Astronomy Astrophiz Podcast

Brendan O'Brien: Astronomers, Astrophysicists & Space Scientists
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Astrophiz: In-Depth Interviews with Astronomers and Astrophysicists Discover the wonders of the universe with Astrophiz, the podcast for space enthusiasts and researchers. Join host Brendan O’Brien as he sits down with world-leading scientists to explore the frontiers of astrophysics, radio astronomy, and space science. From the evolution of the Milky Way and the mechanics of solar flares to the cutting-edge technology of the Square Kilometre Array (SKA), we break down complex academic research into engaging stories of discovery. Whether you’re interested in cosmic dust, galaxy evolution, or the latest in telescope technology, Astrophiz brings the experts directly to your ears. Subscribe for deep dives into: Astrophysics & Galactic Research Radio Astronomy & Space Weather Latest research & Dark Sky Preservation Interviews with NASA, ESA, Australian and International Researchers New episodes feature in-depth conversations that go beyond the headlines to reveal the real science shaping our understanding of the cosmos. Refreshingly Independent and totally ad-free

  1. 1d ago

    Astrophiz 242: Has Dark Matter Finally Been Detected? – Dr Sophia Gad-Nasr

    Is dark matter finally showing itself? In this episode of Astrophiz, Dr Sophia Gad-Nasr — particle cosmologist, science communicator, and creator of @AstropartiGirl — returns for her second appearance on the show (her first was Episode 90, back in 2019) to unpack the tantalising 2.6-sigma signal detected by the LUX-ZEPLIN (LZ) dark matter experiment, buried deep underground in South Dakota. Sophia walks us through how direct-detection experiments work, why this result is exciting but not yet a discovery, and what it would — and wouldn't — tell us about self-interacting dark matter, the subject of her PhD. We also cover the newly launched Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, which Sophia watched lift off in person, and what its huge survey power means for our understanding of dark energy. Plus: an update on Sophia's PhD research into gravothermal collapse and black hole formation, and her thoughts on diversity in physics. Chapters: Introduction & Welcome Back PhD Update: Gravothermal Collapse in Self-Interacting Dark Matter Recap: Cold Dark Matter, WIMPs & SIDM The LUX-ZEPLIN (LZ) Signal Explained Watching the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope Launch Self-Interacting Dark Matter vs Direct Detection Sophia's Soapbox: Diversity in Physics & the Big Open Questions Follow Dr Sophia Gad-Nasr: @AstropartiGirl Full transcript and show notes: www.astrophiz.com Astrophiz is an independent, non-commercial, ad-free astrophysics podcast running since 2016. Subscribe, tell your Astro Buddies, and join us on the 1st of each month for Dr Ian Musgrave's SkyGuide, and on the 15th for an in-depth interview with a leading space scientist. Clear skies!

    Astrophiz 242: Has Dark Matter Finally Been Detected? – Dr Sophia Gad-Nasr

  2. Aug 26

    Astrophiz 241: September Sky Guide — Venus at Greatest Brilliancy & the Occultation of Antares

    Dr Ian 'Astroblog' Musgrave returns with your essential guide to the September night sky — Venus at its greatest brilliancy (mag -4.5), the Moon's occultation of Antares, and Mercury lining up with Venus and Spica at dusk. 🔭 In this episode: - Spring equinox (Sept 23) and an apogee First Quarter Moon - Venus at greatest brilliancy, sinking toward evening twilight - Mercury returns and lines up with Spica and Venus - Saturn climbs toward October opposition; Mars crosses Gemini at dawn - Comet 220P/McNaught's second outburst — still visible in binoculars - T Coronae Borealis: still hasn't gone nova - The occultation of Antares, Sept 17–18 (Adelaide, Canberra, Hobart, Melbourne) - Deep-sky spotlight: Sagittarius and the triangle of globular clusters — M28, Omega Centauri, and 47 Tucanae 🌀 The Tangent: Ian traces the thousand-year argument over why Venus and Mercury never wander far from the Sun — from Ptolemy's epicycles to Tycho Brahe, Simon Marius, and Galileo's discovery of the phases of Venus. Full transcript and show notes: https://astrophiz.com Astrophiz is an independent, ad-free astronomy and astrophysics podcast. Free, unsponsored, and produced on Yorta Yorta, Pangarang and Kaurna country. #Astronomy #NightSky #Venus #Antares #Astrophysics

