Interview: Doug Baum on the BIPH
Doug and Michael interview Doug Baum who, along with his partner Russ Lederman, has developed the Binocular Photon Machine (BIPH), a device which amplifies incoming light 50,000 times, effectively tripling your telescope aperture. We talk about the device, how it works and the cool ways it can be used.
Published: Fri, 08 Aug 2008 00:50:00 +0500

Interview: Ethan Vishniac
An interview with Dr. Ethan Vishniac who is the editor-in-chief of The Astrophyscial Journal and a professor of astronomy at McMaster University.
Published: Sun, 27 Jul 2008 22:40:00 +0500

Interview: Science Cafes
An interview with Ben Wiehe of WGBH about science cafes.
Published: Tue, 08 Jul 2008 18:00:00 +0500

Aaron Price on BZ UMa [FF]
Aaron Price won a Chambliss Astronomy Achievement Student Award for this poster on the cataclysmic variable star BZ UMa. Aaron walks us through his poster and results.
Published: Sun, 29 Jun 2008 15:00:00 +0500

Interview: Juan Collar and Detecting Dark Matter
An interview with Juan Collar of the Kavli Institute on detecting dark matter in the laboratory.
Published: Mon, 16 Jun 2008 13:00:00 +0500

The Goddess of the IYA [FF]
A short interview with Susana Deustua about the International Year of Astronomy, with a brief cameo by Mike Simonson of the AAVSO.
Published: Fri, 13 Jun 2008 03:00:00 +0500

Interview: Rick Fienberg of Sky and Telescope [FF]
A short interview with Rick Fienberg of Sky and Telescope magazine.
Published: Wed, 04 Jun 2008 16:00:00 +0500

Ice Cube
Michael and Doug discuss the Ice Cube Neutrino Observatory, supernovae light echos and buying a star.
Published: Mon, 26 May 2008 22:00:00 +0500

Light Pollution
Julie Wilbert brings us a report on light pollution with members of the Minnesota Astronomical Society.
Published: Sun, 11 May 2008 23:00:00 +0500

Whatever the hell is Slacker Astronomy
An interview with Aaron Price about the history of Slacker Astronomy plus ramblings by Michael.
Published: Sat, 19 Apr 2008 00:00:00 +0500

Podcast interview with Brant Robertson
Doug and Michael chat with Brant Robertson, who is a Spitzer Fellow doing research at The Kavli Institute for Cosmological Physics. Brant is a theoretical astrophysicist involved with computer simulations of the evolution of galaxies.
Published: Fri, 28 Mar 2008 00:00:00 +0500

Slackerpedia Galactica 8.0: A Brief History of the Universe
A brief history of the universe according to modern cosmology. Also a brief discussion of asteroid 2007 WD5, which may hit Mars.
Published: Mon, 07 Jan 2008 00:55:00 +0500

First Principles 4.0 - Inside Stars [FF]
Discussion on what stars are and how they work.
Published: Tue, 27 Nov 2007 11:45:00 +0500

Interview: Timothy Ferris [FF]
Astrotalk about news and events followed by an exclusive interview with author and film maker Timothy Ferris.
Published: Sat, 15 Sep 2007 17:00:00 +0500

Video: DAO Visit [FF]
A tour of the DAO Observatory in Victoria, BC, Canada.
Published: Fri, 10 Aug 2007 01:00:00 +0500

SG Chit Chat #6
Opening skit, Astro news, another First Principles, discussions of astronomy tenure policies and the first of a new recurring segment: Kavli Cosmology Nugget, where cosmologists sit around a table with wine and cheese and talk shop.
Published: Fri, 25 May 2007 13:30:00 +0500

Cosmology #8: Dr. Lucy Fortson on VERITAS and new forms of astro research
Dr. Lucy Fortson is vice president for research at the Adler Planetarium and a member of the VERITAS gamma ray experiment. She talks about VERITAS, gamma rays, astronomy artifacts and new roles for the public in astronomy research practices.
Published: Fri, 18 May 2007 13:30:00 +0500

