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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 discoveries and cosmic phenomena • Mars, Venus, exoplanets, habitability • Black holes, universe’s fate • Space missions, rockets, rovers, astronauts’ life • Astrophotography and observatory culture • Space history and sci‑fi influencesThis podcast explores astronomy and space science through conversations with researchers, science communicators, writers, and other guests, guided by astronomer and author Dean Regas. Across the episodes, the show moves between major frontiers of current research—such as the search for life beyond Earth, planetary exploration, and the physics of extreme objects—and the human stories that shape how space is studied and understood.
A recurring focus is Mars as both a scientific target and a cultural idea, including how rover missions analyze rocks for possible chemical traces of ancient life and what evidence suggests about the planet’s wetter past. The podcast also expands to other worlds and systems, from Venus’s historical data and changing interpretations to exoplanet discoveries and how astronomers prioritize promising stars when looking for potentially habitable planets. Bigger cosmic questions appear as well, including what black holes might be like to experience and how the universe could ultimately end.
Alongside observational and theoretical science, the show often looks at the practice and history of astronomy: debates around early astrophotography, life and logistics at observatories, and behind-the-scenes perspectives on public-facing astronomy media. Episodes also connect space to everyday and cultural contexts, such as how astronauts eat in microgravity, how science fiction approaches problem-solving, and how historic events on Earth—from airship disasters to famous family legacies of exploration—intersect with the public imagination about the sky.