Episodes

  • 56: We Made It To Mercury!

    56: We Made It To Mercury!
    Sep 4 2024
    Izzie and Dr Becky complete their tour of the solar system with a trip to Mercury, the space spirograph (copyright: Dr Becky). Join them as they explore what we know about the planet so far and what ESA's current mission, BepiColombo, is hoping to find. Plus, Dr Robert Massey is on hand to answer your questions.

    Special thanks to guests Dr David Rothery from the Open University and Dr Simon Lindsay from the University of Leicester.

    Don't forget to send your questions to the team via podcast@ras.ac.uk or Instagram @SupermassivePod

    The Supermassive Podcast is a Boffin Media production for the Royal Astronomical Society. The producers are Izzie Clarke and Richard Hollingham.
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    35 mins
  • 55: BONUS - Galaxy Spin and Saving Herstmonceux Observatory

    55: BONUS - Galaxy Spin and Saving Herstmonceux Observatory
    Aug 21 2024
    Does an instantaneous star map exist? Where are the perfect spheres in space? How did Venus get so close to the Sun? It's a bonus episode from The Supermassive team.

    Sign the petition and support Herstmonceux Observatory here... https://www.change.org/p/save-the-observatory-science-centre-herstmonceux
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    14 mins
  • 55: Venus aka "Earth's Evil Twin"

    55: Venus aka "Earth's Evil Twin"
    Aug 1 2024
    This is Venus’ moment in the supermassive spotlight. What do we know about this hellish planet? And what missions are going there in the near future?

    Izzie and Dr Becky speak with Dr Phillipa Mason from Imperial College London about EnVision, an upcoming mission to Venus, as well as RAS librarian Sian Prosser to explore the archive. Plus Dr Robert Massey is here to take on your questions.

    The paper about the sounds on Venus can be found here.

    The Supermassive Podcast is a Boffin Media production by Izzie Clarke and Richard Hollingham.
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    43 mins
  • 54: BONUS - Overmassive Galaxies

    54: BONUS - Overmassive Galaxies
    Jul 20 2024
    The Supermassive Overmassive Podcast has a special bonus episode. Join Izzie, Dr Becky, Dr Robert and Richard as they discuss the last two years of JWST and share their recommendations for Space Book Club.

    Recommendations:
    • Unseen Universe: New Secrets of the Cosmos Revealed by the James Webb Space Telescope by Dr Caroline Harper
    • The Possibility of Life by Jaime Green
    • When Galaxies Were Born - Richard Ellis
    • Challenger: A True Story of Heroism and Disaster on the Edge of Space By Adam Higginbotham
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    23 mins
  • 54: Q&A - Black Hole Special

    54: Q&A - Black Hole Special
    Jul 3 2024
    Have black holes existed since the beginning of the Universe? Could we produce a black hole in the lab? Could we use gravitational waves to probe beyond the event horizon?

    It's a black hole Q&A as Izzie put your questions to Becky and Robert. Plus, author and broadcaster, Marcus Chown, runs through a potted history of discovering black holes. His latest book on the same topic, A Crack In Everything, is out now: https://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/crack-in-everything-9781804544303/

    The Supermassive Podcast is a Boffin Media production by Izzie Clarke and Richard Hollingham.
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    50 mins
  • 53: BONUS - Lumpy Space Potatoes

    53: BONUS - Lumpy Space Potatoes
    Jun 21 2024
    In this month's bonus episode Izzie, Dr Becky Smethurst and Dr Robert Massey tackle questions on pulsars, woo woo sounds from black holes, imperfect spheres and alien aurorae. Send your questions to: podcast@ras.ac.uk, and we’re also on instagram @SupermassivePod.

    The Supermassive podcast is produced by Izzie Clarke and Richard Hollingham and is a Boffin Media production for the Royal Astronomical Society.

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    14 mins
  • 53: The Major Lunar Standstill

    53: The Major Lunar Standstill
    Jun 4 2024
    Every 18.6 years, our moon reaches its farthest northern and southern point, known as a major lunar standstill. This month, Izzie and Dr Becky are exploring why this might be significant to Stonehenge in the UK and another historical site in the US called Chimney Rock. With special thanks to Dr Heather Sebire, Dr Amanda Chadburn and Dr Erica Ellingson.

    The southernmost Moonrise at Stonehenge will be livestreamed, allowing viewers to witness this celestial spectacle firsthand. Plus, there'll be events throughout the standstill season which include talks, a pop-up planetarium, stargazing sessions, storytelling, and a new exhibition display at the Stonehenge visitor centre in October. To find out more, visit...
    https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/stonehenge/things-to-do/major-lunar-standstill/#:~:text=Stonehenge%20is%20famous%20for%20its,'major%20lunar%20standstill'%20occurs.

    Or have a look at Chimney Rock in Colorado:
    https://www.chimneyrockco.org/puebloan-resources/lunar-standstill/

    The Supermassive Podcast is a Boffin Media Production. The producers are Izzie Clarke and Richard Hollingham.
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    48 mins
  • 52: BONUS - Why does the Aurora Borealis look better on my phone?

    52: BONUS - Why does the Aurora Borealis look better on my phone?
    May 23 2024
    The UK witnessed the most amazing Northern Lights in years.... And Izzie missed it.

    In this bonus episode, Dr Becky Smethurst, Dr Robert Massey and Izzie Clarke talk about those Northern Lights and answer your questions. What is Jupiter's giant blue dot? If the sun is losing mass (by giving out energy) will that affect the gravity and orbit of the solar system? And how do you date a rock?
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    20 mins