Good Heavens! The Human Side of Astronomy

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Good Heavens! The Human Side of Astronomy

Good Heavens! The human side of astronomy with Wayne and Dan.

  1. News From Space! A New Segment for Good Heavens!

    OCT 14

    News From Space! A New Segment for Good Heavens!

    Instead of just one topic, Wayne and Dan thought it would be fun to cover some current events in the heavens and call it "News from Space" for lack of a better segment title. On this episode they chat about astronauts stuck in space, some strange exoplanets, what it really means to be an "earth-like" planet, and there's even a black hole that shoots out a Death-Star like jet of plasma that seems to ignite supernovae! And of course, how Wayne and Dan think it all points to the glory of God in Christ.   Podbean enables our podcast to be on Apple Podcasts and other major podcast platforms.  To support Good Heavens! on Podbean as a patron, you can use the Podbean app, or go to https://patron.podbean.com/goodheavens.  This goes to Wayne Spencer. If you would like to give to the ministry of Watchman Fellowship or to Daniel Ray, you can donate at https://www.watchman.org/daniel. Donations to Watchman are tax deductible.

    1h 16m
  2. Many Worlds, Mormonism, and Multiverses Part Two

    OCT 7

    Many Worlds, Mormonism, and Multiverses Part Two

    Part two with former 4th-generation Latter-day Saint James K. Walker and astrophysicist and Cosmologist Dr. Luke Barnes, plus some bonus surprise guests. Make sure you listen to Part One for fuller context of our conversation! There is a reason the Gospel has often been referred to as "the Greatest Story ever told." Here on part two, we flesh out a little bit more into the ideas of many universes, materialism, Mormonism cosmology, and how they compare to the Christian story and our place within it. Come and see! Free four-page profiles from Watchman Fellowship! Latter-Day Saints https://www.watchman.org/articles/mormonism/ Scientism https://www.watchman.org/scientism/ProfileScientism.pdf Carl Sagan's Cosmos https://www.watchman.org/CosmosTV Naturalism https://www.watchman.org/Naturalism/ProfileNaturalism.pdf Dan's presentation on the Book of Abraham https://youtu.be/GV5elJ_xSck?si=HtMfWVWBj5r675fx Wayne and Dan's book The Story of the Cosmos https://www.watchman.org/CosmosBook Luke A. Barnes is a Senior Lecturer in astronomy and cosmology. With PhD at the University of Cambridge, he has published papers in the field of galaxy formation and on the fine-tuning of the Universe for life. He is the author, with Geraint Lewis, of "A Fortunate Universe: Life in a Finely Tuned Cosmos" and "The Cosmic Revolutionary's Handbook: (Or: How to Beat the Big Bang)", published by Cambridge University Press. Luke, along with Allen Hainline, has also written a contributing chapter to The Story of the Cosmos - How The Heavens Declare the Glory of God (Harvest House).  James Walker, the president of Watchman Fellowship, is a former fourth generation Mormon with over twenty years of ministry experience in the field of Christian counter-cult evangelism, apologetics, and discernment. He has been interviewed as an expert on new religious movements and cults on a variety of network television programs including Nightline, ABC World News Tonight with Peter Jennings, and The News Hour with Jim Lehrer. He has spoken at hundreds of churches, colleges, universities, and seminaries throughout the United States and internationally. Luke's Books https://www.amazon.com/Fortunate-Universe-Finely-Tuned-Cosmos/dp/1107156610/ https://www.amazon.com/Cosmic-Revolutionarys-Handbook-Beat-Bang/dp/1108486703   Podbean enables our podcast to be on Apple Podcasts and other major podcast platforms.  To support Good Heavens! on Podbean as a patron, you can use the Podbean app, or go to https://patron.podbean.com/goodheavens.  This goes to Wayne Spencer. If you would like to give to the ministry of Watchman Fellowship or to Daniel Ray, you can donate at https://www.watchman.org/daniel. Donations to Watchman are tax deductible.

