Dean chats with John Read, an astronomer, YouTuber, and author of the popular, "50 Things to See With a Telescope" series. Listen in to learn how John got his start as an amateur stargazer and how you can get started studying the night skies today.HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENTThink about something you're super passionate about—could be related to your job, career, studies, or just something you love. Now, try explaining that passion to someone who's totally new to it, like a friend or family member. Break it down into really simple terms. Share your enthusiasm with us by emailing lookingup@wvxu.org or joining the conversation on social media using #lookinguppod and you might hear it discussed on a future episode!Find Us Online- Twitter: @lookinguppod @deanregas-Instagram: @917wvxu @deanregas-Tiktok: @cincinnatipublicradio @astronomerdean-Episode transcript: www.wvxu.org/podcast/looking-up-More from Dean: www.astrodean.com-John Read's Channel: www.youtube.com/@LearnToStargaze

The Cosmos on a Budget (with John Read)

Dean chats with historian Kevin Schindler about Lowell Observatory's exciting new facilities coming later in 2024 and the observatory's decades long history helping visitors to connect with the wonders of the universe firsthand.Find Us Online- X: @lookinguppod @deanregas-Instagram: @917wvxu @deanregas-Tiktok: @cincinnatipublicradio @astronomerdean-Episode transcript: www.wvxu.org/podcast/looking-up-More from Dean: www.astrodean.com

Astronomy for Everyone at Lowell Observatory (with Kevin Schindler)

Dean chats with Dr. Riddhi Das, a soft robotics researcher developing earthworm-inspired robots for planetary exploration. They discuss how these wriggly-yet-rigid innovations, with autonomous drive and locomotive capabilities, will navigate challenging terrains and their potential applications in space exploration.HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENTWhich types of robots do you envision as valuable assets for Earth's challenging environments? Share your thoughts with us by emailing lookingup@wvxu.org or joining the conversation on social media using #lookinguppodFind Us Online- Twitter: @lookinguppod @deanregas-Instagram: @917wvxu @deanregas-Tiktok: @cincinnatipublicradio @astronomerdean-Episode transcript: www.wvxu.org/podcast/looking-up-More from Dean: www.astrodean.com

Robotic Space Worms (with Dr. Riddhi Das)

Dean chats with Dr. Amanda Bauer, Head of Science and Education at the historic Yerkes Observatory in Wisconsin. Listen in to learn about the largest refracting telescope in the world and Dean's tips for determining a telescope's "coolness factor." New episodes release every other Friday!

The World's Largest Refracting Telescope (with Dr. Amanda Bauer)

Dean chats with Grand Canyon Park Ranger Rader Lane about the importance of preserving dark skies, and how you can protect the beauty of the night sky in your own community. New episodes release every other Friday!

Half the Park Is After Dark (with Rader Lane)

Dean explores the hidden wonders inside planets and across the solar system with guest Dr. Sabine Stanley, a planetary physicist and author of "What's Hidden Inside Planets." New episodes release every other Friday! Check WVXU.org for full transcripts of each episode.

The Mysteries Under Our Feet (With Dr. Sabine Stanley)

Dean and children's book author Jennifer Sommer explores the fascinating story of Nancy Grace Roman, known as the "Mother of Hubble." Jennifer delves into her new kids' book, "Her Eyes Were on the Stars," and takes the listeners on a journey through Roman's pivotal role in the creation of the Hubble Space Telescope. New episodes release every other Friday!

Who was the Mother of Hubble? (with Jennifer Sommer)

Dean chats with author Jaime Green about the multifaceted relationship between science fiction, humanity's fascination with aliens, and the scientific quest for extraterrestrial life. Follow @917wvxu on Instagram and TikTok for bonus content from the show! Have a question for Dean? Email LookingUp@WVXU.org New episodes release every other Friday!

How Sci-Fi Mirrors the Human Condition (with Jaime Green)

Dean Regas chats with Justin Spilker, Assistant Professor of Astronomy at Texas A&M, about a recent discovery of complex organic molecules in a distant galaxy. Listen for an illuminating conversation about the James Webb Space Telescope, groundbreaking discoveries, and the incredible chemistry of the cosmos. New episodes of Looking Up release every other Friday! You can find transcripts of each episode at WVXU.org/podcast/looking-up

Unraveling Cosmic Chemistry (with Justin Spilker)

Dean chats with author and astrophysicist Sarafina El-Badry Nance about methods for coping with cosmological anxiety. Find Sarafina's new book, "Starstruck: A Memoir of Astrophysics and Finding Light in the Dark" as well as full transcriptions of our episodes on WVXU.org. New episodes of Looking Up release every other Friday!

