New interactive 360 degree image of the night sky

Courtesy of the Giga-Galaxy Zoom project (with a name like that, how could not be cool), he is a ESO press release where you can find a new image of the night sky that allow you to zoom in on interesting regions, etc. Hope you enjoy!

The End is a New Beginning

Due to a (on the whole, positive, shockingly enough given the lousy economy) change in my work situation, it saddens me to say that tomorrow marks the end of my weekly radio show on WVKR. This show requires about 8-10 hours a week, and my new work circumstances just doesn't give me that amount of time. However, the podcast will continue, but will now be a monthly - not weekly, unfortunately - program. I'm planning on kicking off this new phase with a treat, a series of programs on astrobiology that features interviews with some of the leading experts in this new and very exciting field of Astronomy. I hope you enjoy listening to them as much as I enjoyed putting it together.

After this series, the format is still up in the air and, as such, I'd really appreciate feedback as to what types of programs you enjoy the most. Do you enjoy shows focused on a single topic, or general "news" programs that covers (lightly) a lot of fields? Do you like series of related shows, or more standalone programs? Do you want more (or fewer) interviews? Are there topics you wish I'd discuss more - or less? Please let me know - either through emails or contacts below, and thank you so much for listening!

The International Space Station and You

If interested in how research onboard the International Space Station impacts your daily life, read this NASA report. Hope you enjoy!

New Hubble Images

As many of you already know (and, if you don't, check out this show), the Hubble Space Telescope was recently refurbished - with new instruments being installed, critical components being fixed, etc. The first images from the new and improved version of Hubble were released today, and are available here. I personally think they are incredible (it is also nice to have a square field of view as opposed to one corner missing as was the case for WFPC2), and hope you agree. For more details, go here and here. Enjoy!

Mars in High Definition

NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter has beening imaging the surface of Mars with its High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE) camera since 2006, taking some spectacular images during this time. To look at the newest batch of released images, go here. Enjoy!

Astronomy Comics

One on asteroids, another on the expansion of the Universe, and this one on the possibility of human-powered flight on Titan. Both xkcd and Brewster Rockit often have Astronomy-related cartoons and are quite funny (though XKCD is not always appropriate for kids), so check them out. Hope you enjoy!

WVKR Pledge Drive

As many of you know, this show would not be possible without the help of WVKR, the non-profit student-run radio station of Vassar College. When I was looking for a radio station to host this show / podcast, I called/emailed/sent demos to 30-40 radio stations in the New York area, and they were the only one who showed any interest. Starting today is their pledge drive and, if you can, I encourage you to donate here. I know times are tough, but I will mail to anyone who donates any amount and lists my show as their favorite will get an Astronomy goodie (educational DVDs, etc.) in addition to whatever pledge drive merchandise you request. Thank you very much.

How do you wash clothes in space?

Carefully, probably.

If you want a more satisfying answer, go here to watch ESA astronaut Frank De Winne explain how it is done on the International Space Station. Enjoy!

Happy Labor Day!

Hope you had a good summer, and have a safe and happy Labor Day. Hope you are enjoying the last official day of summer!

By the way, no radio show today, to those of you who listen live on WVKR, since I'm enjoying the long weekend out of NY.

August 17th Radio Show: Saturn

Now available here is the August 17th episode of this radio show where, still continuing our little tour of the Solar System, I discuss the recent science results concerning Saturn. Being the second largest planet in the Solar System, having the most extensive ring system and several moons of great interest, there is a lot to talk about - especially thanks to all of the instruments on board the Cassini spacecraft. As always, please email me or leave below any questions, comments, or concerns you might have. Thank you very much for listening!

Stephen Colbert's Message to the International Space Station

Apparently forgiving NASA (somewhat) for not naming the most recent addition to the International Space Station after him, Stephen Colbert did record this message for those onboard who a receiving a new treadmill named in his honor. Enjoy!

August 10th Radio Show: Mars, Asteroid Belt, and Jupiter

Picking up where I left off discussing Mars, and continuing further out of the Solar System to the asteroid belt and Jupiter, here is the August 10th episode of this radio show. As always, please email me or leave below any questions, comments, or concerns you might have. Thank you very much for listening!

Gravitational Waves Result

I promise to do a whole series devoted this, relatively soon-ish, but as I've talked about on previous shows, one of the key predictions of General Relativity is that objects orbiting around each other while produce ripples in space-time (and how we interact with space-time through gravity) called gravitational waves. While indirect evidence that gravitational waves has been gathered by measuring the orbital period of pulsars around each other, LIGO and other experiments are trying to detect them directly on the Earth. To listen to a recent webcast on this project - and an interesting non-detection of gravitational waves from the early Universe, go here. Hope you enjoy!

August 3rd Radio Show: Mars

Now available here is the August 3rd episode of this radio show. Continuing the on-going brief tour of the Solar System, on this program I (try to) discuss all of the recent results concerning Mars from its atmosphere to its core - between the orbiters, landers, and rovers there are tons! As always, please email me or leave below any questions, comments, or concerns you might have. Thank you for listening!

NASA Now Accepting Applications for Aeronautics Scholarship Awards

Cut and pasted directly from a NASA release:

NASA's Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate began accepting scholarship applications today for the 2010 academic year. The application deadline is Jan. 11, 2010. NASA expects to award 20 Undergraduate and five graduate scholarships to students in aeronautics or related fields. Undergraduate students entering their second year of study will receive up to $15,000 per year for two years and the opportunity to receive a $10,000 stipend by interning at a NASA research center during the summer. Graduate students will receive up to $35,000 per annually for up to three years, with an opportunity to receive a $10,000 stipend interning at a NASA research center up to two consecutive summers. All applicants must be U.S. citizens. Scholarship money may be used for
tuition and other school-related expenses. For details about this scholarship program, including how to apply, visit: http://asee.org/nasaasp. Good luck!

Edible Asteroids?!?!?

As a classroom activity to get elementary school interested in space rocks, NASA has cooked up a recipe to make your own "edible rocks." Go here for the recipe, and enjoy! Please let me know below how it tastes, I'm always on the look out for good recipes.