Cosmology #7: The CMB Soap Opera w/Dr. Stephan Meyer
Dr. Stephen Meyer has been a part of most of the major CMB discoveries in the past two decades. He takes us on a journey of all the experiments, their challenges and successes and then sets the stage for the next phase of CMB experiments.
Published: Thu, 17 May 2007 13:30:00 +0500

Cosmology #6: Dark Energy w/Dr. Josh Frieman
Dr. Josh Frieman discusses dark energy and alternative theories along with current and pending experiments to test it.
Published: Wed, 16 May 2007 22:30:00 +0500

Cosmology #5: Dr. Michael Turner updates his famous 1998 paper: Cosmology Solved?
Dr. Michael Turner updates his famous 1998 checklist of the seven major cosmological questions
Published: Wed, 16 May 2007 15:30:00 +0500

Cosmology #4: Nobel Laureate Dr. Jim Cronin On Cosmic Rays
Dr. Jim Cronin, winner of the 1980 Nobel Prize in physics, discusses cosmic rays and the Pierre Auger Observatory
Published: Wed, 16 May 2007 01:30:00 +0500

Cosmology #3: The Big Bang and CMB w/Dr. Clem Pryke
Dr. Clem Pryke discusses the Big Bang, the cosmic microwave background, and various properties of it currently being tested in an effort to test and answer open questions about the Big Bang.
Published: Tue, 15 May 2007 13:30:00 +0500

Cosmology #2: Dark Matter w/Dr. Andrey Kravtsov
Dr. Andrey Kravtsov gives a good description of the dark matter concept along with current understandings, challenges and active experiments underway to positively detect dark matter.
Published: Tue, 15 May 2007 12:30:00 +0500

Cosmology #1: The South Pole Telescope and KICP w/Dr. John Carlstrom
Our first interview from the Kavli Institute For Cosmological Physics. The Director, Dr. John Carlstrom, gives us an overview of the institute and the major equipment they are building and using. Throughout the week we will bring you many interviews, both audio and video, from the institute and about all things cosmology.
Published: Mon, 14 May 2007 12:30:00 +0500

SG #5.0
It's baaaacckk.
Published: Mon, 7 May 2007 12:30:00 +0500

First Principles 2: Mass and Stuff (also McNaught/Titan skits)
The second in the First Principle series in which our heroes posit on mass, inertia and other stuff. Also, two skits with Travis and Rebekah about Comet McNaught and Titan.
Published: Mon, 2 Apr 2007 11:30:00 +0500

First Principles 1.0: Astronomers
The first episode of a new segment called First Principles, in which we discuss the basics of what astronomers are and what they do.
Published: Tue, 13 Feb 2007 11:30:00 +0500

Video: The Moon Is A Trip
Fun with the Apollo Lunar Surface Journal
Published: Sun, 4 Feb 2007 23:40:00 +0500

Second Life Astro Cafe Interviews Promo
Join us Feb. 3 and Feb. 5 in Second Life for Slacker Astronomy Cafe Interviews with Dr. Stuart Lowe and Dr. Doug Welch. More on Second Life at slackerpedia.org.
Published: Sun, 28 Jan 2007 23:40:00 +0500

Video: Hot Astronomers [OF]
Tonya, Michael and Travis wander the halls in search of hot astronomers. Filmed at the 209th American Astronomical Society meeting in Seattle, WA.
Published: Thu, 18 Jan 2007 23:40:00 +0500

Video: AAS Doug Interviews an Astronomy Visualizer [FF]
Dr. Doug Welch interviews Dr. Travis Rector, a science visualizer with NOAO and Gemini observatories.
Published: Thu, 11 Jan 2007 23:40:00 +0500

Video: AAS Poster Wanderings [FF]
Mike and Aaron wander the posters on day two of the AAS meeting in Seattle
Published: Wed, 10 Jan 2007 23:40:00 +0500

