Podcast appearances and mentions of Andrew Fraknoi

Solar storms are poorly understood, but investigating the corona of the sun may hold the answers. On this episode, Dr. Andrew Fraknoi discussed the Parker Solar Probe.

The fastest moving human-built object ever, the Parker Solar Probe, will enter the sun's atmosphere on December 24th. It's the closest any artificial object will have gotten to the sun. We'll talk with astronomer Andrew Fraknoi about what the solar probe hopes to learn and other exciting developments in astronomy, such as the discovery of the hungriest black hole yet found – it consumes the mass of our sun daily. And as we approach the shortest day of the year, we'll contemplate how the ancients celebrated the winter solstice, and why we can thank a planet that crashed into Earth for our seasons. Guests: Andrew Fraknoi, astronomer and professor, Fromm Institute at the University of San Francisco and the OLLI Program at SF State; lead author of the most popular introductory astronomy textbook in North America; Website URL: www.fraknoi.com

Nearly 40 years ago, on November 20, 1984, the SETI Institute was incorporated with inaugural officers CEO Thomas Pierson and SETI scientist Jill Tarter. The goal was to provide SETI researchers with a place to grow the search for life beyond Earth. What began with one NASA-funded SETI project and two people has since grown to include over 100 researchers and various scientific areas of study, all seeking to understand the origins and prevalence of life and intelligence in the universe. As a part of our outreach and education efforts, we grew our presence on the Internet, reaching out to a wide audience through our website, social media, and livestreams like SETI Live. We have education programs across all age ranges. We produce the weekly podcast Big Picture Science. And today, we celebrate all of these accomplishments and look forward to the next 40 years of science. Join host and senior planetary astronomer Franck Marchis as he chats with SETI Institute President and CEO Bill Diamond, senior astronomer and Big Picture Science co-host Seth Shostak, long-time Board of Directors member Andrew Fraknoi, and the Director of the Carl Sagan Center Nathalie Cabrol. (Recorded live 14 November 2024.)

Astronomer, professor and much more, Andrew Fraknoi was with for about 100 minutes. We talked about many different aspects of astronomy, key issues, science fiction and current sci-fi thrillers, Dark Energy, Dark Matter, exoplanets, biosignatures and the upcoming NOVA. Please read the summary for this program at www.thespaceshow.com for this date, Sunday, June 23, 2024.

As we approach the 55th anniversary of the moon landing, what wonders of the universe have been uncovered to reveal the glory of God? Andrew Fraknoi, professor of Astronomy at University of San Francisco, shares what has been learned about the moon since Apollo 11 and how you can use this upcoming milestone anniversary to celebrate God's creation and the wonders of His universe!

This coming Monday April 8th, a total solar eclipse will blanket parts of New England in a special astronomical spectacle. The celestial occurrence will not happen again for another 20 years. So, what is a total solar eclipse? Where is the eclipse's path of totality and how can you witness it? Andrew Fraknoi, Professor of Astronomy at the Fromm Institute at the University of San Francisco joins Dan to discuss.

Astronomer Andrew Fraknoi joined us to dispense his usual passionate and illuminating clarity on the April 8 total solar eclipse and eclipses per se and more. He spoke of best places to view, optimal weather conditions, proper eyeglasses and what not to wear, as well as how to observe with a colander and why we cannot see a total solar eclipse from any other planet in our solar system. We were able to touch, too, on some eclipse myths and include sidebars about a bright sight twelve billion light years away, astrology and what may have been here before the big bang. Andrew spoke of Harvard Professor Avi Loeb's searches for extra terrestrial life and provided answers for educators on how best to deal with the total eclipse and prepare for and experience it, including why to use a snap device in photographing it and what to do if one is visually impaired. A truly fascinating hour with a bevy of good questions from listeners deftly answered by one of America's leading astronomers.