Finding Light in the Dark (with Sarafina El-Badry Nance)

Dean chats with author Maria Popova about the first recognized female astronomer in the United States, Maria Mitchell. Listen to learn about her exciting comet discovery, and the best way to catch a comet sighting yourself! New episodes release every other Friday! Find full transcriptions of our episodes on WVXU.org

Maria Mitchell's Comet (with Maria Popova)

Dean chats with recent Cornell PhD Akshay Suresh about BLIPSS (The Breakthrough Listen Investigation for Periodic Spectral Signals). It's the latest effort in humanity's endeavor to communicate with intelligent extra-terrestrial life. You can find the full transcript of this episode on our website at WVXU.org New episodes release every other Friday!

Listening for Aliens (with Dr. Akshay Suresh)

Dean chats with old friend Phil Plait about doomsday predictions related to astronomical events like comets and asteroids, as well as the potential dangers of solar storms impacting Earth and satellites. They also discuss the possibility of alien life and the excitement surrounding current missions to explore celestial bodies like Europa, Enceladus, and Saturn. For links to resources references in this episode as well as a full show transcript, https://www.wvxu.org/podcast/looking-up

Astronomy Conspiracies (with Phil Plait)

Dr. Alan Dressler discusses the James Webb Space Telescope and its ability to see galaxies in the throes of birth 13 billion years ago. The telescope takes pictures of galaxies with extreme sensitivity to infrared light, allowing astronomers to explore the earliest moments of the universe. The team found that galaxies were born with explosive bursts of star formation, unlike anything seen before. New episodes of Looking Up release every other Friday!

Pictures of the Early Universe (featuring Dr. Alan Dressler)

An unusual “rogue” black hole is on the run! Dr. Jennifer Wiseman, the Hubble Space Telescope Senior Project Science Scientist at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, joins Dean Regas to discuss this mysterious finding. Music used in this episode is by Ziv Moran, BENJA, Diamonds and Ice, Nobou, and Tamuz Dekel. New episodes of Looking Up release every other Friday!

Hubble's Runaway Black Hole (featuring Dr. Jennifer Wiseman)

The Grand Canyon Conservancy Field Institute brings in experts and amateurs alike from all over the world as part of their Astronomer in Residence program. Dean speaks with current astronomer in residence Dr. Jennifer Hoffman, professor of physics and astronomy at the University of Denver, and reflects on his own time there. Listen in to learn how you too can apply for this amazing opportunity! New episodes, now releasing every other Friday!

A Fellow Grand Canyon Resident (featuring Dr. Jennifer Hoffman)

The Artemis missions will send humans back to the moon, including the first woman and first person of color. Our guest this week is Melissa McGuire, the mission design manager for NASA's Gateway Power and Propulsion Element. Listen in to learn how this new project will make space travel more efficient. New episodes, now releasing every other Friday!

Will People Live on the Moon? (featuring Melissa McGuire)

Dean and guest Nicolas Altobelli, the science operations and development manager for ESA's JUICE mission, discuss the upcoming project studying Jupiter's icy moons. Stay tuned for more new episodes, now releasing every other Friday!

What is the JUICE mission?  (Featuring Nicolas Altobelli)

Dean and guest Michael Zeiler, a geographic information systems specialist and creator of greatamericaneclipse.com, discuss the upcoming total solar eclipse on April 8th, 2024 in Looking Up’s triumphant return! Stay tuned for more new episodes, now releasing every other Friday!

Countdown to Eclipse 2024

Dean has brought so much wisdom and so many stories from his time as Astronomer in Residence at the Grand Canyon National Park last fall, that we had to squeeze a bit more into another episode. This time he and Anna discuss and share some of his experiences engaging park goers in Sidewalk Astronomy. There's a certain magic and awe that happens when passers by get the opportunity to see distant objects through a telescope and Dean has some great clips from his trip that help prove it!We are also joined by WVXU Reporter and local host of All Things Considered, Bill Rinehart to help us embody the spirit of one of the original purveyors of sidewalk astronomy experiences, John Dobson. Together they revisit an interview Dean had the opportunity to conduct with Dobson before his passing.

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