    Astrophiz 241: September Sky Guide — Venus at Greatest Brilliancy & the Occultation of Antares

  3. Aug 12

    Astrophiz #240: Trevor Barry — The Outback Astronomer | NASA-Grade Planetary Data From a Backyard Observatory

    Trevor Barry — the Outback Astronomer — is a world-renowned planetary imager whose backyard observatory in Broken Hill, NSW, produces scientific-grade Jupiter and Saturn data used by NASA. In this episode of Astrophiz, host Brendan O'Brien travels to the outback to sit down with Trevor at his custom-built observatory. Discover how a former mining tradesman built a 16-inch high-resolution planetary telescope with a 32-point mirror cell and Peltier-cooled optics — and why Broken Hill's flat outback terrain produces some of the best planetary seeing on Earth. From tracking Saturn's electrical storms for NASA's Cassini mission to winning the ASA Berenice and Arthur Page Medal and ALPO's Walter H. Haas Award, Trevor breaks down the exact capture, derotation and processing workflow behind his NASA-grade data. IN THIS EPISODE: -Introduction: Arriving in Broken Hill - From the Mines to the Night Sky: the "aha" moment - Building the First Telescope: storm water pipe & a trip into the roses - Why Broken Hill Delivers World-Class Seeing - Inside the Observatory: the 32-point mirror cell & Peltier-cooled optics - First Contact with NASA: discovering an electrical storm on Saturn - From Pretty Pictures to Scientific Data: capture & processing protocols - The Thrill of Discovery: Jupiter's real-time impact scar - A Dream Fulfilled: two nights on the twin Keck telescopes, Mauna Kea - Mission Control at JPL: meeting Dr Carolyn Porco - Advice for Amateurs: where to send your data - Earning Trust in the Professional Community - Looking Ahead: the 2028 total solar eclipse & Saturn's Great Vortex - The Golden Mic: sharing the wonder with the next generation Full transcript & images: https://astrophiz.com Trevor's book "Outback Astronomer": available online & in all good bookstores Trevor's 60 Minutes feature: tinyurl.com/trevorbarry Astrophiz is an independent, ad-free science podcast running since 2016. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, or share it with a friend who loves the cosmos. #Astrophiz #TrevorBarry #PlanetaryImaging #Astrophotography #Saturn #Jupiter #NASA #Cassini #BrokenHill #Astronomy #OutbackAstronomer #JPL

    Astrophiz #240: Trevor Barry — The Outback Astronomer | NASA-Grade Planetary Data From a Backyard Observatory

  4. Aug 3

    Galaxy Forensics: Decoding Galaxy Evolution with Dr. Elisabete da Cunha (Astrophiz 230)

    How do we "autopsy" a galaxy from billions of light-years away? Join world-renowned astrophysicist Dr. Elisabete da Cunha as she sits down with Astrophiz host Brendan O’Brien to explore the life, evolution, and eventual "death" of the most massive structures in the universe. From her early inspirations under the stars of Portugal to her groundbreaking work in Extragalactic Astronomy, Elisabete shares her personal journey and the high-tech tools used to decode Starlight, Cosmic Dust, and Spectral Energy Distributions (SEDs). In this episode, we dive into: Galaxy Evolution: How star systems grow and transform over billions of years. Radio Astronomy: Using invisible light to peer into the deep universe. Stellar Populations: What the chemistry of stars tells us about the history of space. Cosmology & Dark Matter: The invisible forces shaping our galactic neighborhood. Whether you are a student of astrophysics or a casual stargazer, this conversation offers a unique, charming, and deeply insightful window into the forensic evidence of our universe. Read the full transcript and see the show notes at: https://astrophiz.com/2026/03/18/galaxy-forensics-with-dr-elisabete-da-cunha-astrophiz-230/ Subscribe to Astrophiz for your monthly dose of space science, telescope technology, and expert interviews.