Former South Carolina governor Nikki Haley is rising in GOP primary polling and garnering interest as a good alternative to Donald Trump. New polling in New Hampshire done by CBS News/YouGov collected data from potential Republican primary voters. The poll shows 29 percent said they'd vote for Haley compared to 44 percent who said they would for Trump. However, her numbers are rising and if other candidates drop out, she could be a real threat. Already, the Trump campaign is spending money on Haley attack ads. Is it a sign they're running scared.Texas is sending the police to arrest migrants coming into the United States illegally. Is the crisis so severe that border patrol agents need extra help?We will talk to David Cay Johnston about these topics and more. Mark dives into the world of Death Row Records. Screenwriter, film producer, director, and founder of Xenon Pictures, S. Leigh Savidge, talks about writing and producing the movie Straight Outta Compton. He'll discuss meeting the people involved with Death Row Records and he'll give us his take on the death of Tupac Shakur.Our favorite Astronomy Professor, Andrew Fraknoi, will join us to talk about meteor showers in the new year, what the James Webb telescope is showing us and what we are now learning about planetary systems that orbit other suns.

Two eclipses of the sun are coming to North America during the 2023–24 school year—an annular (“ring of fire”) eclipse on October 14, 2023 and a total eclipse on April 8, 2024. People in two narrow paths will have the full eclipse experience each time. Everyone else (an estimated 500 million people, including all of us in the Bay Area) will see a nice partial eclipse, where the moon covers a good part of the sun. Dr. Andrew Fraknoi will describe how eclipses come to be (and why they are total only on Earth), what scientists learn during eclipses, exactly when and where the eclipses of 2023 and 2024 will be best visible, and how to observe the eclipses and the sun safely.  MLF ORGANIZER George Hammond NOTES A Humanities Member-led Forum program. Forums at the Club are organized and run by volunteer programmers who are members of The Commonwealth Club, and they cover a diverse range of topics. Learn more about our Forums. In Association with Wonderfest. Everyone who attends this program in person will receive a free pair of safe-viewing glasses for the eclipse (which enable you to look at the sun without eye damage), courtesy of the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation. Fraknoi photo courtesy the speaker' eclipse images from NASA. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

June 2012Frank Drake (1930-2022) was known as the "father of SETI science" -- he was the scientist who conducted the first radio survey for signals from extraterrestrial civilizations, and came up with the formula for estimating the likelihood of such civilizations, now called the Drake Equation. In June 2012, the SETI Institute sponsored a three-day public event called SETICon. One highlight of the program was an interview with Drake (who served as the founding President of the Institute board. )  It was conducted by SETI Institute board member and veteran astronomy educator Andrew Fraknoi.  The discussion ranged widely over Dr. Drake's career and current thinking.  It included reminiscences of Project OZMA, that first experiment searching for signals from civilizations among the stars, and his current view of the Drake Equation.  He also reflects on a number of modern developments, including the discovery of numerous planets orbiting other stars and new ways of searching for extra-terrestrial civilizations.During the Summer, when the Silicon Valley Astronomy Lectures take a vacation, we thought you might enjoy this special podcast for its historical value, now that Frank Drake has passed away.

North America will be treated to two eclipses of the Sun in the 2023-24 school year: an annular eclipse on Oct. 14, 2023 and a total eclipse on Apr. 8, 2024.  Some 500 million people will be in a position to see at least a partial eclipse on each date. Astronomer Andrew Fraknoi (Fromm Institute, University of San Francisco) discusses the cause of eclipses (and why Earth's eclipses are unique), the circumstances of each coming eclipse and where each will be visible, plus how to view eclipses safely.  He shows maps of the eclipse paths and provides URLs to where you can get free information materials to help you enjoy the eclipses without hurting your eyes, wherever you are.  (A free booklet, co-authored by Fraknoi, with some of this material is also available at http://bit.ly/eclipsesforlibraries )

Updates on Turkey and the brutal quake… Astronomer, professor and writer, Andrew Fraknoi... The state of the universe, travel to Mars and the future of our planet. Note: Fraknoi's free online introductory textbook, cleverly titled "Astronomy" has now become the most frequently used astronomy text in the United States. It's already saved students more than 60 million dollars in astronomy textbook costs. How our exploration of Mars is going, with the Perseverance rover having a helicopter as a scout, and packaging up samples for future return to Earth. MARK'S MURDER MYSTERY MONDAY with Murder Mystery specialist, Courtney and her GUEST, Former Asst U.S. Attorney, David Katz Plus, for BLACK HISTORY MONTH, how much of the segregated south evolved to a different and, perhaps equally disturbing, place and how much has legitimately reformed? ABC7's Spencer Christian joins.. He grew up under Jim Crow laws and can offer perspective on the culture today.