AAS: Day 3 Round Up and The Hot Chocolate Experiment [FF]
Aaron, Doug, Michael, Travis and a friend Anthony talk about day 3 of the American Astronomical Society meeting and perform an experiment with hot chocolate from room service. Craziness ensues.
Published: Wed, 10 Jan 2007 12:00:00 +0500

AAS Interview With Pamela Gay [FF]
Interview with Dr. Pamela Gay at the 209th meeting of the American Astronomical Society
Published: Tue, 9 Jan 2007 23:00:00 +0500

AAS Recap Days 1-2 [OF]
A recap of the first two days of the American Astronomical Society meeting. Ryan Wyatt (Science Visualization blog) joins us as a guest. Meeting blog at slackerastronomy.org.
Published: Tue, 9 Jan 2007 10:00:00 +0500

Video: Neil deGrasse Tyson [FF]
A quick interview with Neil deGrasse Tyson at AAS
Published: Mon, 8 Jan 2007 18:00:00 +0500

Dirty Rotten Astronomers [JF]
Michael and Travis skip out to Bermuda and report on the Space Technology 6 program from NASA.
Published: Sat, 06 Jan 2007 23:45:00 +0500

Video: AAS Meeting Nonsense [FF]
Some dumb questions asked of smart people at the AAS meeting in Seattle.
Published: Sun, 7 Jan 2007 00:05:00 +0500

Video: Optical SETI at Oak Ridge Observatory [FF]
A tour of the Harvard University Oak Ridge Observatory and the Optical SETI telescope there
Published: Wed, 3 Jan 2007 00:05:00 +0500

Video: Are there extra-terrestrials? [FF]
3 Questions. Second question: Are there extra-terrestrials?
Published: Wed, 13 Dec 2006 23:45:00 +0500

SG 4.0: The Astronomer Who Cried Wolf [FF]
In this show we cover stories of astronomical predictions: the good, bad and why it's easier to be the former than the latter. We also have an interview with Ryan Wyatt, a science visualizer at the American Museum of Natural History who talks about what goes on behind the scenes to turn those faint fuzzies into pretty pictures and gives us a report from a recent astro-visualization conference. And of course the news, mail and more.
Published: Wed, 22 Nov 2006 17:45:00 +0500

Video: The Story of V838 Mon - [FF]
Rebekah and Travis tell the story of V838 Mon, a planet eater or just a really weird star?
Published: Wed, 22 Nov 2006 17:45:00 +0500

Video: Should Pluto be a planet? [FF]
3 Questions. First question: Should Pluto be a planet?
Published: Tue, 14 Nov 2006 17:45:00 +0500

Video: Behind The Scenes [FF]
Michael is visited by Timothy Ferris and a video crew to shoot a scene for an upcoming PBS show about amateur astronomers.
Published: Thu, 2 Nov 2006 10:40:00 +0500

SG #3.0: Planet eating monsters, light echos, unicorns and more...[FF]
Rebekah is back and we have two old-school skits, Doug joins us from Gemini South observatory in Chile and we cover lots of news and gossip in the world of astrology, oops, I mean, astronomy.
Published: Wed, 1 Nov 2006 10:40:00 +0500

SG Interview: Doug Welch on MACHO [FF]
MACHO, and its sequel, SuperMACHO, are projects that have directly detected dark matter. Dr. Doug Welch is one of the researchers involved with the MACHO project. In this podcast interview with Michael Koppelman, Doug talks about all things MACHO.
Published: Wed, 04 Oct 2006 10:40:00 +0500

Lite Brite Supernovae Video [FF]
For our first video podcast, we take 5 pounds of Lite Brite pegs and use them to illustrate the process of supernovae explosions.
Published: Mon, 18 Sep 2006 01:02:00 +0500

