logo
episode-header-image
Jun 2025
34m 27s

Galactic Encounters, The Flying Banana &...

Professor Fred Watson and Andrew Dunkley
About this episode
Sponsor Details:
This episode is brought to you by Saily...your passport to seamless global connectivity. Get your special Space Nuts offer from Saily by visiting www.saily.com/spacenuts for a great discount price and a 30-day money-back guarantee. 

Collision Course? And the Mysteries of the Aurora
In this captivating episode of Space Nuts, hosts Heidi Campo and Professor Fred Watson delve into a range of astronomical topics that illuminate our understanding of the universe. From the latest findings regarding the fate of the Milky Way and Andromeda galaxies to the enchanting phenomena of auroras, this episode is sure to spark your cosmic curiosity.
Episode Highlights:
Milky Way and Andromeda Collision: The episode kicks off with an exciting update on the potential collision between our galaxy and Andromeda. Fred discusses new research suggesting that gravitational influences from nearby galaxies may alter the predicted course of this cosmic encounter, making the odds of a disastrous collision lower than previously thought.
Understanding Fiducial Models: Heidi and Fred explore the concept of fiducial models in astronomical predictions, clarifying their role in understanding complex orbital dynamics and the challenges of measuring motion across vast cosmic distances.
The Flying Banana and Aurora Chasers: The duo transitions to a whimsical story about a laser-emitting train dubbed the "Flying Banana," which inadvertently confused aurora hunters with its blue light. Fred shares insights into the aurora borealis and the technology used to monitor and study these stunning natural displays.
Japanese Moon Mission Setback: The episode also covers the recent setback of the Japanese lunar lander mission, highlighting the challenges faced by space exploration endeavors and the lessons learned from failures.
Mars Odyssey's Stunning Views: Lastly, Fred discusses the Mars Odyssey orbiter's recent capture of breathtaking images of Martian volcanoes peeking above morning clouds, showcasing the ongoing exploration and discoveries being made on the Red Planet.
For more Space Nuts, including our continually updating newsfeed and to listen to all our episodes, visit our website. Follow us on social media at SpaceNutsPod on Facebook, X, YouTube Music Music, Tumblr, Instagram, and TikTok. We love engaging with our community, so be sure to drop us a message or comment on your favorite platform.
If you’d like to help support Space Nuts and join our growing family of insiders for commercial-free episodes and more, visit spacenutspodcast.com/about
Stay curious, keep looking up, and join us next time for more stellar insights and cosmic wonders. Until then, clear skies and happy stargazing.
(00:00) Welcome to Space Nuts with Heidi Campo and Fred Watson
(01:20) Discussion on the Milky Way and Andromeda collision predictions
(15:00) Exploring fiducial models in astronomy
(25:30) The Flying Banana and aurora phenomena
(35:00) Japanese moon mission failure and its implications
(45:00) Mars Odyssey's stunning volcanic views
For commercial-free versions of Space Nuts, join us on Patreon, Supercast, Apple Podcasts, or become a supporter here: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/space-nuts-astronomy-insights-cosmic-discoveries--2631155/support
Up next
Today
Comet Updates, Meteor Showers & the Secrets of Uranus' Moon Ariel
Sponsor Details:This episode is brought to you with the support of NordVPN....enhance your online privacy with the best in the game. Tiy get our special Space Nuts price and bonus deal, visit www.nordvpn.com/spacenuts or use the code SPACENUTS at checkout.Comets, Meteor Showers, ... Show More
54m 48s
Oct 6
Cosmic Collapses, Black Hole Illusions & Antimatter Mysteries
Sponsor Details:This episode is brought to you with the support of NordVPN....enhance your online privacy with the best in the game. Tiy get our special Space Nuts price and bonus deal, visit www.nordvpn.com/spacenuts or use the code SPACENUTS at checkout.Cosmic Questions: Black ... Show More
35m 14s
Oct 2