What Do We Know About the Moon? July 20, 2019 is the 50th anniversary of humanity's first steps on the surface of the moon. In that time, the Apollo missions, a fleet of robotic probes and observations from Earth have taught us a lot about Earth's surprising satellite. In this nontechnical talk, Andrew Fraknoi, who is sometimes called the Bay Area's public astronomer, will look at the past, present and future of the moon, including its violent origins, the mystery of the frozen water we have found at its poles and its long-term future as it moves farther and farther away from us. Illustrated with beautiful images taken from orbit and on the surface, his talk will make the moon come alive as an eerie world next door, as a changing object in our skies, and as a possible future destination for humanity and its ambitions. Come find out how the achievements of the Apollo program fit into the bigger picture of our involvement with our only natural satellite. Fraknoi recently retired as the chair of the astronomy department at Foothill College and now teaches noncredit astronomy courses for seniors at the Fromm Institute at the University of San Francisco and the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at San Francisco State. He also served as the executive director of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific for 14 years and was named the California professor of the year in 2007. Fraknoi appears regularly on local and national radio, explaining astronomical developments in everyday language. The International Astronomical Union has named Asteroid 4859 after Fraknoi in honor of his contributions to the public understanding of science. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Now that its first mission has achieved lift off, we take a closer look at the Artemis program, NASA's effort to bring astronauts back to the lunar surface within the next few years.  Guests:  Tariq Malik, editor in chief, Space.com  Andrew Fraknoi, emeritus chair, Foothill College's Astronomy Department Host: Keith Menconi 

Andrew Fraknoi is an award-winning scientist and educator, known for his skill in interpreting astronomical discoveries and ideas in everyday language. He is the lead author of the most frequently used basic astronomy textbook in the country, Astronomy, and a budding author of science fiction stories based on good astronomy. Join us for a conversation in everyday language about our latest discoveries regarding the mysteries and majesty of the cosmos.

Andrew Fraknoi joins Pat Thurston to discuss the solar images from NASA'S James Webb Telescope that are two and a half decades in the making. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Andrew Fraknoi joins Pat Thurston to discuss the solar images from NASA'S James Webb Telescope that are two and a half decades in the making. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Andrew Fraknoi, an award-winning science educator known for his skill in interpreting astronomical discoveries and ideas in everyday language, joins Pat Thurston to explain why galaxies are moving away from the Milky Way. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Andrew Fraknoi, an award-winning science educator known for his skill in interpreting astronomical discoveries and ideas in everyday language, joins Pat Thurston to explain why galaxies are moving away from the Milky Way. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Andrew Fraknoi is a professor of astronomy who wonders if we are alone. And if not, where are they?

Andrew Fraknoi, a retired professor of astronomy recognized for his lifetime of work using everyday language to make astronomy more accessible and popular for the general public, joins Pat Thurston to explain how light in space works. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Andrew Fraknoi, a retired professor of astronomy recognized for his lifetime of work using everyday language to make astronomy more accessible and popular for the general public, joins Pat Thurston to explain how light in space works. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Astronomer Andrew Fraknoi, known for using everyday language to make astronomy more accessible to the general public, joins Pat Thurston to answer all of your questions surrounding space. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Astronomer Andrew Fraknoi, known for using everyday language to make astronomy more accessible to the general public, joins Pat Thurston to answer all of your questions surrounding space. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

KGO's Favorite Astronomer, Andrew Fraknoi, joins The Pat Thurston Show! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Astronomer, Educator and science fiction creator Andrew Fraknoi, in California, has a gift for explaining the most complex and current astronomical topics in the clearest language - he's also a genuinely nice guy!

