Kielder Observatory Podcast

Before you swat a fly next time, consider without them we wouldn't have chocolate! The advice of expert in all things flies Dr Erica McAlister, who joins Ian Brannan and Dan Pye to discuss the role flies have played in space travel, the work they do on earth doing the jobs we hate, and why if you get bitten by a midge, consider yourself a foster parent..!All this and more, you'll never look at a fly the same way again!    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Summer means light nights but that doesn't mean there's nothing going on at the observatory, far from it there has been lots both at the observatory and in space to talk about!Director of Astronomy Dan Pye joins Ian Brannan on the deck at Kielder to chat about why all eyes are on the North East when it comes to space. Plus the things you can look out for even if the nights are a little lighter, and how you can book for some of the great family events in the school summer holidays.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of the Kielder Observatory Podcast, join Ian Brannan and Director of Astronomy, Dan Pye, as they explore the intriguing developments in the search for alien life and discuss Elon Musk's ambitious plans for humanity on Mars. They also delve into the wonders of the summer night sky, highlighting the beauty of noctilucent clouds and the celestial events to look out for in the coming weeks. From the mysteries of dimethyl sulphide detected by the James Webb telescope to the upcoming meteor showers and observatory events, this episode is packed with astronomical insights and tips for stargazers.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Recorded live in Hexham Andy Saunders, the author of Apollo Remastered, discusses wit Dan Pye & Ian Brannan how he brought the Moon landings to life with stunning, high-definition images restored from NASA’s original Apollo film footage, which had been stored away for decades.  His groundbreaking work reveals never-before-seen spacewalks, astronaut portraits, and breathtaking views of Earth and the Moon. You can see the exhibition at Queen's Hall in Hexham until the end of May.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode Director of Astronomy Dan Pye, and Ian Brannan head to Seaton Delaval Hall in Northumberland, to get up close to The Sun! HELIOS is the latest creation of artist Luke Jerram, whose previous works of the Moon & Earth you may have previously seen in the North East. Luke chats to us about his latest project, and how the idea came about in the first place! Plus with the upcoming partial Solar Eclipse we have advice on how to see it safely, as well as a look ahead to what to expect in the night sky in the coming few weeks heading into spring! Helios is at Seaton Delaval Hall until April 6th, and will be touring the UK with the National Trust. More details can be found HERESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Join us in this captivating episode of the Kielder Observatory podcast as we explore the origins of life and the universe with Dr. Luke Daly, an expert in planetary geoscience from the University of Glasgow. Discover how space rocks like asteroids and meteorites may hold the key to understanding the formation of our solar system and the potential for life beyond Earth. Alongside hosts Ian Brannan & Dan Pye, delve into the fascinating journey from a waterless desert planet to our vibrant blue Earth, and uncover the secrets of water delivery mechanisms from comets to early terrestrial planets. This episode promises an engaging exploration into the mysteries of planetary science and the exciting prospects for future discoveries.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this very special episode we are joined by a man who has spent 166 days aboard the international space station, flying on the Shuttle, and conducting over 38 hours of spacewalks! Clay shares his firsthand experiences of life beyond Earth, offering fascinating insights into what it’s really like to live and work in space. Hosted by Ian Brannan along with Kielder Director of Astronomy Dan Pye and Science Engagement Lead Ellie Macdonald.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Crisp winter nights are back, and with clear skies that makes for perfect star gazing conditions for the whole family to wrap up warm and see some amazing things..!  It is a busy time for meteor showers, a number of planets are visible to the naked eye, and we now have the best chance for the next 11 years of seeing the aurora too..!Get a full update of what's happening at the observatory as well as space in general with Ian Brannan & Director of Astronomy Dan Pye, who also have news of 1 very special guest joining us on the podcast soon..!    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Life IS 100% out there, we just need to find it, however that's not to say other life hasn't found us..! A few of the insights from evolutionary astrobiologist Wallace Arthur, who joins us once again to discuss the latest discoveries relating to Exo Planets, and why they could be the key for discoveries..!If you want to know where we may find alien life, and why the conversations could be fairly lengthy if we do, then make sure you listen to this one!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We are recording on location at the Kielder Observatory. As the seasons change and autumn approaches, join host Ian Brannon and a panel of space experts as they delve into the latest celestial events and missions. From the best time to view the Milky Way and Saturn to upcoming lunar eclipses and the fascinating missions to Mercury and Europa, this episode is packed with astronomical insights. Discover how you can make the most of the night sky with just your naked eye, binoculars, or a telescope, and get the latest updates on space missions and discoveries.   Kielder Observatory, Night Sky, Astronomy, Milky Way, Saturn Rings, Lunar Eclipse, Boeing Starliner, Spacex, Bepicolombo, Mercury Mission, Europa Clipper, Search For Life, Jupiter Moon, Space Missions, Telescopes, Stargazing, Autumn Equinox, Zodiacal Light, Open Cluster, Cepheus ConstellationSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of the Kielder Observatory podcast, we venture into the fascinating world of remote sensing with Professor Danny Donoghue from Durham University. Discover how legacy satellite data from as far back as the 1960s is being utilised to enhance our understanding of Earth's resources, environmental changes, and even archaeology. Learn about the declassified Cold War-era satellite programme, Corona, and its modern applications. Join us as we delve into the past, present, and future of satellite technology, its impact on climate change studies, and the exciting potential of drones in remote sensing. Further Links: Kielder Observatoryhttps://www.kielderobservatory.org Durham Universityhttps://www.dur.ac.uk Landsat Programmehttps://landsat.gsfc.nasa.gov Corona