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May 2008

In this show we find out about a mysterious blue blob found in the Galaxy Zoo and we find out what the Genesis mission can tell us about oxygen in the solar wind. We also get the latest news from Megan and find out what you can see in the night sky from Ian.

The news - May 2008

In the news this month: evidence for a black hole at the centre of Omega Centauri, X-ray light echoes show that Sagittarius A* was active 300 years ago, radio observations catch a supermassive black hole in outburst, and the Hubble Space Telescope celebrates 18 years in orbit.

Interview with Dr Chris Lintott (University of Oxford)

Just before the release of Galaxy Zoo 2, Chris Lintott tells Stuart about the mysterious blue blob found in the original Galaxy Zoo. The blue blob - known as Hanny's Voorwerp - was spotted close to the large spiral galaxy IC 2497 and Chris tells us about the observations that have been made in an attempt to work out what it is.

Interview with Prof Kevin McKeegan (UCLA)

Kevin McKeegan talks to Nick about a mystery surrounding measurements of oxygen in samples of the solar wind returned by the Genesis space probe.

The night sky for May 2008

Ian Morison tells us what we can see in the night sky from northern latitudes during May 2008. As the Sun sets, the constellations of Taurus and Gemini are setting towards the west. Leo is high in the south west and to the lower left of Leo is Virgo. Telescopes show a wonderful number of galaxies forming the Virgo cluster stretching from Denebola to Spica. Above Leo is Ursa Major - the Great Bear - with lots of interesting things to look at. It is not a bad month for planets. Mercury reaches greatest elongation - greatest angle from the Sun - around the middle of the month. On 6th May we could have a wonderful skyscape; very low to the north west after sunset will be the Pleiades star cluster, a very thin crescent Moon and above that to the left will be Mercury. Remember that looking directly at the Sun can be dangerous so make sure that you wait until after the Sun has set. Saturn is visible fairly high in south west after sunset in the constellation of Leo. It starts the month two degrees to the east of Leo's brightest star Regulus. With a small telescope you should be able to see Saturn's largest moon Titan. By the end of May Jupiter rises just before midnight. Mars is in the constellation of Gemini. On May 5th it moves into the constellation of Cancer and will form a line with the stars Castor and Pollux. Venus is very low above the horizon so is almost impossible to observe due to the glare of the Sun. Ian also answers a listener question about good beginner telescopes that can be used to take astronomical photographs.

Show Credits

News:Megan Argo
Interview:Dr Chris Lintott and Stuart Lowe
Interview:Prof Kevin McKeegan and Nick Rattenbury
Night sky this month:Ian Morison
Presenters:Stuart Lowe and Nick Rattenbury
Editor:Nick Rattenbury
Cover Art:NGC 1300 CREDIT: Hubble Heritage Team/ESA/NASA
Intro/outro script:Chris Brittain
Intro/outro voices:David Maciver was the Narrator, Chris Brittain was Harry, David Ault was Harry's Dad, and Clym Angus was Slagrid
Website:Stuart Lowe