Andrew Fraknoi, a retired professor of astronomy recognized for his lifetime of work using everyday language to make astronomy more accessible and popular for both students and the general public, joins The Pat Thurston Show to talk about Pluto Day. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Andrew Fraknoi, a retired professor of astronomy recognized for his lifetime of work using everyday language to make astronomy more accessible and popular for both students and the general public, joins The Pat Thurston Show to talk about Pluto Day. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Friend of The Pat Thurston Show, Andrew Fraknoi explains the continuing success of the James Webb Space Telescope, which is now safely in its permanent orbit and with its giant mirror unfolded and the surprising discovery of "Gravity Waves". See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Andrew Fraknoi, an award-winning scientist and educator, known for his skill in interpreting astronomical discoveries and ideas in everyday language, joins Pat Thurston to answer all of your questions. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Andrew Fraknoi joins the show to discuss all things Astronomy. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Billionaire Bezos has successful suborbital jaunt, Astronomer, Andrew Fraknoi joins the show. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Two exceptional scientists share their perspectives about the earth and our moon. Are we doing enough to protect our planet, and what have we really learned about the moon since we last visited 50 years ago? In our first segment, we introduce you to world renowned British scientist and Astronomer Royal Martin Rees. According to him, humanity has reached a critical moment, in which there is no plan B for planet Earth. He also says the future of humanity is bound to the future of science and hinges on how successfully we harness technological advances to address our challenges. Next, we set our sights on the moon with Andrew Fraknoi, the esteemed former chair of the astronomy department at Foothill College in Los Altos, California. Known for explaining astronomical developments in everyday language, he shares knowledge and little-known stories about our only natural satellite. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

(repeat) Fir tree needles embedded in carpet are a holiday headache.  Why not decorate a genetically-modified, needle-retaining tree instead?  It’s just another way that science is relevant to the holidays.  We have more. How about science experiments on fruitcake?  There’s a competition that includes launching it with a pneumatic device, running a heavy electric current though it, or blasting it with a blowtorch.  Meanwhile, physics provides insight into those tricky how-does-he-do-it questions about Santa’s delivery rounds.    Finally, step away from the relatives and consider the implications of the winter solstice.  Enjoy a better holiday through science! Guests: Jenna Gallas – Special Event Coordinator, Manitou Springs Chamber of Congress, Colorado Laura Kramer – Manager of Science Conductors, Science Museum of Virginia, Richmond Lilian Matallana – Research Associate, Department of Forestry and Environmental Resources, North Carolina State University, Raleigh Ben Orlin – Math teacher, and author of “Math with Bad Drawings: Illuminating the Ideas That Shape Our Reality” Ethan Siegel – Theoretical astrophysicist and owner of “Starts with a Bang!” blog Andrew Fraknoi – Astronomer and educator, author of “Introduction to Astronomy”

What Do We Know About the Moon? July 20, 2019 is the 50th anniversary of humanity's first steps on the surface of the moon. In that time, the Apollo missions, a fleet of robotic probes and observations from Earth have taught us a lot about Earth's surprising satellite. In this nontechnical talk, Andrew Fraknoi, who is sometimes called the Bay Area's public astronomer, will look at the past, present and future of the moon, including its violent origins, the mystery of the frozen water we have found at its poles and its long-term future as it moves farther and farther away from us. Illustrated with beautiful images taken from orbit and on the surface, his talk will make the moon come alive as an eerie world next door, as a changing object in our skies, and as a possible future destination for humanity and its ambitions. Come find out how the achievements of the Apollo program fit into the bigger picture of our involvement with our only natural satellite. Fraknoi recently retired as the chair of the astronomy department at Foothill College and now teaches noncredit astronomy courses for seniors at the Fromm Institute at the University of San Francisco and the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at San Francisco State. He also served as the executive director of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific for 14 years and was named the California professor of the year in 2007. Fraknoi appears regularly on local and national radio, explaining astronomical developments in everyday language. The International Astronomical Union has named Asteroid 4859 after Fraknoi in honor of his contributions to the public understanding of science. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

SPEAKERS Andrew Fraknoi Chair Emeritus, Astronomy Department at Foothill College; Former Executive Director, Astronomical Society of the Pacific Lisa Krieger Science Reporter, The Mercury News—Moderator This program was recorded in front of a live audience at The Commonwealth Club of California in San Francisco on July 17th, 2019.

