The Skies Above

The Google Skies Above

Mark Ritter — Tue, 16 Oct 2007 20:18:00 -0500

Google Sky does for the heavens what Google Earth does for our planet.

Santa and Extra Dimensions of Space and Time

Mark Ritter — Sun, 17 Dec 2006 23:54:00 -0600

Science has a tendency to pooh-pooh anything that even remotely might require some kind of faith. It often turns out that as more and more is discovered about a particular subject that the theories that buttress up scientific ideas can also give the faithful reason to believe what they believe. Could the same be happening with the belief in Santa Claus? Is belief in him so far-fetched as some Bah-humbug scientists would have us believe? Hmmm….

File Download (8:48 min / 8.1 MB)

Why the Sky is Blue (complete)

Mark Ritter — Mon, 11 Dec 2006 18:32:00 -0600

Most people with any sort of curiosity have wanted to know why the sky is blue. Well, here’s your answer in living color, well… living sound anyway. Added bonus: Why sunsets are red. (Here is the complete recording. Our apologies!)

File Download (5:27 min / 5 MB)

SuperMassive BlackHoles

Mark Ritter — Sun, 10 Dec 2006 23:56:00 -0600

Astronomers say there is a supermassive black hole in the center of our galaxy. What evidence is there that a star-sucking, dust-devouring monster lurks there?

File Download (4:58 min / 4.6 MB)

Weightlessness and Being in Orbit

Mark Ritter — Thu, 23 Nov 2006 12:30:00 -0600

What is “being in orbit”? Does gravity go away when we go into orbit? Why do things float up there? Do we really lose weight? Would that make astronauts more healthy? What is the meaning of life? What is Velveeta??? Most of these questions are answered in this little intro to being in orbit.

File Download (4:47 min / 4.4 MB)

A Cosmic Thanksgiving

Mark Ritter — Sun, 19 Nov 2006 19:35:00 -0600

We have lots to be thankful for in our everyday life, but did you know there is a whole cosmos of phenomena to give thanks for? This time we look at just a handful of things pouring out of that Cornucopia of Blessing we call the universe.

File Download (5:21 min / 5 MB)

Mercury Transit Authority

Mark Ritter — Wed, 01 Nov 2006 00:21:00 -0600

Mercury and Venus can both get between us and the Sun. On Wednesday, 8 November, it’s Mercury’s turn. Here’re the details on when and where the little guy will try and eclipse the Sun.

File Download (4:45 min / 4.4 MB)

Testing Your Sky-Q: Fall 2006

Mark Ritter — Wed, 25 Oct 2006 23:00:00 -0500

Just another chance for you to test your knowledge of the skies in three quick and easy true and false questions, with accompanying explanation. This time: eclipses, horoscopes, and Pluto.

File Download (6:05 min / 5.6 MB)

How We "See" the Universe

Mark Ritter — Wed, 11 Oct 2006 01:22:00 -0500

We have remarkable senses to help us live our everyday lives. But we are limited to just one to discover the entire rest of the universe – sight. And although our eyes are amazing works of art, they are limited. How can we perceive distant galaxies too dim to see naked eye? How can we see all the other types of light out there? Hint: It starts with a “tele” and ends with a “scope.”

File Download (5:40 min / 5.2 MB)

Horsing Around in Pegasus

Mark Ritter — Sat, 30 Sep 2006 21:50:00 -0500

Let’s take a romp around the starfields in the constellation Pegasus!

File Download (6:08 min / 5.7 MB)

Astronomy and the Big Questions 3

Mark Ritter — Tue, 19 Sep 2006 21:38:00 -0500

Parts 1 and 2 showed us an other-wordly beginning to our universe and a marvelously fine-tuned planet now. Here things get dark and creepy, for some see nothing but death and darkness for life in the universe. But is it all as dark as some predict? Does our past and present give us any clues to our destiny? Maybe there is hope after all…

File Download (6:08 min / 5.7 MB)

Astronomy and the Big Questions 2

Mark Ritter — Thu, 14 Sep 2006 20:26:00 -0500

Part Two of our look into how astronomy helps us understand our place in the universe focuses on the here and now. What does the fine-tuning of this universe and our planet say about purpose and meaning, if anything?

File Download (6:00 min / 5.5 MB)

Astronomy and the Big Questions 1

Mark Ritter — Sun, 10 Sep 2006 17:18:00 -0500

Many see science as knowledge for knowledge’s sake. But can it – especially astronomy – tell us anything about the Meaning to Life? Here in Part I we look at how the beginning of the universe may reveal clues as to why we are here.

