AstrotalkUK

Not for profit website/blog on astronomy, space and my writing

Episode 98 Astrophotography with Nik Szymanek

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Nik Syzamnek is one of the UK’s leading astrophotographers and one who has been doing it for almost four decades.

Nik Szymanek

In this episode, Nik shares his unique perspective on how the hobby of astronomy and especially astrophotography has evolved since the 1980s when he first started.

We cover a lot of ground including modern software used for image processing and telescope control, increasing use of robotic telescopes e.g. Telescope Live by amateurs and the obstacles introduced by Climate Change and the mega-constellations of satellites. We conclude this episode on his lesser-known skills as a drummer in a band.

Books
2005 – Infinity Rising: A Personal View of the Universe
2018 – Co-author of – Spacerocks: A collectors’ guide to meteorites, tektites and impactites
2020 – Shooting Stars – 2nd Edition (AstronomyNow website)

Nik’s images on Flickr.

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A video of this interview is also available here on Youtube and includes many of his images.

As the lock-down begins to end – Nik is getting out and doing some talks live. If you are in the area – catch him live in 2021 here


2nd November: Stour Astronomical Society
17th November; Havering Astronomical Society twitter.com/HaveringSociety

Episode 96 Seti – The search so far with Jill Tarter

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Allen Telescope Array. Source Seti.org

The Earth is one ordinary planet of many orbiting one typical sun of many in an unremarkable galaxy, the milky way one of the countless numbers in an ever-expanding universe.

Since the beginning of human civilisation, people have looked up at the night sky and wondered – are we alone? Science and technology of the 20th century has made it possible to try to address that question. So how is are we doing?

What have been the near-misses? How has the search evolved since then what are the current prospects of detecting a signal?

Jill Tarter from @SETIInstitute has worked on a number of major scientific projects, most relating to the search for extraterrestrial life and attempt to answer the question ”Are we alone in the universe.  The 1997 Hollywood film ‘Contact’ starring Jodi Foster was largely based on her work. 

As the former director of the Seti Institute, she explains when Seti research began, the technology used, how it is funded and the global collaborative international endeavour it has now become. 

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A video of the interview on which this episode is based is available on youtube.

Episode 95 European Space Cooperation DeGaulle to ExoMars with Brian Harvey

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The latest book from author Brian Harvey @BrianHarveyAut1, this is probably the first English language analysis of the individuals, institutions and early space projects that would eventually lead,  not just France, but Europe to its status as a leader in designing, building and operating complex space infrastructure. 

This is probably the first English language analysis of the individuals, institutions and early space projects that would eventually lead,  not just France,  but Europe to its status as a leader in designing, building and operating complex space infrastructure.

In the first chapter, “Early Days”, the author refers to John F. Kennedy’s little-known but perhaps most powerful speech on 10 June 1963, Strategy for Peace. Here it would have been interesting to see the author’s assessment on how collaboration in space has cultivated peace on Earth.

In this episode Brian talks about his motivation for writing this book and accessing the complex sources he needed to tell this story.

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A video of this interview is available on Youtube.

Episode 94 Seti – Techniques and Technology with Jill Tarter

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The systematic search for extraterrestrial intelligence could only begin once the technology was sufficiently mature. That happened in early 1960s. Until then SETI was firmly in the realm of science fiction. 

How has the SETI evolved over the last six decades and especially what can modern technology allow today that was not possible then?

Jill Tarter from the @SETIInstitute has worked on a number of major scientific projects, most relating to the search for extraterrestrial life and attempt to answer the question ”Are we alone in the universe.  The 1997 Hollywood film ‘Contact’ starring Jodi Foster was largely based on her work. 

As the former director of the Seti institute, she explains when Seti research began, the technology used, how it is funded and the global collaborative international endeavour it has now become. 

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A video of the interview on which this episode is based is available on Youtube