    Galaxy Forensics: Decoding Galaxy Evolution with Dr. Elisabete da Cunha (Astrophiz 230)

  5. Jul 31

    astrophiz-ep239-august-sky-guide-ian-musgrave

    Astrophiz 239: August 2026 Sky Guide — Venus at Greatest Elongation, Mars Meets the Crab Nebula, and the Eagle of Aquila Dr. Ian 'Astroblog' Musgrave returns with your essential guide to the August night sky. This month the planetary action shifts to the morning sky, with Mars sweeping past the Crab Nebula and open cluster M35, while Saturn begins opening its rings ahead of September opposition. Venus dominates the evening twilight on its way to greatest elongation, and the Moon occults El Nath (Beta Tauri) on the 9th. In this episode: Moon Phases: Last Quarter, New Moon, First Quarter, Full Moon, and the Lunar X A Total Solar Eclipse crosses the Northern Hemisphere (not visible from Australia) Evening Skies: Venus approaches greatest elongation; Jupiter absent until next month Morning Skies: Mars passes the Crab Nebula and M35; Saturn's rings begin opening Deep-Sky Spotlight: Scorpius, Sagittarius, and the constellation Aquila the Eagle Indigenous Astronomy: Aquila in Koori, Boorong, and Muurrbay sky-lore The Occultation of Elnath by the Moon, August 9 The Perseid Meteor Shower (best from the Northern Hemisphere) The Tangent: How sugar and other organic molecules survive the birth of a new star Read the full transcript and see the show notes at: astrophiz.com Support independent science: Astrophiz is free, ad-free, and unsponsored. #Astrophiz #Astronomy #Stargazing #SciencePodcast #AugustSkyGuide #IanMusgrave #Venus #Mars #Saturn #Aquila #NightSky #Astrophotography

    astrophiz-ep239-august-sky-guide-ian-musgrave

  6. Jul 13

    Ep 238: Kovi Rose – Discovering the Stellar Rosetta Stone & ASKAP J1745

    In Episode 238 of the Astrophiz Podcast, we sit down with multi-wavelength astrophysicist Kovi Rose to explore a groundbreaking breakthrough in radio astronomy: the discovery of the stellar "Rosetta Stone" system, ASKAP J1745. Kovi shares the inside story of tracking down this unique system using Australia’s world-class hardware, including the Australian Square Kilometre Array Pathfinder (ASKAP) and the Australia Telescope Compact Array (ATCA). We dive deep into his research on mysterious Long Period Transients, how the modern AI era is transforming data analysis in astronomy, and the vital role of science communication. Chapters: 00:00 Intro & Kovi’s journey into astrophysics 12:15 Hunting for Long Period Transients with ASKAP 24:40 Deep dive: The ASKAP J1745 "Rosetta Stone" system 38:10 AI, data pipelines, and the future of radio astronomy 48:15 Science communication & outtakes Links: Read the full transcript and show notes: https://astrophiz.com Follow Kovi’s work and his podcast "The Nerd and the Scientist" Subscribe to Astrophiz on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube for your fortnightly space science update. Find us on FB 'Astrophiz' and Bluesky

    Ep 238: Kovi Rose – Discovering the Stellar Rosetta Stone & ASKAP J1745

  7. Jun 27

    Astrophiz 237: July 2026 Sky Guide

    In Astrophiz Episode 237, Dr. Ian Musgrave joins host Brendan O'Brien to deliver your comprehensive July 2026 SkyGuide, detailing a spectacular month of naked-eye astronomy and astrophotography targets. Today we celebrate the 10 year anniversary of Ian's Skyguides.

