• MP3 - the whole show
  [Duration 70:54, 32.5 MB]
• MP3 - The news - January 2008
  [Duration 06:34, 3.0 MB]
• MP3 - Interview with Dr Anna Watts (MPA)
  [Duration 29:22, 13.5 MB]
• MP3 - The night sky for January 2008
  [Duration 13:01, 6.0 MB]

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January 2008

Happy New Year and welcome to the first show of 2008. This time we find out all about highly magnetised neutron stars - magnetars. We find out how observations with X-ray telescopes are allowing us to measure star quakes and probe the insides of magnetars. As it is the start of a new year we describe a selection of our favourite astronomical images from 2007 and tell you what to expect in the coming months. As always we also get the latest news from Megan and Ian tells us what we can see in the night sky.

• January 2008 MP3: Download the whole show (low and high bandwidth versions)
• Our interview with Jocelyn Bell Burnell (June 2007)
• The first of our interview series with Bernard Lovell (September 2007)
• AstroFest 2008

The news - January 2008

In the news this month: black hole blasts companion galaxy, latest results from Venus Express, Earth's Moon may be younger than thought and the UN declare 2009 the International Year of Astronomy.

• The news - January 2008 MP3: Download this segment individually (low and high bandwidth versions)
• Chandra: 3C 321
• ESA's Venus Express
• Wikipedia: Venus Express
• New Scientist: The Moon is younger than thought
• International Astronomical Union

The jet from the black hole in 3C321 striking the edge of another galaxy. Credit: NASA/CXC/STScI/NSF/VLA/CfA/D.Evans et al/STFC/JBO/MERLIN

Interview with Dr Anna Watts (MPA)

Nick talked to Anna Watts about neutron stars. Anna tells us how these extremely dense objects push our understanding of general relativity and nuclear physics. Observations using X-ray telescopes are now allowing us to monitor star quakes and infer properties of highly magnetised neutron stars - magnetars.

• Interview with Dr Anna Watts (MPA) MP3: Download this segment individually (low and high bandwidth versions)

Favourite images of 2007

Stuart, Dave, Nick and Tim describe some of their favourite astronomical images of the past 12 months. We've also included a few bonus images in the show notes.

• UKIRT Infrared Deep Sky Survey zoomable mosaic.
• APoD: Mars and Orion Over Monument Valley
• Ask an astronomer from April 2007 talking about dark matter maps
• The Moon bounce in July 2007

Initial image of hole on the side of Arsia Mons, Mars seen by the HiRISE instrument on Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter. CREDIT: NASA/JPL/University of Arizona

Later image of hole on the side of Arsia Mons showing the side of the pit illuminated. CREDIT: NASA/JPL/University of Arizona

Ultraviolet mosaic from NASA's Galaxy Evolution Explorer showing the tail left by the star Mira CREDIT: NASA/JPL-Caltech

A three dimensional map of dark matter in the universe CREDIT: NASA, ESA and R. Massey (California Institute of Technology)

Hubble's view of the Carina Nebula CREDIT: NASA, ESA, N. Smith (University of California, Berkeley), and The Hubble Heritage Team (STScI/AURA)

Comet McNaught seen from Paranal CREDIT: ESO

Saturn's rings seen from above with Saturn removed. CREDIT: NASA/JPL/Space Science Institute

The night sky for January 2008

Ian Morison tells us what we can see in the night sky from northern latitudes during January 2008. The Orion Nebula can be found below the belt of Orion. Moving up to the right of the belt takes us to Taurus the Bull. The eye of the Bull - Aldebaran - is a red giant star half way between us and the Hyades open cluster. Further up to the right is the lovely Pleiades cluster. Up to the left of Taurus the Bull is Auriga with Capella at the head. This is part of the Milky Way and there are several very nice open clusters to see in Auriga. Up to the left of Orion is Gemini the Twins. Working your way down to the left of Orion's belt takes us to Sirius - the brightest star in the sky. It is not a bad month for the planets. In the morning, at about 6am, you can see Mars in Taurus and Venus is dominating the eastern sky. In February Mars will start to move back into Gemini. As the month progresses Jupiter will rise earlier and can be seen in the pre-dawn sky. Saturn rises at about 9.30pm and is about eight degrees down to the lower left of Regulus in Leo. On the 22nd January Mercury reaches western elongation and can be seen after sunset. Comet Holmes is now getting close to Algol in Perseus but is becoming less bright. Comet 8P/Tuttle is between Aries and Pisces and on 3rd of January will be close to M74. January 4th is the best time to see the Quadrantid meteor shower. Venus and Jupiter come into conjunction on 1st February. On the 31st January they make a nice little triangle with globular cluster M22.

• The night sky for January 2008 MP3: Download this segment individually (low and high bandwidth versions)
• Ian Morison's Night Sky pages for December 2007
• Stellarium planetarium software
• Comet 8P/Tuttle

Show Credits