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.
Show Links
- 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
- 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)
- 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!
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 |
| Intro/outro script: | Dave Ault |
| Intro/outro voices: | |
| Website: | Stuart Lowe |
| Cover art: | Einstein Cross Credit: ESA/NASA |