    35 min
  3. Many Worlds, Mormonism, and Multiverses Part One

    SEP 30

    Many Worlds, Mormonism, and Multiverses Part One

    Something a little out of the ordinary for our Good Heavens! family. How about theories in physics and cosmology combined with a discussion about Mormonism and storytelling? Yes! That's a lot to process, but we hope you'll find it mildly interesting and encouraging. This broadcast will also be airing on our sister podcast Apologetics Profile later next month. On this episode and next we'll be featuring our president of Watchman Fellowship, James K. Walker, a former 4th-generation Latter-day Saint in conversation with astrophysicist and cosmologist from Sydney, Australia, Dr. Luke Barnes, discussing many worlds, multiverses and Mormonism. There are also some surprise bonus clips from previous episodes you'll not want to miss! For millennia, man has been telling stories about himself, his origins and the nature of the cosmos. How do they all fit together? What's the right story of the cosmos and how can we know? We think you'll find this episode and next quite fascinating as we dive into these and other topics! Free four-page profiles from Watchman Fellowship! Latter-Day Saints https://www.watchman.org/articles/mormonism/ Scientism https://www.watchman.org/scientism/ProfileScientism.pdf Carl Sagan's Cosmos https://www.watchman.org/CosmosTV Naturalism https://www.watchman.org/Naturalism/ProfileNaturalism.pdf Wayne and Dan's book The Story of the Cosmos https://www.watchman.org/CosmosBook Luke A. Barnes is a Senior Lecturer in astronomy and cosmology. With PhD at the University of Cambridge, he has published papers in the field of galaxy formation and on the fine-tuning of the Universe for life. He is the author, with Geraint Lewis, of "A Fortunate Universe: Life in a Finely Tuned Cosmos" and "The Cosmic Revolutionary's Handbook: (Or: How to Beat the Big Bang)", published by Cambridge University Press. Luke, along with Allen Hainline, has also written a contributing chapter to The Story of the Cosmos - How The Heavens Declare the Glory of God (Harvest House).  James Walker, the president of Watchman Fellowship, is a former fourth generation Mormon with over twenty years of ministry experience in the field of Christian counter-cult evangelism, apologetics, and discernment. He has been interviewed as an expert on new religious movements and cults on a variety of network television programs including Nightline, ABC World News Tonight with Peter Jennings, and The News Hour with Jim Lehrer. He has spoken at hundreds of churches, colleges, universities, and seminaries throughout the United States and internationally. Luke's Books: https://www.amazon.com/Fortunate-Universe-Finely-Tuned-Cosmos/dp/1107156610/ https://www.amazon.com/Cosmic-Revolutionarys-Handbook-Beat-Bang/dp/1108486703   Podbean enables our podcast to be on Apple Podcasts and other major podcast platforms.  To support Good Heavens! on Podbean as a patron, you can use the Podbean app, or go to https://patron.podbean.com/goodheavens.  This goes to Wayne Spencer. If you would like to give to the ministry of Watchman Fellowship or to Daniel Ray, you can donate at https://www.watchman.org/daniel. Donations to Watchman are tax deductible.

    57 min
  4. The Geology of the Genesis Flood - Part Three - with Geologist Dr. Andrew Snelling

    AUG 26

    The Geology of the Genesis Flood - Part Three - with Geologist Dr. Andrew Snelling

