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Join Dean Regas, astronomer, author, and space expert on a journey through the stars! Guests from all over the globe bring their knowledge and passion about today’s latest scientific discoveries and advancements. From eclipses to supernovas, from rockets to rovers; there’s a whole universe to explore! Dean is the author of “How to Teach Grown-Ups About Pluto” and “100 Things to See in the Night Sky” and was the longtime host of PBS' Stargazers television program. Looking Up is a production of Cincinnati Public Radio.Subscribe:AppleSpotifyNPRiHeartRadioAmazonPocket CastsRSS FeedThemes and summary (AI-generated based on podcaster-provided show and episode descriptions):
➤ astronomy news and history • planetary science: Mars, Venus, Pluto • exoplanets and life • black holes and cosmic end scenarios • comets and asteroids • observatories and outreach • spaceflight, Apollo, private exploration • dark-sky preservation • accessibility in astronomyThis podcast is a conversational astronomy and space-science show hosted by astronomer and author Dean Regas. Across the episodes, Regas interviews researchers, science writers, astronauts, and observatory staff to explain current discoveries and enduring questions about the universe, often translating technical ideas into everyday “what would it be like if…” scenarios.
A major thread is planetary science and exploration. Discussions range from new interpretations of older spacecraft datasets and what they might imply about worlds like Venus, to the search for life beyond Earth amid thousands of confirmed exoplanets. The show also spends time on how planets are discovered and modeled, including the detective work behind proposals for unseen bodies in the outer solar system. Solar-system events and small bodies appear frequently as well, such as comets impacting giant planets and how astronomers assess asteroid risk.
Another recurring focus is extreme and large-scale astrophysics: what black holes might do to matter and perception, how stars can have unexpected shapes and behaviors, and how cosmologists think about the ultimate fate of the universe using different end-state scenarios. These topics are framed through interviews with specialists who connect theory to observations.
Human stories and the culture surrounding space also play a prominent role. The podcast looks at historical bouts of public fascination with Mars and “Martians,” the personal perspective of seeing Earth from space, and the family experiences of major exploration milestones like the Moon landing. It also explores space and astronomy communication itself—how TV astronomy programs were made, what happens at observatories after all-night work, and how outreach and education are evolving.
Practical and social dimensions of astronomy come up too, including dark-sky preservation and questions about lighting, plus efforts to make astronomy accessible to people with visual impairments. Overall, the content blends scientific explanation, history, and firsthand perspectives on how space science is done and shared.