Slackerpedia Galactica #1.0 [FF]
The first edition of the new show. Future shows will be posted on this same feed. Info at www.slackerastronomy.org.
Published: Thu, 14 Sep 2006 01:02:00 +0500

The End of a Planet and the End of a Podcast [FF]
Pluto musings, then the bomb.
Published: Thu, 14 Sep 2006 01:00:00 +0500

Carbon Monoxide with Purpose
There are two good places to have CO detectors: In your house and on your radio telescope. We talk about one good place to find CO, and it's not in your basement.
Published: Mon, 28 Aug 2006 01:00:00 +0500

My Fair Plutonian Menance [FF]
The things Pluto must do to remain in the brotherhood of planets would make even Luke remble with fear.
Published: Wed, 16 Aug 2006 01:00:00 +0500

Sometimes Too Much Light Can Be A Bad Thing [FF]
In the 90's, astronomers had a chance to see an object usually obsructed by glare. That window of opportunity has just now closed so the results of the research are now starting to come out..
Published: Wed, 2 Aug 2006 01:00:00 +0500

Great Balls of Fire
A great ball of gas, greater in size than the distance between us and the Andromeda galaxy(!), has been spyed plunging into the distance Abell 3266 galaxy cluster. Why? Well why not? If you were a bored bit of gas living out your days in the suburbs of such a great galactic metropolis, wouldn't you too want to take a plunge, and go live in the center of things for a while?
Published: Mon, 31 Jul 2006 01:00:00 +0500

Ring Around the Planet [FF]
Grab a partner, doe-se-doe. Watch the moons dance and roll...
Published: Tue, 18 Jul 2006 01:00:00 +0500

Finder's Keeper's [OF]
Lookee what we found...
Published: Tue, 11 Jul 2006 01:00:00 +0500

Dusty Supernovae[FF]
Astronomers prove you wouldn't have dustballs without supernovae.
Published: Wed, 5 Jul 2006 01:00:00 +0500

Weird Physics[FF]
Weird hard math sometimes is and sometimes isn't weird good science.
Published: Thu, 22 Jun 2006 01:00:00 +0500

Bigger Than the Motor Car [OF]
Pictures of big things from the earliest days of the Universe
Published: Wed, 7 Jun 2006 23:00:00 +0500

Running Backwards while Moving Forward [OF]
Slowing light, and even making time run backwards, does nothing to help Pamela get more hours into a day.
Published: Thu, 1 Jun 2006 23:00:00 +0500

Even Space Telescopes Need a Union [OF]
All work and no play makes an infrared space telescope a dull - but efficient, boy.
Published: Mon, 15 May 2006 23:00:00 +0500

One Less Thing To Worry About [OF]
GRBs don't kill people. Paranoia kills people.
Published: Tue, 9 May 2006 23:00:00 +0500

Digging In the Dirt [FF]
To learn of the Sun, we must look to the Moon. Or, more accurately, the dirty footprints we left behind.
Published: Wed, 26 Apr 2006 23:00:00 +0500

Sterile Neutrinos, Enough Said [JF]
Sterile neutrinos are on a quest to solve all life's mysteries without interacting.
Published: Wed, 5 Apr 2006 23:00:00 +0500

The Breakfast of Enceladians [JF]
Slush Puppies are what's for breakfast on Saturn's Moon Enceladus
Published: Wed, 5 Apr 2006 23:00:00 +0500

Light Brite [FF]
Lights, lights, lights everywhere and not a star to see. Just how many stars can you see in your area?
Published: Tue, 28 Mar 2006 23:00:00 +0500

WMAP's Anistropy Trophy [FF]
The show is now one year old, but the rest of us are 13.7 billion years old. Break out the Geritol.
Published: Tue, 21 Mar 2006 23:00:00 +0500

Pop and Glow [JF]
Occationally people go bump in the night, and occationally things flare in Gamma Rays. Did you go bump when GRB060218 went flare?
Published: Tue, 14 Mar 2006 23:00:00 +0500