In search of ET: Fear of what's out there causes big split among space scientists Article Link: https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/In-search-of-ET-Fear-of-what-s-out-there-has-13640953.php A cosmic rift has opened between Bay Area astronomers and a splinter group of San Francisco stargazers who are hell-bent on contacting space aliens. The schism pits the traditionalists, who believe humans should only look and listenfor extraterrestrials to avoid tipping off evil aliens, against a rebel faction that wants to broadcast messages to intelligent beings, assuming they are altruistic. The battle is so heated that one prominent scientist quit the Mountain View group known as SETI, or Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence, to form METI, or Messaging Extraterrestrial Intelligence. “Are there intelligent beings out there? We don't know, but the only way we can find out is if we look,” said Douglas Vakoch, who founded METI International in San Francisco after the SETI board voted in 2014 against beaming messages into space. “We've always assumed the extraterrestrials were looking for us,” Vakoch said. But “what if their position is, ‘No, you are the ones who are new to this game. You send us a signal first.'” The problem, many SETI astronomers warn, is that, instead of an intergalactic kumbaya, intelligent extraterrestrials might very well be more inclined to enslave Earthlings and mercilessly plunder and destroy Earth. Andrew Fraknoi visits with his students during a break at San Francisco State University's downtown campus. “We wonder whether the galaxy that we are in is maybe a dark forest, where it is dangerous to scream because there are creatures out there unhappy with new life forms,” said Fraknoi, an astronomer who recently taught a course called Aliens in Science and Science Fiction at the University of San Francisco. “With every strong signal we send out, we advertise our presence, and you don't want to advertise your presence in a dark forest.” Show Stuff TeePublic Store - Get your UBR goodies today! http://tee.pub/lic/2GQuXxn79dg UBR Trurh Seekers Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/216706068856746 Manny Moonraker: https://www.facebook.com/MannyMoonraker/ UFO Buster Radio: https://www.facebook.com/UFOBusterRadio YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCggl8-aPBDo7wXJQ43TiluA Google Plus Manny's Updated Google+ Profile: https://plus.google.com/u/0/+MannyMoonraker To contact Manny: manny@ufobusterradio.com, or on Twitter @ufobusterradio  Call the show anytime at (972) 290-1329 and leave us a message with your point of view, UFO sighting, and ghostly experiences or join the discussion on www.ufobusterradio.com For Skype Users: bosscrawler

In search of ET: Fear of what's out there causes big split among space scientists Article Link: https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/In-search-of-ET-Fear-of-what-s-out-there-has-13640953.php A cosmic rift has opened between Bay Area astronomers and a splinter group of San Francisco stargazers who are hell-bent on contacting space aliens. The schism pits the traditionalists, who believe humans should only look and listenfor extraterrestrials to avoid tipping off evil aliens, against a rebel faction that wants to broadcast messages to intelligent beings, assuming they are altruistic. The battle is so heated that one prominent scientist quit the Mountain View group known as SETI, or Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence, to form METI, or Messaging Extraterrestrial Intelligence. “Are there intelligent beings out there? We don't know, but the only way we can find out is if we look,” said Douglas Vakoch, who founded METI International in San Francisco after the SETI board voted in 2014 against beaming messages into space. “We've always assumed the extraterrestrials were looking for us,” Vakoch said. But “what if their position is, ‘No, you are the ones who are new to this game. You send us a signal first.'” The problem, many SETI astronomers warn, is that, instead of an intergalactic kumbaya, intelligent extraterrestrials might very well be more inclined to enslave Earthlings and mercilessly plunder and destroy Earth. Andrew Fraknoi visits with his students during a break at San Francisco State University's downtown campus. “We wonder whether the galaxy that we are in is maybe a dark forest, where it is dangerous to scream because there are creatures out there unhappy with new life forms,” said Fraknoi, an astronomer who recently taught a course called Aliens in Science and Science Fiction at the University of San Francisco. “With every strong signal we send out, we advertise our presence, and you don't want to advertise your presence in a dark forest.” Show Stuff TeePublic Store - Get your UBR goodies today! http://tee.pub/lic/2GQuXxn79dg UBR Trurh Seekers Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/216706068856746 Manny Moonraker: https://www.facebook.com/MannyMoonraker/ UFO Buster Radio: https://www.facebook.com/UFOBusterRadio YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCggl8-aPBDo7wXJQ43TiluA Google Plus Manny's Updated Google+ Profile: https://plus.google.com/u/0/+MannyMoonraker To contact Manny: manny@ufobusterradio.com, or on Twitter @ufobusterradio  Call the show anytime at (972) 290-1329 and leave us a message with your point of view, UFO sighting, and ghostly experiences or join the discussion on www.ufobusterradio.com For Skype Users: bosscrawler