    Astrophiz 237: July 2026 Sky Guide

  8. Jun 24

    Ep 237: July Sky Guide & 10-Year Anniversary Special - Dr Ian Musgrave

    Celebrate a decade of stargazing with Astrophiz! 🌟 In this milestone episode, host Brendan O'Brien is joined by acclaimed scientist, educator, and amateur astronomer Dr. Ian Musgrave to celebrate 10 years of the Astrophiz SkyGuide and the 19th anniversary of his renowned 'Astroblog'. Ian delivers your comprehensive Southern Hemisphere July Sky Guide, detailing when and where to spot the planet dance as it transfers to the morning skies. Discover how to witness a spectacular close conjunction between Mars and Uranus in Taurus, and how to track Saturn as it begins its retrograde path toward September opposition. Plus, get crucial viewing tips for the Southern Delta Aquariid meteor shower and learn how to navigate the brilliant winter Milky Way to find deep-sky treasures like Omega Centauri, the Carina Nebula, and Ptolemy’s Cluster. In a deeply moving and personal Tangent, Ian dedicates this anniversary edition to the memory of his late son, Jack. Shifting his gaze to our atmosphere, Ian explores the historical beauty, science, and classification of clouds—from Luke Howard's 1802 nomenclature to stunning 'asperitas' formations—while playfully dismantling modern "cloud-shaming" chemtrail conspiracies. Grab your binoculars, check your local twilight times, and keep looking up! *** TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 - Introduction & Celebrating 10 Years of Sky Guides 03:15 - July Moon Phases, Solstice & Earth at Aphelion 04:45 - Evening Planets: Venus climbs through Leo, goodbye to Jupiter 06:20 - Morning Skies: Mars meets Uranus; Saturn’s retrograde track 09:15 - Deep Sky Treasures: Scorpius, Sagittarius & Omega Centauri 11:40 - Southern Delta Aquariids Meteor Shower Peak 13:10 - The Tangent: Dedicated to Jack, Luke Howard & the beauty of clouds 19:45 - Future Anniversaries, Apophis Flyby & Solar Eclipses *** LINKS & RESOURCES: • For full episode transcripts, back-catalogues, and planetarium updates, visit our website: https://astrophiz.com • Listen to our special live recording piano, violin, and cello tribute to Jack Musgrave: https://tinyurl.com/jackstribute Astrophiz is an independent, completely free, ad-free, and unsponsored science podcast produced on Yorta Yorta, Pangerang, and Kahuna Country.

    Ep 237: July Sky Guide & 10-Year Anniversary Special - Dr Ian Musgrave
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Ratings & Reviews

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About

Astrophiz: In-Depth Interviews with Astronomers and Astrophysicists Discover the wonders of the universe with Astrophiz, the podcast for space enthusiasts and researchers. Join host Brendan O’Brien as he sits down with world-leading scientists to explore the frontiers of astrophysics, radio astronomy, and space science. From the evolution of the Milky Way and the mechanics of solar flares to the cutting-edge technology of the Square Kilometre Array (SKA), we break down complex academic research into engaging stories of discovery. Whether you’re interested in cosmic dust, galaxy evolution, or the latest in telescope technology, Astrophiz brings the experts directly to your ears. Subscribe for deep dives into: Astrophysics & Galactic Research Radio Astronomy & Space Weather Latest research & Dark Sky Preservation Interviews with NASA, ESA, Australian and International Researchers New episodes feature in-depth conversations that go beyond the headlines to reveal the real science shaping our understanding of the cosmos. Refreshingly Independent and totally ad-free

Information

  • Creator
    Brendan O'Brien: Astronomers, Astrophysicists & Space Scientists
  • Years Active
    2016 - 2026
  • Episodes
    237
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © All rights reserved
  • Show Website
    Astronomy Astrophiz Podcast

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