Allan I Carswell Observatory Presents: York Universe

This episode features a journey through past and present space telescopes with Sunna Withers and Dr. Elaina Hyde. Missions both large and small have contributed significantly to astronomy as we know it, and in the news now we can’t help but mention some of the latest from JWST. Image credit: NASA/Chris Gunn "Technicians successfully performed a critical test on Webb's 5-layer sunshield by fully deploying each of its uniquely sized layers to the same position that they will have while orbiting the Sun a million miles away from Earth."

Paul Mackin and Professor Elaina Hyde cover the science fiction film that changed it all as well as other items in space history and the most recent astronomy news. This episode looks at Venus, Mars, and the space program with a bit of a sci-fi tint! Image credit: AICO, Elaina Hyde, 2023: The Allan I Carswell Observatory showing the dome during the day with the moon above

Paul Mackin and Julie Tomé discuss the beginnings of radio astronomy, pioneering astronauts, and wish astronomer Gibor Basri a happy birthday this week in astronomy and space history. In news, the Lucy Mission has done a flyby of Asteroid Donaldjohnson and New Horizons data were used to map the galaxy in Lyman-alpha radiation. As April winds down we get better weather and a preview of our summer skies! Episode art: M13 Great Cluster in Hercules, image credit Conor Hayes, AICO, 2021

This week's episode features John Moores, Jesse Rogerson and Michelle Parsons, authors of "Daydreaming in the Solar System: Surfing Saturn's Rings, Golfing on the Moon, and Other Adventures in Space Exploration". Join as our host Robin Metcalfe leads an exciting discussion on how to daydream in the solar system, including ice skating on Pluto and Enceladus, falling through Jupiter's atmosphere, and spelunking on Saturn's moon Hyperion! Erratum: Robin's younger son is a 6'2" goalie (not 5'2") Image Credit: Michelle Parsons 

Sunna Withers and Julie Tomé discuss several historic launches and the achievements of astronomer Donald Lynden-Bell. In the news, detecting exoplanets using their magnetosphere and the solution to the mystery of the JWST Little Red Dots. Spoiler - the Universe isn’t broken. Photo credit: AICO, 40 cm telescope

This Week in Space and Astronomy History is all about our solar system! Join this week's host's Professor Mary-Helen Armour and Paul Mackin as they discuss history of solar system exploration from the first images of the Moon to the exploration of Mars and beyond!  Image Credit: The Moon imaged by the Allan I. Carswell Observatory 1m telescope

Have you ever wondered what Canadian astronomers are studying? This episode discusses recent discoveries by Canadian astronomers on Saturn's moons and upcoming research with the James Webb Space Telescope. The host's Sunna Withers and Paul Mackin also discuss some astronomy history including a remarkably bright Gamma Ray Burst and the Voyager missions.  Image credit: Sunna Withers

Did you know that there will be a TOTAL Lunar Eclipse this March 13th, 2025? Join Dr. Elaina Hyde and Parisa Nozari for an episode of eclipse history, moon news, and of course some event tips for this March 13th, 2025 event. Those joining the observatory YouTube can enjoy some live moon images. The live event recording is at YouTube YorkUObservatory Image Credits: AICO, 1m Moon imaging, Camila Guzman, Nakul Ramjee, Sunna Withers, March 10 2025

600th episode spectacular, join us for a Saturn deep dive as we explore our mysterious distant cousin and its disappearing rings. Hosts Dr. Elaina Hyde, Professor Paul Delaney, Paul Mackin, Sunna Withers and Julie Tomé explore the 6th planet, its rings, and a few of its fascinating moons. Episode photo credit: AICO, 1m telescope

Crashes and launches abound in this set of astronomy history and news. Join Dr. Elaina Hyde and Sunna Withers for some crash landings on Venus, the comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko, the Moon and Earth as well as a ‘near miss’ in the future as asteroid 2024 YR4 continues to get it’s orbital parameters refined. Image credit: Venera 14 view of the surface of Venus: lava plates March 5, 1982. This image from the lander was processed by Ted Stryk. (Russian Academy of Sciences / Ted Stryk)