Solar & lunar eclipses, planetary flybys, and other rare events in space are making 2019 the year to look skyward. In this episode of Komando on Demand, Kim looks at all the cool things that are happening in the sky this year that can't be missed. We talk to renowned astronomer Andrew Fraknoi, professor at the Fromm Institute for Lifelong Learning at San Francisco State University, about what specific events we will see in the sky this year and what's the best way to view them. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Solar and lunar eclipses, planetary flybys, and other rare events in space are making 2019 the year to look skyward. What's the best way to view all these celestial events? In this episode of Komando on Demand, Kim looks at all the cool things that are happening in the sky this year that can't be missed.  We talk to renowned astronomer Andrew Fraknoi, professor at the Fromm Institute for Lifelong Learning at San Francisco State University, about what specific events we will see in the sky this year and what's the best way to view them. 

A rare eclipse of a blue, super-moon will occur in North America on January 31. What is this rare triple event? On this episode, Dr. Andrew Fraknoi discussed the eclipse of the blue, super-moon.

On January 31st, a rare and beautiful astronomical event will take place. The Super Blue Blood Eclipsed Moon will grace our skies. Not only has it captured the attention of the world's astronomers and astrophysicists, it has piqued the interest of history buffs and theologians. Here's the fun part … this particular moon is totally photographical, I'll have the best advice and talk to astronomer, and educator Andrew Fraknoi along with popular tech videocaster Jeremy Judkins as we share must-have tip Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On January 31st, a very rare and beautiful astronomical event will take place. The Super Blue Blood Eclipsed Moon will grace our skies… the first of its kind in a century and a half. This is huge ... literally, because the moon will nearly consume the horizon with its size. Not only has it captured the attention of the world’s astronomers and astrophysicists, it has piqued the interest of history buffs and theologians. Here’s the fun part … this particular moon is totally photographical, so even if you’re an amateur, you can grab some amazing shots. The question is … when, where and how to do it right. I’ll have the best advice and talk to astronomer, educator, author and speaker Andrew Fraknoi along with popular tech videocaster Jeremy Judkins as we share must-have tips. Don’t miss it.

Get ready for the eclipse with astronomer Andrew Fraknoi. Heather Austin of Univ of Alabama asks whether kids have too many after-school activities. Baby brain map helps us understand autism with Margaret Livingstone of Harvard. Apple Seed stories with Sam Payne of BYUradio. Sumit Mohan of Columbia Univ says good kidney donations are going to waste. Mark Verstraete of Univ of Arizona on filtering fake news. Rebecca Reczek of Ohio State Univ says keep the memories, lose the clutter.

We talk to astronomer Andrew Fraknoi about the upcoming total solar eclipse—the first total solar eclipse over North America in decades—on August 21st, 2017, and how you can best enjoy it.

Noted astronomer Andrew Fraknoi answers questions about the solar eclipse.  Where can you see it?  What's the safest way to watch it?  What is going on during a solar eclipse? Why are they so rare?  Why the kind of total eclipse we see on earth is a billion to one shot and rare among planets in the universe?  Why some day the eclipse won't be total.  Why does the eclipse path seem to move the opposite direction of the sun?  What will happen and what won't happen.  Where to get the special glasses you will need before and after totality.  How do you explain an eclipse tell a kid.  How do you explain eclipses with hula hoops?  And much more.

