February 2008
This is our lensing special. We ask Dr Neal Jackson to describe gravitational lensing of distant quasars by galaxies and have a series of interviews from the recent Manchester Microlensing Conference about developments in microlensing. We also hear about galactic companions to the Milky Way, astronomy in Iran, and we get we an update about the Square Kilometre Array. As always we have the latest astronomical news from Megan and Ian tells us what we can see in the sky during February. We'll also be at Astrofest 2008 on February 8th - 9th so come by and say hello if you are there.
- February 2008 MP3: Download the whole show (low and high bandwidth versions)
- Square Kilometre Array
- Jodrell Bank chosen as global headquarters of major new radio telescope
- Astrofest 2008
- Some of Jodcast listener Carolaina Ferren's other art work
The news - February 2008
In the news this month: huge gas cloud on a collision course with the Milky Way; MESSENGER takes the first close-up images of Mercury in more than 30 years; thin galaxies harbour secrets and the UK has been withdrawn from the Gemini Observatory collaboration.
- The news - February 2008 MP3: Download this segment individually (low and high bandwidth versions)
- BBC News: Huge gas cloud will hit Milky Way
- Wikipedia: Smith's Cloud
- NRAO's Greenbank Telescope
- NASA's MESSENGER Spacecraft
- Mariner 10
- Spitzer Space Telescope
- Gemini Observatory
- Special Session of the Gemini Board Resolves UK Partnership Issue
- UK's Science & Technology Facilities Council
- ESO
- ESA
- BBC News: Skies dim for British astronomers
- BBC News: UK physics has 'brighter future'
- The Times Higher Education: Physicists fail to stall cuts despite subject review
- The Guardian: No cash rescue for physics funding crisis
- Background information on the STFC funding situation from Professor Paul Crowther
Interview with Dr Neal Jackson (University of Manchester)
Roy talked to Neal Jackson about gravitational lenses.
- Interview with Dr Neal Jackson (University of Manchester) MP3: Download this segment individually (low and high bandwidth versions)
- Gravitational Lensing research at Jodrell Bank
- An introduction to gravitational lensing
- The Cosmic Lens All-Sky Survey
- e-MERLIN (UK)
- EVLA (US)
- Lens an Astrophysicist!
Interview with Prof Andrew Gould (Ohio State University)
Roy talked to Andrew Gould about the differences between microlensing and macrolensing.
- Interview with Prof Andrew Gould (Ohio State University) MP3: Download this segment individually (low and high bandwidth versions)
Interview with Prof Joachim Wamsganss (Heidelberg University)
Roy talked to Joachim Wamsganss about quasar microlensing.
- Interview with Prof Joachim Wamsganss (Heidelberg University) MP3: Download this segment individually (low and high bandwidth versions)
Interview with Dr Dave Bennett (Notre Dame University)
Roy talked to Dave Bennett about microlensing observations from space.
- Interview with Dr Dave Bennett (Notre Dame University) MP3: Download this segment individually (low and high bandwidth versions)
Interview with Prof Cheongho Han (Chungbuk National University)
Roy talked to Cheongho Han about the future of microlensing.
- Interview with Prof Cheongho Han (Chungbuk National University) MP3: Download this segment individually (low and high bandwidth versions)
Interview with Dr Przemek Wozniak (Los Alamos National Laboratory)
Roy talked to Przemek Wozniak about the detection optical afterglows of gamma ray bursts.
- Interview with Dr Przemek Wozniak (Los Alamos National Laboratory) MP3: Download this segment individually (low and high bandwidth versions)
Interview with Dr Vasily Belokurov (Institute of Astronomy, Cambridge)
Roy talked to Vasily Belokurov about dwarf galaxy companions to our own Milky Way galaxy.
- Interview with Dr Vasily Belokurov (Institute of Astronomy, Cambridge) MP3: Download this segment individually (low and high bandwidth versions)
Interview with Dr Sohrab Rahvar (Sharif University of Technology)
Roy talked to Sohrab Rahvar about astronomy in Iran.
- Interview with Dr Sohrab Rahvar (Sharif University of Technology) MP3: Download this segment individually (low and high bandwidth versions)
The night sky for February 2008
Ian Morison tells us what we can see in the night sky from northern latitudes during February 2008.
- The night sky for February 2008 MP3: Download this segment individually (low and high bandwidth versions)
- Ian Morison's Night Sky pages for February 2008
- NASA's eclipse page for February 20/21 2008
Show Credits
| News: | Megan Argo |
| Interview: | Dr Neal Jackson and Roy Smits |
| Interview: | Prof Andrew Gould and Roy Smits |
| Interview: | Prof Joachim Wamsganss and Roy Smits |
| Interview: | Dr Dave Bennett and Roy Smits |
| Interview: | Prof Cheongho Han and Roy Smits |
| Interview: | Dr Przemek Wozniak and Roy Smits |
| Interview: | Dr Vasily Belokurov and Roy Smits |
| Interview: | Dr Sohrab Rahvar and Roy Smits |
| Night sky this month: | Ian Morison |
| Presenters: | David Ault, Stuart Lowe and Nick Rattenbury |
| Editor: | Stuart Lowe |
| Cover Art: | Einstein Cross CREDIT: ESA/NASA |
| Intro/outro script: | Dave Ault |
| Intro/outro voices: | |
| Website: | Stuart Lowe |