Celebrating 25 Years of the ISS, Moon Crater Mining & Cutting-Edge Rocket Tech
In this exciting episode of Space Nuts, hosts Andrew Dunkley and Professor Fred Watson delve into the remarkable achievements of the International Space Station as it approaches its 25th anniversary of continuous human occupation. The discussion also explores the potential for lu ... Show More
31m 44s
Recommended Episodes
Dec 2024
Superflare Warnings, Binary Stars at the Galactic Core, and Lucy's Close Earth Flyby: S27E156
SpaceTime Series 27 Episode 156 Superflares: A Century-Long Threat? A new study warns of the potential for our Sun to unleash superflares, with the threat estimated at once per century. These massive eruptions could engulf the Earth, challenging our understanding of solar behavio ... Show More
18m 58s
Feb 2025
Saying Farewell to the Spacecraft That Mapped the Milky Way
The Gaia spacecraft stopped collecting data this January after about 11 years and more than three trillion observations. Senior space and physics editor Lee Billings joins host Rachel Feltman to review Gaia’s Milky Way–mapping mission and the tidal streams, black holes and astero ... Show More
17m 20s
Feb 2025
Bennu's Building Blocks of Life, Asteroid YR4's Threat, and Lunar Dome Mysteries: S28E15
SpaceTime Series 28 Episode 15 The Astronomy, Space and Science News Podcast Building Blocks of Life on Asteroid Bennu, New Asteroid Threat, and Lunar Dome Mission In this episode of SpaceTime, we uncover groundbreaking discoveries from the asteroid Bennu, where scientists have d ... Show More
29m 8s
Sep 2024
Travelers in the Night Eps. 749 & 750: Earth Glow & Asteroid Slam
Dr. Al Grauer hosts. Dr. Albert D. Grauer ( @Nmcanopus ) is an observational asteroid hunting astronomer. Dr. Grauer retired from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock in 2006. travelersinthenight.org Today's 2 topics: - In 1972 Apollo 16 astronauts took an ultraviolet image ... Show More
5m 30s
Apr 2025
Uranus' Rotational Secrets Revealed, ISS Welcomes New Crew
Exploring Uranus's Rotational Secrets, New Crew at the ISS, and the Dangers of Space Travel In this episode of SpaceTime, we delve into groundbreaking measurements of Uranus's rotational rate, achieved with unprecedented accuracy by NASA's Hubble Space Telescope. This new techniq ... Show More
19m 36s
Oct 2
E110 - Black Holes, Ancient Civilisations & The Search For Alien Life | David Kipping
» Produced by Hack You Media: pioneering a new category of content at the intersection of health performance, entrepreneurship & cognitive optimisation.Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hackyoumedia/Website: https://hackyou.media/David Kipping studies exoplanets and the search ... Show More
1h 47m
Feb 2025
Measles Outbreaks, Asteroid Risks and Fish Friends
The black hole at the center of our galaxy is emitting near-constant, random light. The European Space Agency has approved astronaut candidate John McFall, making McFall the first physically disabled candidate to be cleared to fly. The risk of asteroid 2024 YR4 hitting Earth rose ... Show More
7m 20s
Sep 16
Deep Astronomy - How to Find the Orion Nebula
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z3287bkIOiM&ab_channel=DeepAstronomy Hosted by Tony Darnell. From Oct 22, 2024. Your Sky Tonight is produced by Deep Astronomy and made possible by members of this YouTube Channel. Thank You! In this episode, we look at how to locate the Orion Nebu ... Show More
6m 18s
Apr 2025
Travelers in the Night Eps. 787 & 788: Far Out & 100 Years of Wilderness
Dr. Al Grauer hosts. Dr. Albert D. Grauer ( @Nmcanopus ) is an observational asteroid hunting astronomer. Dr. Grauer retired from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock in 2006. travelersinthenight.org From March, 2024. Today's 2 topics: - In 2024, Voyager I is 163 times furth ... Show More
6m 5s
Feb 2025
Sample Return Missions - What Could Possibly Go Wrong?
This time Dr Becky Smethurst and Izzie Clarke discover why it’s touch and go when it comes to returning asteroid samples to Earth and hear how we’ve been exchanging spit with Mars since the dawn of the Solar System. The team is joined by Dr Sara Russell, a meteorite researcher at ... Show More
46m 40s