The next solar eclipse in America will occur on August 21, 2017. What is the best way to prepare to observe it? On this episode, Dr. Andrew Fraknoi discussed the Great American Eclipse.

They say that the experience of watching a total eclipse is so profound, you’re not the same afterward.  If life-changing events are your thing and you’re in the lower 48 states on August 21st, let us help you make the most of viewing the Great American Solar Eclipse. Learn the basics of where to be and what to bring, even on short notice. No eclipse glasses?  Find out why a kitchen colander is an excellent Plan B. Also, the strange behavior of animals and private jet pilots during an eclipse.  The latter is making the FAA sweat. Plus, how 1878 eclipse fever inspired Thomas Edison and astronomer Maria Mitchell, and what was at stake for them scientifically.  And today, with astronauts able to view the Sun from space, what new science can we still learn by eclipse expeditions on Earth? And, NASA turns up the heat on solar studies with a probe to within a hair’s breadth of the Sun.  Guests: David Baron - Author of “American Eclipse: A Nation’s Epic Race to Catch the Shadow of the Moon and Win the Glory of the World.”   Andrew Fraknoi - Chair of the Astronomy Department, Foothill College.  His latest book, for children:  “When the Sun Goes Dark.”  Jay Pasachoff - Professor of Astronomy, Williams College, chair of the International Astronomical Union Working Group on Solar Eclipses.  Madhulika Guhathakurta - Astrophysicist, NASA Heliophysics Science Division and Program Scientist for the Solar Probe Plus mission.

Jul 5th - Dr. Randell Bell, Andrew Fraknoi

Jul 5th - Dr. Randell Bell, Andrew Fraknoi

Wednesday's edition of Trending Today USA was hosted by Liftable Media's Ernie Brown.In this half hour, the guests and topics discussed were:1. Ron Hosko (former FBI Assistant Director) -- How the recent political discourse may have led to the shooting in Alexandria, Virginia2. Jason Wert (USA Radio) -- Dozens of EU countries who have taken in Muslim refugees have seen a significant increase in violence and terrorism; and now, the EU is suing member nations who aren’t taking the refugees.3. Andrew Fraknoi (astronomy professor) -- The Hubble Space telescope proved something Einstein predicted decades ago.4. Roundtable discussion -- In the wake of Attorney General Jeff Sessions’ testimony before the Senate Intelligence Committee, Fox News’ Jesse Watters declared that what we heard pretty much verified that no 'collusion' occurred between Russia and Trump associates.Like us on Facebook!

How do we have a meaningful response to the global environmental crisis? Jeff, Mona and Allen wade through a challenging question this week. From their own skepticisms and personal journeys in relating ethically to the earth, they discuss pandas, waste, animal agriculture, calorie costs, and oceans. They try to wrap their minds around the impact we all have as creatures and consumers within larger global ecosystems. The episode concludes with one of the silliest Knowin’ Jemonen segments yet, where the hosts argue about which animal each person would be if they were an animal.   Conversation on Global Environmental Crisis (00:26) Knowin’ Jemonen Segment (48:29) RELEVANT LINKS   From Our Global Environmental Crisis Conversation “If a thing is worth doing, it is worth doing badly.” - Quote from G.K. Chesterton Laudato Si - Pope Francis' encyclical on the environment and human ecology Reconciling Scripture with Science – EVILution – 003 (Irenicast Episode) Light Pollution by Andrew Fraknoi (aritcle)   Songbirds, Truffles, and Wolves: An American Naturalist in Italy by Gary Paul Nabhan (Book - Amazon Affiliate Link) How Pandas May Be Eating Their Way to Extinction (article) Here's Why All the Bees Are Dying by Tim McDonnell (article) The Sneezing Baby Panda (YouTube Video) Toilet paper and deforestation (article) Livestock’s Long Shadow (UN report) -- “More greenhouse gases than transportation” TO BETTER PROTECT PUBLIC HEALTH AND THE ENVIRONMENT FROM ANIMAL FEEDING OPERATIONS (EPA Report) -- “runoff accounts for half of all water pollution” Facts on Animal Farming and the Environment (One Green Planet article) -- “nearly half of all water in the United States goes to raising animals” Sustainability of meat-based and plant-based diets (The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition) -- “11 calories of fossil fuels per calorie of protein” Is Meat Eating Sustainable? (World Watch Insititute article) -- “one pound of meat uses water equal to six months of showering” THE ETHICAL MEAT EATER: Can Carnivores Adopt A Moral High Ground? (America’s Test Kitchen Podcast Episode) Fertilizer and nitrogen issues Ocean Acidity (article)   Helpful Links Not Mentioned Main Street Vegan by Victoria Moran (Book - Amazon Affiliate Link) THANK YOU Thank you to Mike Golin for our intro and outro music.  Check out his band Soulwise. WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU Thank you for supporting the podcast!  Your ratings, reviews and feedback are not only encouraging to us personally, but they help others find the show.  If you appreciate the content we provide please rate, review and subscribe to the podcast on iTunes and Stitcher.   Join our conversations on faith and culture by interacting with us through the following links:   Read Us on our blog An Irenicon Email Us at podcast@irenicast.com Follow Us on Twitter and Google+ Like Us on Facebook Listen to Us on iTunes, Stitcher, SoundCloud and TuneIn Speak to Us on our Feedback Page See Us on Instagram Love Us