Just Blame It On The Termites And Be Done With It [JF]
Somewhere on Titan, in a sleepy, empty home, an oven door is ajar.
Published: Wed, 08 Mar 2006 23:00:00 +0500

As Simple As That [FF]
The recurrent nova RS Ophiuci erupts for the first time in 21 years and illustrates the impermanence of existence - or just looks neato
Published: Tue, 28 Feb 2006 23:00:00 +0500

Dirty Rotten Snow Balls [FF]
Don't know what to do with your snow? Toss it in a Lagrange Point!
Published: Wed, 15 Feb 2006 23:00:00 +0500

A Star, By Any Other Name... [OF]
This Valentines Day pity the poor, lonely stars
Published: Tue, 7 Feb 2006 23:00:00 +0500

The Bubba Gump Galaxy Co. [FF]
Life is like a box of onions...
Published: Tue, 24 Jan 2006 01:00:00 +0500

Gamma-Ray Candles [FF]
Brad Schaeffer demonstrates that Gamma-Ray Bursts can be used to measure the Cosmological Variable.
Published: Mon, 16 Jan 2006 01:00:00 +0500

Supernova Echo and The Zwickymen [OF]
Light echoes from supernovae centuries old are discovered by SuperMacho-Macho-Man.
Published: Mon, 9 Jan 2006 01:00:00 +0500

Are You Ready For Some Astronomy? [FF]
Monday Night Football is no longer. Fret not fellow couch potatoes! We have Monday Night Astronomy and a story about low energy aurorae.
Published: Tue, 3 Jan 2006 01:00:00 +0500

An Astronomer's T'was the Day Before Christmas [FF]
Our holiday treat for our listeners
Published: Thu, 22 Dec 2005 01:00:00 +0500

Titantic News On Titan [FF]
Science results from the Huygens Atmospheric Probe from all over
Published: Fri, 16 Dec 2005 01:00:00 +0500

Stellar Skeletons [FF]
The Crab Nebula, SN 1970g, and Universal Expansion provide explosive science
Published: Wed, 07 Dec 2005 01:00:00 +0500

Saturn As a Litter Box [FF]
Cassini and Mira team up to find wakes that look like Ridges in Saturn's Rings
Published: Wed, 30 Nov 2005 01:00:00 +0500

Andromeda Has Never Been So Hot [FF]
Andromeda Has Never Been So Hot [FF] - infrared discoveries from the Andromeda galaxy
Published: Wed, 16 Nov 2005 01:00:00 +0500

Eta Boy Eta Car [FF]
Eta Boy Eta Carinae [FF]
Published: Tue, 8 Nov 2005 01:00:00 +0500

Pop goes the Neutron [FF]
Pop goes the Neutron (neutron star that is) [FF]
Published: Tue, 25 Oct 2005 01:00:00 +0500

Visiting an Old Friend For the First Time [JF]
Visiting an Old Friend For the First Time [JF]
Published: Wed, 19 Oct 2005 01:00:00 +0500

Carrying the 1's Along Gravitational Highways [OF]
Carrying the 1's Along Gravitational Highways [OF]
Published: Tue, 4 Oct 2005 01:00:00 +0500

Black Hole Roundup [FF]
Black Hole Roundup [FF]
Published: Mon, 26 Sep 2005 01:00:00 +0500

Deep Impact Isn't A Porno [OF]
Deep Impact Isn't A Porno [OF]
Published: Tue, 20 Sep 2005 01:00:00 +0500

Downsizing Galaxies
Downsizing Galaxies
Published: Wed, 14 Sep 2005 01:00:00 +0500

Propeller Population of the Universe
Propeller Population of the Universe
Published: Wed, 7 Sep 2005 01:00:00 +0500

Donate to New Orleans Astronomy Clubs
Donate to New Orleans Astronomy Clubs
Published: Tue, 6 Sep 2005 21:00:00 +0500