    As you certainly know by now, for the month of August, Wayne and I have taken a little break from the heavens for a very special focus on the Earth, specifically some spectacular geological evidence for the biblical flood. Here on part three of our three-part series we are yet again grateful and honored to have as our very special guest one of the top creation geologists in the world Dr. Andrew Snelling of Answers in Genesis. Whether you are a young or old-earth creationist, a skeptic, agnostic, atheist or whether you know next to nothing about geology, we think you'll find our three-part series fascinating and enlightening. Our series with Dr. Snelling has been focused mainly on the many examples Dr. Snelling believes provide solid geological evidence for the flood as described in the Book of Genesis (chapters 6-9). Here on part three we talk about the unusual folds of sedimentary layers in the Grand Canyon and about one of the greatest head-scratchers in all of geology, the great unconformity. Andrew will explain to us to what exactly this strikingly peculiar feature of the earth's rocks is not conforming! We thank Dr. Snelling for his graciously giving us his time for this exciting and informative interview and we hope you our Good Heavens! family have enjoyed it. Links and Resources:  Dr. Andrew Snelling holds a PhD in geology from the University of Sydney, Australia. Dr. Snelling is active in research, writing and also speaking on topics such as the flood, fossils, the Grand Canyon, and the radioactive dating of rocks. He is the author of numerous scholarly articles and papers as well as the author of The Genesis Flood Revisited (2009, 2022 Master Books). The Genesis Flood Revisited: https://www.masterbooks.com/the-genesis-flood-revisited Answers Research Journal: https://answersresearchjournal.org/geology/monument-fold-grand-canyon/ Andrew's Bio: https://answersingenesis.org/bios/andrew-snelling/ Previous Good Heavens! Episodes on Flood Stories from Native North American Tribes https://goodheavens.podbean.com/e/flood-stories-part-1-from-native-people-of-north-south-america/ https://goodheavens.podbean.com/e/flood-stories-part-2-from-native-people-of-north-south-america/ Articles by Dr. Snelling: https://answersingenesis.org/bios/andrew-snelling/articles/   Podbean enables our podcast to be on Apple Podcasts and other major podcast platforms.  To support Good Heavens! on Podbean as a patron, you can use the Podbean app, or go to https://patron.podbean.com/goodheavens.  This goes to Wayne Spencer. If you would like to give to the ministry of Watchman Fellowship or to Daniel Ray, you can donate at https://www.watchman.org/daniel. Donations to Watchman are tax deductible.

    37 min
  5. The Geology of the Genesis Flood - Part Two - with Geologist Dr. Andrew Snelling

    AUG 19

    The Geology of the Genesis Flood - Part Two - with Geologist Dr. Andrew Snelling

    For the month of August, Wayne and I are taking a little break from the heavens for a very special focus on the Earth, specifically some spectacular geological evidence for the biblical flood. Here on part two of our three-part series we are once again grateful and honored to have as our very special guest one of the top creation geologists in the world Dr. Andrew Snelling of Answers in Genesis. Whether you are a young or old-earth creationist, a skeptic, agnostic, atheist or whether you know next to nothing about geology, we think you'll find our three-part series fascinating and enlightening. Our series with Dr. Snelling will be focused mainly on the many examples Dr. Snelling believes provide solid geological evidence for the flood as described in the Book of Genesis (chapters 6-9). Here on part two we talk about plutons, batholiths, and polonium radio halos and how Dr. Snelling believes they provide solid evidence for the biblical flood. Was there a Global Flood?  Blog article by Waynehttps://creationanswers.net/answersblog/2019/04/15/was-there-a-global-flood/ Podbean enables our podcast to be on Apple Podcasts and other major podcast platforms.  To support Good Heavens! on Podbean as a patron, you can use the Podbean app, or go to https://patron.podbean.com/goodheavens.  This goes to Wayne Spencer. If you would like to give to the ministry of Watchman Fellowship or to Daniel Ray, you can donate at https://www.watchman.org/daniel. Donations to Watchman are tax deductible.

    46 min
  6. The Geology of the Genesis Flood - Part One - with Geologist Dr. Andrew Snelling