Andrew Fraknoi is the Chair of the Astronomy Program at Foothill College near San Francisco. In 2007, he was selected as Professor of the Year for the state of California by the Carnegie Endowment for Higher Education. For 14 years, Fraknoi served as the Executive Director of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific, and was editor of its popular level magazine, Mercury, and its newsletter for teachers, The Universe in the Classroom. He has edited two collections of science articles and science fiction stories for Bantam Books, and is the lead author of Voyages through the Universe, one of the leading astronomy textbooks in the world, and also the children's book Disney's Wonderful World of Space. Fraknoi serves on the Board of Trustees of the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI) Institute, and is also a Fellow of the Committee for the Skeptical Inquiry, specializing in debunking astrology. He has received the Annenberg Foundation Prize of the American Astronomical Society (the highest honor in the field of astronomy education), as well as the Klumpke-Roberts Prize of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific (given for a lifetime of contributions to popularizing astronomy) and the Gemant Prize of the American Institute of Physics. In this discussion with D.J. Grothe, Andrew Fraknoi explains the history of the atoms in our bodies, and how we are literally made of "star stuff." He details how scientists know the history of these atoms, and explores the implications of this "simple but profound fact," and how some people derive mystical meaning from it, while others find it humbling. He talks about the compatibility of religion with astronomy, and the proper role of skepticism in the science classroom. He describes current threats to science education. And he makes a case for popularizing science and astronomy, and how this benefits society. 

Pluto, planets, astronomy, science education. Dr. Andrew Fraknoi has given more than 400 public lectures on such topics as 'Why Falling into a Black Hole is a Once-in-a-Lifetime Experience.' For 14 years, Dr. Fraknoi served as the Executive Director of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific, an international scientific and educational organization founded in 1889. He also founded its newsletter for teachers, 'The Universe in the Classroom'. A prolific author, Dr. Fraknoi is the lead author of 'Voyages through the Universe', which has become one of the leading introductory astronomy textbooks in the world. In 1994, Dr. Fraknoi received the Annenberg Foundation Prize of the American Astronomical Society - the highest honor in the field of astronomy education.

Pluto, planets, astronomy, science education. Dr. Andrew Fraknoi has given more than 400 public lectures on such topics as 'Why Falling into a Black Hole is a Once-in-a-Lifetime Experience.' For 14 years, Dr. Fraknoi served as the Executive Director of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific, an international scientific and educational organization founded in 1889. He also founded its newsletter for teachers, 'The Universe in the Classroom'. A prolific author, Dr. Fraknoi is the lead author of 'Voyages through the Universe', which has become one of the leading introductory astronomy textbooks in the world. In 1994, Dr. Fraknoi received the Annenberg Foundation Prize of the American Astronomical Society - the highest honor in the field of astronomy education.