Viscious Little Dots
Micro Blazars A Go Go
Published: Thu, 1 Sep 2005 21:00:00 +0500

Remapping small town NGC 300
NGC 300's position is recalculated and its urban sprawl is remapped.
Published: Wed, 24 Aug 2005 21:00:00 +0500

Tiny Specks of Fun
Meteor Showers Aren't
Published: Sun, 21 Aug 2005 21:00:00 +0500

To Be Or Not To Be A Planet
We break down the 10th planet
Published: Mon, 8 Aug 2005 21:00:00 +0500

Neutrons play Hide and Quake
Neutrons play Hide and Quake
Published: Mon, 25 Jul 2005 21:00:00 +0500

Sharin' Charon
Sharin' Charon (Show #19) - Pluto and its Moon Charon
Published: Mon, 25 Jul 2005 21:00:00 +0500

Breaking The Superwind
Breaking the Superwind (Show #18)
Published: Tue, 19 Jul 2005 21:00:00 +0500

Dreaming of a Scary Universe
Show #17: Dreaming of a Scary Universe
Published: Wed, 13 Jul 2005 21:00:00 +0500

When Asteroids Attack
Show #15: When Asteroids Attack
Published: Tue, 28 Jun 2005 21:00:00 +0500

Dunkin' Quasars
Show #14: Dunkin' Quasars
Published: Tue, 21 Jun 2005 21:00:00 +0500

The End of the Beginning
Show #13: The End of the Beginning
Published: Wed, 15 Jun 2005 21:00:00 +0500

Orion Poisons its Young
Show #12: Orion Poisons its Young
Published: Mon, 06 Jun 2005 01:00:00 +0500

Blame Canada for Extrasolar Planets
Show #11: Blame Canada for Extrasolar Planets
Published: Tue, 31 May 2005 01:00:00 +0500

Magic 8 Ball vs. Mira
Show #10: Magic 8 Ball vs. Mira
Published: Wed, 25 May 2005 01:00:00 +0500

The Martian Drinking Game
Show #9: The Martian Drinking Game
Published: Mon, 16 May 2005 01:00:00 +0500

Stellar Elders lack Metal
Show #8: Stellar Elders Lack Metal
Published: Mon, 02 May 2005 01:00:00 +0500

Do Minor Planets Get Carded?
Show #7: Do Minor Planets Get Carded?
Published: Mon, 25 Apr 2005 01:00:00 +0500

Death of a Disco Star
Show #6: Death of a Disco Star
Published: Mon, 18 Apr 2005 01:00:00 +0500

The Big Bad Astronomer
Show #5: The Big Bad Astronomer capsule interview, full interview on the SA Extra Feed
Published: Mon, 4 Apr 2005 01:00:00 +0500

Going Boom
Show #4: Going Boom
Published: Mon, 4 Apr 2005 01:00:00 +0500

Gone With the Wind
Show #2: Gone With the Wind
Published: Tue, 29 Mar 2005 01:00:00 +0500

Black Hole In the Corner Pocket
Show #1: Black Hole In the Corner Pocket
Published: Mon, 14 Mar 2005 01:00:00 +0500

Galaxies in Gangs Wear Red
Show #-1: Galaxies in Gangs Wear Red
Published: Thu, 3 Mar 2005 01:00:00 +0500

Fancy Names For Shiny Lights
Show #-2: Fancy Names For Shiny Lights
Published: Wed, 16 Feb 2005 01:00:00 +0500

Your Attention Requested
Show #-3: Your Attention Requested
Published: Mon, 21 Feb 2005 01:00:00 +0500

Dark Matter, the Other White Meat
Show #-4: Dark Matter, the Other White Meat
Published: Mon, 14 Feb 2005 01:00:00 +0500

Saturn's Hot Spot
Show #-5: Saturn's Hot Spot
Published: Mon, 14 Feb 2005 01:00:00 +0500