Planetary Radio: Space Exploration, Astronomy and Science

Planetary Radio marks its last show before the Apr. 8 total solar eclipse with a look back at discoveries made during totality. Planetary Society science editor Asa Stahl shares why solar maximum is excellent for eclipse observing but potentially scary for Earth. Then Jeff Rich, outreach coordinator at the Carnegie Science Observatories in Pasadena, CA, joins Planetary Radio to discuss how total solar eclipses have contributed to our understanding of the Sun and beyond. Bruce Betts, our chief scientist, closes the show with What's Up and a chat about the ways that Einstein's general relativity impacts humanity and our technology. Discover more at: https://www.planetary.org/planetary-radio/2024-syzygy-scienceSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

3 Apr 202457min

On April 8, 2024, a total solar eclipse will sweep across North America. Ron Benner, the President of the American Optometric Association, joins Planetary Radio to share safety tips to protect your eyes during partiality. Then, astrophotographer Andrew McCarthy gives helpful advice about observing solar eclipses using telescopes and cameras. We close the show with our chief scientist, Bruce Betts, as he discusses The Planetary Society's new eclipse book for kids, "Casting Shadows," and the upcoming Eclipse-O-Rama festival in Texas, U.S.A. Discover more at: https://www.planetary.org/planetary-radio/2024-eclipse-tipsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

27 Mars 202459min

Behind every space mission is a tale of hard work, love, and perseverance. Dante Lauretta, the principal investigator for NASA's OSIRIS-REx mission, joins Planetary Radio to share stories from his new book, "The Asteroid Hunter." Then Bruce Betts, the chief scientist of The Planetary Society, looks back at the Shoemaker-Levy 9 impact on Jupiter and answers a question from our audience in What's Up. Discover more at: https://www.planetary.org/planetary-radio/2024-the-asteroid-hunterSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

20 Mars 202456min

The countdown is on! With less than a month until the total solar eclipse on April 8, 2024, Planetary Radio is buzzing with anticipation. This celestial event will sweep across Mexico, the United States, and Canada, promising a spectacular view to millions. Jim Bell, a professor from the School of Earth and Space Exploration at Arizona State University and former president of The Planetary Society's Board of Directors, will share captivating tales from his global eclipse-chasing journeys. But before diving into the cosmic wonders, we'll bring you the latest updates on the proposed US Presidential Budget. The Planetary Society's space policy experts, Casey Dreier and Jack Kiraly, will explain what this budget proposal means for NASA's funding and future projects. Then, the great Bruce Betts will pop in for What's Up as host Sarah Al-Ahmed looks forward to high-fiving him in person at The Planetary Society's upcoming Eclipse-O-Rama event in Texas, U.S. Discover more at: https://www.planetary.org/planetary-radio/2024-eclipse-chasingSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

13 Mars 202459min

A team co-led by the Southwest Research Institute has made a groundbreaking discovery, revealing evidence of hydrothermal or metamorphic activity on the icy dwarf planets Eris and Makemake in the Kuiper Belt. The lead author of this research, Chris Glein, joins Planetary Radio to explain. But our journey doesn't stop there. We dive into the newly reformed US Planetary Science Caucus with The Planetary Society's top space policy experts, Casey Dreier and Jack Kiraly. Our senior communications adviser, Mat Kaplan, celebrates a monumental achievement in space exploration — the successful landing of Intuitive Machine's Odysseus spacecraft on the lunar surface. And don't miss the latest installment of What's Up with Bruce Betts, our chief scientist, as he shares a new random space fact. Discover more at: https://www.planetary.org/planetary-radio/2024-eris-and-makemakeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

6 Mars 20241h 8min

The successful landing of IM-1 on the Moon ushered in a new era of commercial lunar exploration, one that has little to no historical precedent. The future, still highly uncertain, is rich with promise for what commercial payload deliveries can provide. There will be new and more frequent science opportunities, lower-cost access for national and non-state actors, and, potentially, a path to a sustainable presence on the lunar surface. Dr. Matt Shindell, science historian and curator of the planetary exploration collection at the Smithsonian Institution, joins the show to discuss the unique historical moment we find ourselves in, and how planetary exploration has evolved and could continue to evolve on and around the Moon. Discover more at: https://www.planetary.org/planetary-radio/ahistorical-era-of-clpsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

1 Mars 20241h 5min

Over two decades ago, an innovative partnership between The Planetary Society, NASA, and LEGO created the Red Rover Goes to Mars program. Today, we reflect on the program's remarkable achievements with our chief scientist, Bruce Betts. We're also joined by two extraordinary people whose lives were forever changed by their experiences as student astronauts in the program during their high school years. Courtney Dressing, an associate professor in the Department of Astronomy at the University of California, Berkeley, and Abigail Fraeman, the deputy project scientist for NASA's Curiosity Rover at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, share their inspiring journeys through the program and beyond. Then Bruce Betts returns to share more of LEGO's involvement in space exploration and a new random space fact. Discover more at: https://www.planetary.org/planetary-radio/2024-red-rover-goes-to-marsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

28 Feb 202456min

After NASA's OSIRIS-REx spacecraft's successful sample retrieval from asteroid Bennu, it's onto its next adventure as OSIRIS-APEX, the Apophis Explorer. Scott Guzewich, deputy project scientist for APEX, joins Planetary Radio to discuss the next steps for the mission as we count down to asteroid Apophis’ flyby of Earth in 2029. Then Bruce Betts, The Planetary Society’s chief scientist, pops in for What's Up and a look at other multi-world missions. Discover more at: https://www.planetary.org/planetary-radio/2024-osiris-apex See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

21 Feb 202455min