Programmehttps://www.nro.gov/History-and-Studies/Center-for-the-Study-of-National-Reconnaissance/CSNR-Programs/Corona/ James Webb Space Telescopehttps://www.jwst.nasa.gov Remote Sensing and Photogrammetry Societyhttps://www.rspsoc.org.uk Institute for Data Science, Durham Universityhttps://www.dur.ac.uk/research/institutes-and-centres/data-science/  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As we head through the middle part of the year, Ian Brannan and Director of Astronomy Dan Pye look at the Summer Triangle, a collection of constellation which take centre stage in the night sky at this time of year. We also discuss the discovery of frost on Mars, which has been found at the top of the biggest mountain in the Solar System Olympus Mons, which is 3x bigger than Mount Everest! And we look ahead to a potential comet with could be visible this autumn! For more news and info visit kielderobservatory.orgSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode Ian Brannan & Director of Astronomy Dan Pye take a look at some of the recent space stories making the news, including the discovery of an Exo Planet dubbed "Super Earth". Find out why though it is probably not a place you want to book a holiday to just yet. We also look at Black Holes, NASA have simulated what it would be like to fall into one..!And a new kind of rocket is set to blast off to space, built by Boeing..! It however doesn't resemble the kind of Boeing craft you might be used to..!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This month we record the podcast at the observatory itself, and it's a Dan fest. Host Ian Brannan is joined by Director of Astronomy Dan Pye, and Director of Astrophotography Dan Monk, to discuss a couple of hot topics and give you some top tips heading into April! On April 8th there is due to be a total eclipse which will be best viewed in the United States, but discover Kielder's plans to bring this event to you LIVE from one of our astronomers who is heading to Texas to take in and share the spectacle with you. Plus with the constant likelihood of an Aurora display at this time of year, Dan Monk explains how to maximise your chances of getting an awesome photo, and shares his adventures to Iceland chasing the phenomenon..!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The spring equinox is approaching, and in this month's episode Director of Astronomy at Kielder Observatory Dan Pye joins us to look ahead to an interesting time of year as the seasons change! Plus will look at a few news stories from the universe including the discovery of the oldest Black Hole ever found, lurking near the very dawn of time!We are also joined by 2 CEOs, as way say goodbye and look back on the time of Catherine Johns, who has been CEO of the observatory since 2019. We also meet new CEO Leigh Venus, who has spent many years in culture and tourism, and both speak about why CEO of Kielder Observatory is a job like no other!  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

February is the month of love, and in this episode of the Kielder Observatory Podcast discover how to see a heart light years away in space! Our Director of Astronomy Dan Pye explains the other celestial events occurring through February including our Pye in the Sky challenge!The main theme of this episode is the Aurora, our science communicator Ishbel Wright has recently ventured north of the Arctic Circle as part of a university project to install a network of cameras to give us a better understanding of this phenomenon. But of course she also saw the northern lights for herself more intensely than ever! As we move towards another peak time to see the Aurora in the UK, we also give you a few tips to improve your chances of bagging a photo for yourself!   Aurora Borealis, Arctic Circle, Night Sky, Planetary Conjunctions, Venus, Heart Nebula, Cassiopeia, Pleiades, Constellations, Andromeda Galaxy, Science Communicator, Ionosphere, Tromso Norway, Astronomy, Astrophysics, Star Clusters, Caroline Rose Cluster, Ishbel Wright, Dan PyeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode we are joined by some of the team behind out "Kielder Narratives" project: Composer Will Todd, Poet Dan Simpson, and musician & Producer Chad Male join Ian Brannan & Director of Astronomy Dan Pye to tell the story behind the work, and we will also hear the final production in full too! Kielder Narratives is a collaborative project which builds upon the work we have already delivered with Southpaw Dance Company as part of Kielder Dark Skies.We wanted to find different ways of engaging the communities in and around Kielder, so that they themselves can tell their story of working, living and playing in such a unique environment. Funded by Arts Council England, Kielder Observatory were able to commission a poet, Dan Simpson, to complete a residency in the area- engaging with local communities to find out what the dark skies mean to them. The poet co-created poems, plays, songs and spoken word pieces to help articulate the thoughts and feelings of the communities were work in. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This month we are joined by Adrian West, an astronomer with over 30 years' experience. Better known as Virtual Astro, he has one of the largest independent astronomy and space accounts on social media. He's passionate about the night sky and inspiring people to look up. Adrian is author of the book "The Secret World of Stargazing", and is now touring the UK with his show "The Night Sky Show Live". You can see Adrian performing in the North East at the Sunderland Empire on January 6th 2024. For more info visit thenightskyshow.co.uk See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode we hand over to Amber, age 6 (nearly 7!) from Sunderland who came to visit and take part in one of out many family events. Rather than a grown up talk all about it, we thought it best to hear about the experience from one of our younger guests! Rockets & More is one of the summer events which has become a firm part of the Kielder programme, ultimately ending with kids building and launching their own rockets into the sky!There are many family events all year round, they take place much earlier at around 5pm, and suitable for a variety of ages. Find out more about them at kielderobservatory.org and book your visit.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This month Ian and Dan head out to combine recording a podcast, with a spot of stargazing as they highlight some of the other great and free locations across the North East offering a great view of the night sky. They have a chat on a hill near Derwent Reservoir which despite some patch weather on the day is a great vantage point to see the Aurora, the Milky Way and meteor showers.  August sees the return of proper astronomical darkness at night, but it's also a month filled with great events such as the Perseids meteor shower, the Milky Way being visible, and the possibility of the Aurora putting on a show!  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.