File Download (5:31 min / 5.2 MB)

The Redshift

Mark Ritter — Fri, 25 Aug 2006 12:49:00 -0500

So what’s all this strange science talk about Redshift and Blueshift? Find out in this edition of the Skies Above!

File Download (6:41 min / 6.1 MB)

Faint Sun Paradox

Mark Ritter — Wed, 17 May 2006 10:08:00 -0500

Not just a MERE coincidence – not an AMAZING coincidence – but a MIRACULOUS coincidence – the Faint Sun Paradox.

File Download (5:17 min / 4.9 MB)

Leo the Little Lion

Mark Ritter — Sun, 30 Apr 2006 15:32:00 -0500

We are all familiar with the constellation, Leo the Lion. But what about his little neighbor Leo Minor, the Little Lion? And what’s all this got to do with a Polish astronomer with a curious Latin name?

File Download (4:01 min / 3.7 MB)

Big Dipper

Mark Ritter — Wed, 12 Apr 2006 14:37:00 -0500

You know WHAT it is. You probably know WHERE it is. But there is much more to know about that great Scoop in the Sky…

File Download (3:59 min / 3.7 MB)

The Venus Express

Mark Ritter — Sat, 18 Mar 2006 18:42:00 -0600

So! What the heck is that bright light hoovering mysteriously in the Eastern pre-dawn skies? So glad you asked!

File Download (4:33 min / 4.2 MB)

Do a Rocky Body and Water Mean Life?

Mark Ritter — Tue, 21 Feb 2006 02:15:00 -0600

Many astronomers imply that all one needs is a rocky planet with water on it, and life is probably swarming there. Is it really that simple?

File Download (5:29 min / 5 MB)

Testing Your Sky-Q: Part 2

Mark Ritter — Wed, 15 Feb 2006 02:13:00 -0600

How much do you know about this beautiful Universe of ours? Take our quiz and find out…um…again. Here we deal with the colors of the cosmos.

File Download (5:47 min / 5.3 MB)

Could Be Worse...But It's Not :)

Mark Ritter — Tue, 31 Jan 2006 11:43:00 -0600

Seems like the Earth gives us a pretty rough time every now and then. But in the Big Picture – it’s the only place to be!

File Download (5:17 min / 4.9 MB)

Testing Your Sky-Q

Mark Ritter — Tue, 17 Jan 2006 22:49:00 -0600

How much do you know about this beautiful Universe of ours? Take our quiz and find out!

File Download (6:23 min / 5.9 MB)

Looking Back And Moving Forward

Mark Ritter — Tue, 17 Jan 2006 22:29:00 -0600

What a great year it’s been for astronomy! Here are some thingss you can look forward to in the year to come. As well as some ideas of how you can improve learn more about this beautiful science in 2006.

File Download (6:18 min / 5.8 MB)

Fun With The Sun

Mark Ritter — Tue, 17 Jan 2006 22:28:00 -0600

With so many small twinkly stars up there – we take for granted the one we need the most. Ever wonder what keeps the Sun so hot or why we can even SEE it? Find out in this installment!

File Download (5:09 min / 4.7 MB)

Twinkle Twinkle Little Star

Mark Ritter — Tue, 17 Jan 2006 22:27:00 -0600

So we know THAT stars twinkle. And we know WHERE that song came from. But do we know WHY?...

File Download (3:59 min / 3.7 MB)

A Martian Opposition

Mark Ritter — Tue, 17 Jan 2006 22:25:00 -0600

They’re real and they’re coming to get us!!! Kidding…haha…just joking. Whoa boy. But seriously. You’d better listen to find out how to keep tabs on our Little Green Friends…

File Download (4:20 min / 4 MB)

Scoping Out A Scope

Mark Ritter — Tue, 17 Jan 2006 22:20:00 -0600

So! You’re wondering how to pick out a telescope. Here are a few pointers for scopin’ out the right light-bucket!

File Download (3:52 min / 3.5 MB)

Throwin' A Star Party

Mark Ritter — Tue, 17 Jan 2006 22:19:00 -0600

How to look, much more closely, at the beautiful universe above us.

File Download (4:11 min / 3.8 MB)

A Positive Spin On Hurricanes

Mark Ritter — Tue, 17 Jan 2006 22:17:00 -0600

Hurricanes: Can’t live with ‘em. Can’t live without ‘em…

File Download (5:18 min / 4.9 MB)

The Fall Equinox

Mark Ritter — Tue, 17 Jan 2006 22:11:00 -0600

Of all the big four seasonal dates – the winter and summer solstices and the spring and fall equinoxes – the fall equinox falls under “Most Ignored.”

File Download (5:01 min / 4.6 MB)