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July 2008

The darkness is coming. With 95% of the content of the universe being dark, we ask Jochen Weller about dark energy and models that describe the expansion of the universe [16:28 - 31:17]. As usual we also get the latest news from Megan [02:09 - 10:28] and find out what you can see in the night sky from Ian [33:24 - 43:36].

The news - July 2008

In the news this month: the GLAST gamma-ray satellite reaches orbit, super-Earths may be more common than thought, early genetic material found in a meteorite, new information about the Crab pulsar, and Pluto and Eris are named Plutoids.


Time-Lapse Movie Of Crab Pulsar Wind

Interview with Dr Jochen Weller (UCL)

You may have heard that the universe is expanding. Around 10 years ago, using observations of supernovae, we discovered that not only is the universe expanding but the expansion is speeding up. Jochen describes observations of supernovae and weak lensing that provide evidence of dark energy and his research into theoretical models that describe the expanding universe.

The night sky for July 2008

Ian Morison tells us what we can see in the night sky from northern latitudes during July 2008. At the beginning of July, Leo is setting in the west. Next to Leo is a rather blank area of sky named Virgo which actually contains a giant cluster of galaxies named the Virgo Cluster. Low in the sky are the constellations of Scorpius and Sagittarius and the further south you are the better view you'll have. Above those is the constellation of Ophiuchus; one of the constellations of the ecliptic. Above Ophiuchus is the constellation of Hercules and the four stars making up the Keystone. Using the bottom and top right-hand stars of the Keystone you can find the globular cluster M13. To the east of Hercules you come to the Summer Triangle made up of Cygnus, Deneb and Altair. With binoculars you can see Brocchi's Cluster or the Coathanger. In Cygnus, you can see the lovely double star Albireo with binoculars. Mercury gets to greatest elongation on July 1st and you can see it in the east-north-east about 45 minutes before dawn for the first two weeks of July. Venus can be seen just above the western horizon after sunset in the last week of July. Mars and Saturn appear very close to the star Regulus. On July 5th there is a nice skyscape with the Moon, Regulus, Mars and Saturn. On July 10th Mars and Saturn are in conjunction up to the left of Regulus. This is the best month to see Jupiter. Jupiter is at opposition on July 9th; Jupiter the Sun and Earth will be in a straight line. However, Jupiter is at its lowest level in the ecliptic so will be fairly low in the sky.

Show Credits

News:Megan Argo
Interview:Dr Jochen Weller and Nick Rattenbury
Night sky this month:Ian Morison
Presenters:Stuart Lowe and Nick Rattenbury
Editors:Roy Smits and Nick Rattenbury
Cover Art:Jelly beans as an analogy for the content of the universe. The colored beans represent ordinary matter. CREDIT: Fermilab
Intro/outro script:David Ault
Intro/outro voices:Nigel Banyard, Alexa Chipman and David Maciver provided the screams, and David Ault was The Doctor
Website:Stuart Lowe