logo
episode-header-image
Apr 2024
27m 37s

#406: Celestial Choreography & Speedy Sn...

Professor Fred Watson and Andrew Dunkley
About this episode
The eposode of Space Nuts is brought to you by NordPass....the password manager that will make your life so much eaier for not very much money. Check out our special offer at www.bitesz.com/nordpass - you'll be glad you did.
Strap in for an astronomical journey as Andrew Dunkley and Professor Fred Watson return to answer your burning cosmic questions in this enlightening episode of Space Nuts. Beam up to the cosmos as we tackle the challenges of snapping photos at supersonic speeds with the Breakthrough Starshot project. Viano from Florence brings into focus the hurdles of capturing clear images of distant planets when traveling at a third the speed of light. Could the blur of speed and the distortion of space-time leave us with just a glimpse of Proxima Centauri's secrets?
Next, we delve into the cosmic dance of celestial bodies. Brady from Florida, with a front-row seat to rocket launches, ponders the possibility of a moon having its own moon. Could a satellite's satellite exist, or are the gravitational tugs within our solar system too much for such a delicate balance? Professor Watson explains the intricate gravitational ballet that determines these cosmic relationships.
Then, Scott from Oregon opens a window into the fascinating world of triple star systems with a question about HD 110067. How can stars so far apart still be considered gravitationally bound? Discover the cosmic ties that bind these stellar companions across vast distances.
And for a bonus, we tackle an impromptu query from Dean about the Hubble Space Telescope's remarkable ability to maintain steady images while orbiting Earth. The secret lies in the dance of gyroscopes, but how long can this celestial photography session last?
From interstellar photography to the gravitational waltz of moons and stars, this episode is packed with insights into the mechanics of our universe. Remember to send us your space-related questions, and join us on this voyage of cosmic discovery. Subscribe to Space Nuts on your favorite podcast platform, and until our next stellar encounter, keep gazing at the stars and wondering about the wonders above. 
📋 Episode Chapters
(00:00) Andrew Dunkley welcomes your questions for Space Nuts Q and A
(01:52) Riano from Florence in Italy has two questions for us
(04:13) Andrew: Breakthrough project aims to send micro spacecraft to Alpha Centauri
(10:06) I talked about pluto about 100 times, I think
(10:21) Viana raises doubts about whether taking pictures from space is feasible
(12:40) Vienna's question was about the orbits of planets
(14:06) Andrew Dunkley with professor Fred Watson on space nuts podcast
(18:05) Andrew Dunkley: Scott from Oregon questions distance of triple star system
(23:57) Fred Watson says Hubble's lifetime will eventually be limited because gyroscopes failed



Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/space-nuts--2631155/support.
Up next
Jul 7
Stellar Questions: Gravitational Waves, Time Travel & the Search for Extraterrestrial Life
In this thought-provoking Q&A episode of Space Nuts, hosts Heidi Campo and Professor Fred Watson tackle a variety of intriguing listener questions that delve into the realms of astrophysics and the possibilities of life beyond Earth. From the complexities of time dilation to the ... Show More
29m 55s
Jul 4
Stellar Snapshots: The Vera C. Rubin Telescope & Mars' Mysterious Landscapes
Exploring the Cosmos: New Telescopes, Busy Space Stations, and Martian MysteriesIn this captivating episode of Space Nuts, hosts Heidi Campo and Professor Fred Watson take listeners on a journey through the latest astronomical discoveries and ongoing missions. From the stunning a ... Show More
30m 55s
Jun 30
Celestial Curiosities: Pulsars, Gravitational Waves & the Secrets of the Universe
Cosmic Curiosities: Exploring Neutron Stars and Gravitational WavesIn this engaging episode of Space Nuts, hosts Heidi Campo and Professor Fred Watson embark on a fascinating journey through listener questions that probe the depths of astrophysics and cosmology. From the nature o ... Show More
25m 58s
Recommended Episodes
Apr 2024
S27E47: Stellar Nurseries: Unveiling the Origins of Brown Dwarfs and Starbursts
Prepare to illuminate the shadowy frontiers of space in SpaceTime Series 27 Episode 47. We begin by shedding light on new findings that reveal brown dwarfs, those celestial enigmas straddling the line between the largest planets and the smallest stars, are far more star-like than ... Show More
25m 1s
Feb 2024
S27E20: The Improbable Galaxy: Unveiling the Enigma of Pearl SDG
For peace of mind when online and know you are protected get our special 60% off deal on Incogni. Visit www.incogni.com/stuartgary to get the deal The Space, Astronomy & Science Podcast. SpaceTime Series 27 Episode 20 *The Enigma of Pearl SDG: A Galaxy That Defies Expectations As ... Show More
24m 13s
Feb 2024
S27E24: The Milky Way's Rugby Ball: Sagittarius A* Spins SpaceTime
The Space, Astronomy & Science Podcast. SpaceTime Series 27 Episode 24 *Warping SpaceTime: The Fast-Spinning Black Hole at the Milky Way's Heart NASA's Chandra X-ray Space Telescope and the Very Large Array have observed the supermassive black hole Sagittarius A* at our galaxy's ... Show More
25m 1s
Jan 2024
Distant Stars // Shooting Star Testing // NASA’s Deep Space Network | S27E06
🌏 Get Our Exclusive NordVPN deal here ➼ https://nordvpn.com/stuartgary or use the checkout code STUARTGARY. It’s risk-free with Nord’s 30-day money-back guarantee! ✌ The Space News Podcast. SpaceTime Series 27 Episode 6 *Distant stars spotted in the Magellanic Stream for the fir ... Show More
28m 51s
Mar 2024
S27E30: Axion Stars: The Unseen Beacons of Dark Matter Mysteries
The Space, Astronomy & Science Podcast. SpaceTime Series 27 Episode 30 *Unveiling the Mysteries of Dark Matter with Hypothetical Axion Stars Could the enigmatic axion star hold the key to understanding dark matter? Join us as we delve into the realm of theoretical physics, where ... Show More
42m 18s
Jul 2023
The Story of Space Imaging with Carolyn “Madam Saturn” Porco
How much has space imaging furthered our understanding of the Universe? Neil deGrasse Tyson and comedian Chuck Nice learn the story of cameras on space probes like Voyager and Cassini and the exciting science of Saturn with planetary scientist Carolyn Porco. NOTE: StarTalk+ Patro ... Show More
49m 23s
Dec 2023
Space Records Continue to Tumble: Record Setting Brown Dwarf Discovery | S26E151
The Space News Podcast. SpaceTime Series 26 Episode 151 *Discovery of a record setting brown dwarf Astronomers have discovered what might be the smallest Brown Dwarf ever seen – just three or four times the mass of Jupiter. *How gas-rich baby galaxies set the early Universe aligh ... Show More
29m 13s
Jul 2023
S26E85: Age of the Universe Reassessed // Astonishing Saturn // Growing Plants on the Moon
SpaceTime Series 26 Episode 85 *A retake on the age of the universe A new study suggests that the universe is actually 26.7 billion years old – that’s nearly twice as old as the 13.8-billion-year age previously believed. *New image from Webb reveals astonishing Saturn and its rin ... Show More
31m 48s