• MP3 - the whole show
  [Duration 67:23, 23.1 MB]
• MP3 - The news - March 2007
  [Duration 12:14, 4.2 MB]
• MP3 - Notícias em Português - Março 2007
  [Duration 03:54, 1.3 MB]
• MP3 - The News in Chinese - March 2007
  [Duration 05:10, 1.8 MB]
• MP3 - Nouvelles en Français - Mars 2007
  [Duration 05:59, 2.1 MB]
• MP3 - Reports from Astrofest 2007 - part 1
  [Duration 15:47, 5.4 MB]
• MP3 - Interview with Dr Ciska Markwick-Kemper (University of Manchester)
  [Duration 10:28, 3.6 MB]
• MP3 - Ask an astronomer - Two Tides a Day
  [Duration 06:55, 2.4 MB]
• MP3 - Reports from Astrofest 2007 - part 2
  [Duration 12:05, 4.2 MB]
• MP3 - The night sky for March 2007
  [Duration 08:05, 2.8 MB]

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March 2007

This month we took our brand new recording kit to Astronomy Now's Astrofest 2007 to talk to some of the exhibitors and visitors. Back at base, Nick catches up with Ciska Markwick-Kemper to talk about dust in space. As always we ask Tim your questions, get the latest astronomy news from Megan, Stuart gives us a round up of other astronomy podcasts and Ian tells us what we can see in the night sky during March. We also get an alert about a total lunar eclipse taking place on 3rd March 2007 (check out the links in the show notes for more details).

• March 2007 MP3: Download the whole show (low and high bandwidth versions)
• Lunar eclipse map for 3rd March 2007
• The Bad Astronomer: Q and BA
• Astronomy Cast: Counting Aliens With the Drake Equation
• Astronomy Cast: The Fermi Paradox: Where Are All the Aliens?
• NASACast: Taking in the Atmospheres of Faraway Worlds
• StarDate: Journey to Wabar part 1
• StarDate: Journey to Wabar part 2

Lunar eclipse viewing map

The news - March 2007

In the news this month: the Ulysses spacecraft spots solar outburst, a new theory may explain dark galaxies and the Rosetta spacecraft has an encounter with Mars. Plus, on 3rd March 2007 there is a total lunar eclipse.

• The news - March 2007 MP3: Download this segment individually (low and high bandwidth versions)
• NASA's Ulysses spacecraft
• International Heliophysical Year
• ESA's Rosetta spacecraft
• Rosetta's view of Mars
• Rosetta sees a transit of Phobos
• New Horizons
• Astronomy.com New Horizons update
• Scientists Elucidate the Origin of the Darkest Galaxies in the Universe
• Nature paper about dark galaxies (subscription required)
• 3 March 2007 Lunar Eclipse
• Lunar eclipse map for 3rd March 2007

Notícias em Português - Março 2007

Ulysses passa pelo polo sul do Sol. Nova teoria sobre formacao de galaxias anas esferais. Rosetta se aproxima a Marte para mudar rota. Eclipse da Lua visto na Europa, Africa e Asia Ocidental.

• Notícias em Português - Março 2007 MP3: Download this segment individually (low and high bandwidth versions)

The News in Chinese - March 2007

• The News in Chinese - March 2007 MP3: Download this segment individually (low and high bandwidth versions)

Nouvelles en Français - Mars 2007

• Nouvelles en Français - Mars 2007 MP3: Download this segment individually (low and high bandwidth versions)

Reports from Astrofest 2007 - part 1

Stuart Lowe was at Astrofest 2007 where he talked to everyone who didn't run away from the scary looking microphone. Stuart talked to Keith Cooper and Greg Smye Rumsby of Astronomy Now magazine, Andrew Newsam the Director of the National Schools Observatory, Carol Brien a distance learning student, Ellen Strachan of the Royal Observatory Greenwich and Sandra Voss from the Observatory Science Centre Herstmonceaux.

• Reports from Astrofest 2007 - part 1 MP3: Download this segment individually (low and high bandwidth versions)
• European Astrofest (February 9th and 10th 2007)
• Astronomy Now Magazine (Editor Keith Cooper)
• National School's Observatory
• Astronomy by Distance Learning with the University of Central Lancashire, Liverpool John Moores University and the University of Manchester
• Royal Observatory Greenwich - Time & Space
• Herstmonceaux Science Centre

Interview with Dr Ciska Markwick-Kemper (University of Manchester)

Nick asks Ciska Markwick-Kemper all about dust in space. This isn't like the stuff that you would find under your bed, but a whole range of compounds including olivine, silicates, quartz and pyroxene. Ciska explains the differences between dust from the solar system and that from the space between the stars.

• Interview with Dr Ciska Markwick-Kemper (University of Manchester) MP3: Download this segment individually (low and high bandwidth versions)
• NASA Stardust Mission
• Stardust@Home

Ask an astronomer - Two Tides a Day

Nick asks Tim why, if the Moon takes one month to go around the Earth, there are two tides a day.

• Ask an astronomer - Two Tides a Day MP3: Download this segment individually (low and high bandwidth versions)
• Tides as described by the Bad Astronomer
• BAE Systems claim to correct for Lunar tidal forces when constructing their jet fighters.

Tim's picture of tides

Reports from Astrofest 2007 - part 2

In this, the second part of our Astrofest 2007 special report, Ian Morison caught up with Peter Wise the Managing Director of Cape Newise Technologies and asked him about his new telescope designs. Stuart talks to a Lillian (a Polish amateur astronomer), Bob Mizon (Coordinator of the BAA's Campaign for Dark Skies), Robin Scagell (Vice President of the Society for Popular Astronomy), Simon and Craig (two Jodcast listeners) and Andrew Newsam of Liverpool John Moores University.

• Reports from Astrofest 2007 - part 2 MP3: Download this segment individually (low and high bandwidth versions)
• Cape Newise Technologies
• Campaign for Dark Skies
• Society for Popular Astronomy
• Merseyside Astronomy Day 2 (MAD)
• Space Port

The night sky for March 2007

Ian Morison tells us what we can see in the night sky from northern latitudes during March 2007. In the early evening in the southern sky we can see Orion, Taurus and the Pleiades cluster. To the lower left of Orion is Sirius - the brightest star in the sky. To the upper left of Orion is Gemini. In the late evening we can see the constellation of Leo. Between Leo and Gemini, in a darker area, is the constellation Cancer. With binoculars you can see the Beehive cluster there. High above Leo is the constellation Ursa Major (the Great Bear). Part of Ursa Major is the Plough (Big Dipper) and you can use the two rightmost stars of this asterism to find the pole star. Venus is totally dominating the western sky in the evening at the moment. Saturn currently sits between Cancer and Leo and looks slightly yellow in colour. Saturn's rings are getting tighter. On the evening of March 2nd, from the Eastern side of Britain, you may be able to see Saturn occulted by the Moon. On the 3rd of March there will be a total eclipse of the Moon which should be a wonderful sight to see.

• The night sky for March 2007 MP3: Download this segment individually (low and high bandwidth versions)
• Ian Morison's Night Sky pages for March 2007
• Lunar eclipse map for 3rd March 2007

Show Credits