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Category Archives: Astronomy

All about astronomy: What it is, how the Solar System works, famous astronomers and more

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Why do planets orbit in the same plane?

Urban Astronomer avatarPosted on 10 Sep, 2019 by Allen Versfeld5 Dec, 2019
Outer solar system, by Riffsyphon1024 at en.wikipedia [Public domain]

In episode 48 of the Urban Astronomer Podcast, we’re doing another Science Explainy bit! These segments are where you get to hear my droning voice explain some fundamentals and answer listener questions. Today we get asked why it always is that planets orbit in the same plane, and why the Moon can be seen during daylight. If you like what you hear, don’t forget to tell a friend about the show, and make a small donation on our Patreon account. … Continue reading →

https://media.blubrry.com/urbanastronomer/p/s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/constellationonline.net/media/Podcast/UrbanAstronomer/UA_Episode_48_S02E06.mp3

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Posted in Questions and Answers, The Solar System, The Urban Astronomer Podcast | Tagged Moon, podcast, Q&A, science explainy bit, Solar System | Leave a reply

Podcast #35: Itumeleng Monageng

Urban Astronomer avatarPosted on 3 Oct, 2018 by Allen Versfeld3 Oct, 2018
Microphone. Image By Jpcuevas (Own work) [CC BY 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

Welcome to episode 35 of the Urban Astronomer Podcast! This week we have a full show for you, with our main feature being an interview with South African astronomer Dr Itumeleng Monageng. We also continue our series on the physics behind the evolution of a star from gas cloud to black hole.  And finally, my new co-host Clem Unger brings us updates on current space missions. Itumeleng Monageng Itumeleng is a post-grad researcher working for the South African Astronomical Observatory … Continue reading →

https://media.blubrry.com/urbanastronomer/p/s3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/constellationonline.net/media/Podcast/UrbanAstronomer/UA_Episode_35.mp3

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 39:38 — 36.3MB) | Embed

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Posted in News and Updates, South African Astronomers, The Urban Astronomer Podcast | Tagged Asteroids, Hayabusa, Interview, NASA, OSIRIS-Rex, Physics, podcast, Space Travel, Sun | Leave a reply

Podcast #5: Mercury

Urban Astronomer avatarPosted on 29 Mar, 2017 by Allen Versfeld27 Jun, 2017
Microphone. Image By Jpcuevas (Own work) [CC BY 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

Welcome to the 5th episode of the Urban Astronomer Podcast! We’re well on our way in the grand experiment of deciding how exactly to format the show, and today we’re trying yet another combination! We’ll start off by answering the question first asked in a classic Urban Astronomer article, one originally written back in 2010 and that’s been consistently popular with our readers:  Will an astronaut explode if they take off their helmet? Our feature item introduces my new co-host, and … Continue reading →

https://media.blubrry.com/urbanastronomer/p/s3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/constellationonline.net/media/Podcast/UrbanAstronomer/UA_Episode_5.mp3

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 13:27 — 12.3MB) | Embed

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Posted in Astronomy, Astronomy 101, Bad Science, UFO's and Modern Myths, News and Updates, The Solar System, The Urban Astronomer Podcast | Tagged Astronauts, Mars, podcast, Q&A, Space Travel | Leave a reply

Picking fights with a flat-earther

Urban Astronomer avatarPosted on 2 Jan, 2017 by Allen Versfeld21 Mar, 2017
Flat Earth Map

They tell us we’re living in a post-truth world, whatever that’s supposed to mean.  All I know is that there’s a growing number of people who look at the vast store of human knowledge, and reject it.  People who hear experts speak on science, politics, medicine, and say “Nope! I saw a YouTube about this, and I know better!”.  And there’s no starker demonstration of this than the modern flat-earther. How does this happen? What makes sane adults, with an education … Continue reading →

Posted in Astronomy, Bad Science, UFO's and Modern Myths | Tagged DIY, flat-earth, History, Moon, Myths, Outreach, Science, Sun | 10 Replies

Will Mars look as big as the Moon in August?

Urban Astronomer avatarPosted on 21 Aug, 2016 by Allen Versfeld21 Aug, 2016
Will Mars look as big as the Moon?

Dear Urban Astronomer   I recently received this presentation in an email.  Apparently, Mars will look as big as the Moon on 27 August, because it will be closer to us than ever before in recorded history and will look as big as the Moon in the sky.  Is this true? I was tempted to simply dismiss this as a joke.  After all, it’s not like anybody still falls for this, right?  Surely people remember seeing the same hoax this time … Continue reading →

Posted in Astronomy, Questions and Answers | Tagged Hoax, Mars, Moon, Q&A | 1 Reply

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