    AUG 12

    The Geology of the Genesis Flood - Part One - with Geologist Dr. Andrew Snelling

    For the month of August, Wayne and I are taking a little break from the heavens for a very special focus on the Earth, specifically some spectacular geological evidence for the biblical flood.  And in this three-part series we are honored to have as our very special guest one of the top creation geologists in the world Dr. Andrew Snelling of Answers in Genesis.  Whether you are a young or old-earth creationist, a skeptic, agnostic, atheist or whether you know next to nothing about geology, we think you'll find our three-part series fascinating and enlightening. Our talk with Dr. Snelling will be focused mainly on the many examples Dr. Snelling believes provide solid geological evidence for the flood as described in the Book of Genesis (chapters 6-9).  Here on part one, we talk about how Dr. Snelling became interested in geology, oceanic fossil finds in Kansas and the remarkably enormous Tapeats sandstone sedimentary layer that covers a large swath of North America and other parts of the globe. Links and Resources:  Dr. Andrew Snelling holds a PhD in geology from the University of Sydney, Australia. Dr. Snelling is active in research, writing and also speaking on topics such as the flood, fossils, the Grand Canyon, and the radioactive dating of rocks. He is the author of numerous scholarly articles and papers as well as the author of The Genesis Flood Revisited (2009, 2022 Master Books).   The Genesis Flood Revisited: https://www.masterbooks.com/the-genesis-flood-revisited Answers Research Journal: https://answersresearchjournal.org/geology/monument-fold-grand-canyon/ Andrew's Bio: https://answersingenesis.org/bios/andrew-snelling/ Previous Good Heavens! Episodes on Flood Stories from Native North American Tribes https://goodheavens.podbean.com/e/flood-stories-part-1-from-native-people-of-north-south-america/ https://goodheavens.podbean.com/e/flood-stories-part-2-from-native-people-of-north-south-america/ Articles by Dr. Snelling: https://answersingenesis.org/bios/andrew-snelling/articles/ Was there a Global Flood?  Blog article by Waynehttps://creationanswers.net/answersblog/2019/04/15/was-there-a-global-flood/   Podbean enables our podcast to be on Apple Podcasts and other major podcast platforms.  To support Good Heavens! on Podbean as a patron, you can use the Podbean app, or go to https://patron.podbean.com/goodheavens.  This goes to Wayne Spencer. If you would like to give to the ministry of Watchman Fellowship or to Daniel Ray, you can donate at https://www.watchman.org/daniel. Donations to Watchman are tax deductible.

    51 min
  7. The Hubble Constant, Speed of Light, and Other Cosmic Wonders

    JUL 5

    The Hubble Constant, Speed of Light, and Other Cosmic Wonders

    We continue our discussion about the Hubble Constant and delve into a few other cosmic anomalies, including the assumption Albert Einstein made regarding the speed of light. And, somehow, we also ended up talking about Noah's flood and the Whopper Sand. You'll have to listen to the end to find out how that happened! Come and see how we think it all points to the glory and majesty of God. Dan's very short video on the whooper sand.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7r9COYBra94   The following links are not meant to imply the ideas contained therein reflect those of Good Heavens! or Watchman Fellowship, Inc. All of these, with the exception of Danny Faulkner, are presented from a completely secular perspective of the universe Veritasium Video on the one-way speed of light problem. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pTn6Ewhb27k More in-depth on the Hubble Constant - Interview with Christian astronomer Dr. Danny Faulkner on the Hubble Constant. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zqUkhyxCbPE Cosmological constant (not the same as the Hubble constant, but related).  https://wmap.gsfc.nasa.gov/universe/uni_accel.html Hubble constant - two different ways to measure (from 2020).  https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-a-dispute-over-a-single-number-became-a-cosmological-crisis/ Three ways to measure Hubble constant. https://news.uchicago.edu/explainer/hubble-constant-explained  Brian Keating short video about using magnetism to measure the Hubble constant https://youtu.be/kBdtvURyJ8Q?si=-wlE-9D1emA-NP1- Dr. Becky most recent video on the crisis. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yKmPJmaeP8A Adam Riese from the Space Telescope Science Institute who won the Nobel Prize in the late 90s for discovering the universe expansion was (allegedly) accelerating. His SH0ES team measured the Hubble constant at 74 km/s/mpsc, far above Wendy Freedman’s 69.8 and the CMBR at 67. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JmDszPExepc   Scientific American article on the HC from October 2023. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/a-possible-crisis-in-the-cosmos-could-lead-to-a-new-understanding-of-the-universe/   Wendy Freedman’s initial project of measuring HC using the HST to measure Cepheids. https://www.stsci.edu/stsci/meetings/shst2/freedmanw.html Historical background on the HC from STScI. (2020) https://www.stsci.edu/contents/newsletters/2020-volume-37-issue-02/hubble-and-the-constant-the-next-and-the-next-generation Good Heavens! Is a production of Watchman Fellowship, Inc. For more information on our ministry and our sister podcast Apologetics Profile, visit Watchman.org today! Contact Wayne and Dan at  Psalm1968@gmail.com    Podbean enables our podcast to be on Apple Podcasts and other major podcast platforms.  To support Good Heavens! on Podbean as a patron, you can use the Podbean app, or go to https://patron.podbean.com/goodheavens.  This goes to Wayne Spencer. If you would like to give to the ministry of Watchman Fellowship or to Daniel Ray, you can donate at https://www.watchman.org/daniel. Donations to Watchman are tax deductible.

