenSpaceNASA International Space Apps ChallengeAPIAdirondack Sky Center AAASky Listener Challenge What is Dr. Allyson Sheffield's favorite type of star? Email us your answer at listenerchallenge@aaa.org by June 26th at 11:59pm. We'll select a random person with the correct answer and send them a AAASky hoodie! Have a question or a comment? Reach out to us at aaasky@aaa.org, even if just to say hi!

In this episode Stanley interviews Dr. Allyson Sheffield about the Milky Way's history of interactions with satellite galaxies and the clues left behind in each galaxy by such encounters. And Irene and Stanley introduce a new feature to AAASky. Notable Topics Untangling the streamers in the Milky WayCUNY AstroFaculty and Student Team (FAST) InitiativeChemodynamically Characterizing the Jhelum Stellar Stream with APOGEE-2 AAASky Listener Challenge What is the name of the Pre-Columbian site in the United States that Jorge Colorado recommended as a must see? Email us your answer at listenerchallenge@aaa.org by June 13th at 11:59pm. We'll select a random person with the correct answer and send them a AAASky hoodie! Have a question or a comment? Reach out to us at aaasky@aaa.org, even if just to say hi!

In this episode Irene interviews AAA Member and anthropologist Jorge Colorado about ancient astronomy and some of his favorite world sites where astronomy plays a major role in the architecture. Stanley discusses some of his visits to these sites and Irene plans a trip. Notable Topics Locations CihuatanSan AndreasJoya de CerénCahokiaChichen ItzaAngkor WatSerpent Mound Videos on Jorge's YouTube channel Geology in Central ParkUpcoming Lunar Eclipse Have a question or a comment? Reach out to us at aaasky@aaa.org, even if just to say hi!

In this episode Stanley interviews Dr. Jillian Bellovary about black holes of all sizes and the questions surrounding them. Dr. Bellovary describes her research into the formation of intermediate-mass black holes within the accretion disks of supermassive ones as well as off-center black holes in dwarf galaxies. And Irene discusses Dr. Bellovary's calculation of the carbon footprint of her scientific research. See Dr. Bellovary's paper The Origins of Off-Center Massive Black Holes in Dwarf Galaxies. Have a question or a comment? Reach out to us at aaasky@aaa.org, even if just to say hi!

In this episode we listen in on Irene's far-reaching discussion with StarTalk co-host Chuck Nice, in which he discusses astronomy, sports and climate change, in addition to StarTalk. And Stanley and Irene reveal the secret of why AAA club members love to do public stargazing events. Notable Topics Shhh, It's Real!Pod ZeroarXiv.orgAAA Calendar of Events Have a question or a comment? Reach out to us at aaasky@aaa.org, even if just to say hi!

In this episode Stanley interviews Dr. Alex Teachey about the search for exomoons, and Irene and Stanley discuss galactic real estate as well as the 2084 upcoming Earth transit of the Sun as seen from Mars. Notable topics Science FridayThe TakeawayAstronomy On TapRadial-velocity MethodKepler, TESSKepler-1625b IVacation Guide to the Solar SystemSyzygy Have a question or a comment? Reach out to us at aaasky@aaa.org, even if just to say hi!

Irene interviews astrophysicist Dr. Jana Grcevich about the recent landings of NASA's Perseverance, China's Tianwen-1 and United Arab Emirates' Hope on the red planet. Stanley and Irene discuss autonomy and what to wear on Mars. Follow Jana on Twitter @janagrc, and find her book Vacation Guide to the Solar System: Science for the Savvy Space Traveler! on Amazon. Notable Topics NASA Mars 2020 Perseverance and IngenuityUAE Hope OrbiterCNSA Tianwen-1Jezero CraterMOXIECaveatAstronomy On Tap Have a question or a comment? Reach out to us at aaasky@aaa.org, even if just to say hi!

In this episode Stanley interviews AAA Executive Vice President Bart Fried about the history of the telescope, which in addition to Galileo's discoveries, was influenced by Newton's greatest blunder and two other very clever Englishmen. Notable topics The Antique Telescope SocietyHans LipperheyNimrud lensNiccolò ZucchiChromatic aberrationNewtonian telescopeChester Moore HallJohn DollondGeorge Bass Have a question or a comment? Reach out to us at aaasky@aaa.org, even if just to say hi!

In this episode Irene interviews Dr. Emily Rice about her two favorite subjects: Brown Dwarfs and Startorialist Fashion. Stanley and Irene ponder what color a brown dwarf dress should be and whether life could exist on brown dwarf satellites. Startorialist (discount for AAASky listeners) Have a question or a comment? Reach out to us at aaasky@aaa.org, even if just to say hi!