    45 min
  8. The Mystery of the Elusive Hubble Constant

    JUN 28

    The Mystery of the Elusive Hubble Constant

    Probably the only thing that is constant about the Hubble Constant is that it keeps changing! What is it? Why is it such a hot topic in cosmology today and why are some even calling it a "crisis"? Come along with Wayne and Dan as they dive into the quest for the elusive magic number. What does it mean for cosmology and what might it all have to do with the way God made the universe? The following links are not meant to imply the ideas contained therein reflect those of Good Heavens! or Watchman Fellowship, Inc. All of these, with the exception of Danny Faulkner, are presented from a completely secular perspective of the universe More in-depth on the Hubble Constant - Interview with Christian astronomer Dr. Danny Faulkner on the Hubble Constant. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zqUkhyxCbPE Cosmological constant (not the same as the Hubble constant, but related).  https://wmap.gsfc.nasa.gov/universe/uni_accel.html Hubble constant - two different ways to measure. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-a-dispute-over-a-single-number-became-a-cosmological-crisis/ Three ways to measure Hubble constant. https://news.uchicago.edu/explainer/hubble-constant-explained  Brian Keating short video about using magnetism to measure the Hubble constant https://youtu.be/kBdtvURyJ8Q?si=-wlE-9D1emA-NP1- Dr. Becky most recent video on the crisis. https://youtu.be/yKmPJmaeP8A?si=Wf6ajm4qGuC5CZX6 Adam Riese from the Space Telescope Science Institute who won the Nobel Prize in the late 90s for discovering the universe expansion was (allegedly) accelerating. His SH0ES team measured the Hubble constant at 74 km/s/mpsc, far above Wendy Freedman’s 69.8 and the CMBR at 67. https://youtu.be/JmDszPExepc?si=03HqPi3RU5uRkSSl Technical  power point slides from Dr. Jo Dunkley on the PLANK CMBR data on the Hubble constant. https://online.kitp.ucsb.edu/online/primocosmo13/dunkley/pdf/Dunkley_PrimoCosmo13_KITP.pdf Scientific American article on the HC from October 2023. https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/a-possible-crisis-in-the-cosmos-could-lead-to-a-new-understanding-of-the-universe/ Wendy Freedman’s initial project of measuring HC using the HST to measure Cepheids. https://www.stsci.edu/stsci/meetings/shst2/freedmanw.html Historical background on the HC from STScI. (2020) https://www.stsci.edu/contents/newsletters/2020-volume-37-issue-02/hubble-and-the-constant-the-next-and-the-next-generation Good Heavens! Is a production of Watchman Fellowship, Inc. For more information on our ministry and our sister podcast Apologetics Profile, visit Watchman.org today! Contact Wayne and Dan!    Psalm1968@gmail.com    Podbean enables our podcast to be on Apple Podcasts and other major podcast platforms.  To support Good Heavens! on Podbean as a patron, you can use the Podbean app, or go to https://patron.podbean.com/goodheavens.  This goes to Wayne Spencer. If you would like to give to the ministry of Watchman Fellowship or to Daniel Ray, you can donate at https://www.watchman.org/daniel. Donations to Watchman are tax deductible.

    52 min
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Good Heavens! The human side of astronomy with Wayne and Dan.

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