Themes and summary (AI-generated based on podcaster-provided show and episode descriptions):
➤ Astronomy interviews and explainers • asteroids/planetary defense • exoplanets, astrobiology, aliens • black holes, cosmology theories • observatory history and telescope restoration • dark-sky conservation • science communication, STEM paths • sci‑fi reviews, art, religion-science discussions
This podcast from Lowell Observatory uses conversations with astronomers, educators, historians, artists, authors, and astronauts to explore astronomy and space science alongside the human stories and cultural context that surround them. Across the episodes, the hosts move between big-picture questions—how the universe works, what black holes imply, and what leading theories like string theory, multiverses, or simulations propose—and grounded explanations of how scientists actually gather evidence, including observing practices and techniques such as spectroscopy and astrophotography.
A recurring theme is life in the universe: astrobiology, the search for habitable worlds and exoplanets, and frameworks like the Drake Equation that shape discussions about extraterrestrial civilizations. Related topics include interstellar visitors and the uncertainties of interpreting limited data. Planetary science also features prominently, from Earth’s formation to impact craters and near-Earth objects, with attention to planetary defense efforts and the practical and policy stakes of monitoring and potentially redirecting asteroids.
The show often connects space science to places and institutions, highlighting observatories, telescope engineering and restoration, and public-facing programs such as planetariums and astronomy residencies in national parks. Dark-sky preservation and light-friendly infrastructure are discussed as both scientific and environmental concerns, alongside creative responses to the night sky through poetry, visual art, and documentary work.
Interwoven with the science are episodes that treat astronomy as part of broader society: profiles of influential figures in astronomical history, reflections on careers and training in STEM (including burnout and the experiences of women scientists), and discussions that bridge science with religion, literature, and popular culture. The podcast also revisits science fiction films and books to compare familiar narratives with scientific perspectives, using entertainment as a gateway to real concepts in astronomy.
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Episodes:
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Are We Safe From Asteroids? | We Talk To Astronaut Rusty Schweickart
2025-Jul-24
39 minutes
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The Most Human: Adam Nimoy on Legacy, Love, and Spock
2025-Jul-09
27 minutes
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Does Venus Have A Moon? | We Talk To Zoozve Discoverer Brian Skiff
2024-Aug-19
30 minutes
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LIVE from Grand Canyon: Turning the Park Dark
2024-Jul-25
55 minutes
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Makers, Menders, and Writers | We Talk to Diana Gabaldon
2024-Apr-23
43 minutes
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How Common is Life on Other Planets?
2023-Dec-19
33 minutes
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CSI: Mechanical Forensics
2023-Dec-05
33 minutes
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Reconciling Religion and Astronomy
2023-Nov-21
36 minutes
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A Moving Portrait
2023-Nov-07
31 minutes
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How the Earth Formed
2023-Oct-17
34 minutes
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Bringing Astronomy to the People
2023-Oct-04
33 minutes
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Life Beyond Our Solar System
2023-Sep-26
52 minutes
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The Life and Times of Percival Lowell
2023-Sep-05
32 minutes
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Choosing Between Sciences and Humanities: We Talk to Journalist Melissa Sevigny
2023-Aug-15
36 minutes
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Making an Impact
2023-Aug-01
31 minutes
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Making Science Accessible
2023-Jul-18
33 minutes
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Theories of the Universe Part 2
2023-Jul-04
42 minutes
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Theories of the Universe Part 1
2023-Jun-20
38 minutes
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What Astronomers Do In The Dark
2023-Jun-06
51 minutes
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Apollo Astronauts At The Grand Canyon? We Talk To Dark Sky Ranger Rader Lane
2023-May-16
50 minutes
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What Is Life Really Like In Space? – We Talk To Astronaut Nicole Stott
2023-May-02
31 minutes
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Capturing The Cosmos: We Talk About Astrophotography
2023-Apr-18
38 minutes
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What Is Life?
2023-Apr-04
41 minutes
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Let’s Take A (Conversational) Look at the Sun – We Talk to Dr. Jeff Hall
2023-Mar-21
63 minutes
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Exploring the Drake Equation: We Talk About Aliens
2023-Mar-07
38 minutes
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The Math of the Universe & Elements of Awe with Astronomer Dr. Daniel Fleisch
2023-Feb-21
52 minutes
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From The Farm To The Stars: We Talk About Clyde Tombaugh
2023-Feb-07
42 minutes
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Beyond The Event Horizon: We Talk About Black Holes
2023-Jan-17
40 minutes
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Seeing The Unseen: We Talk About Spectroscopy
2023-Jan-03
48 minutes
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Season 1 Finale: What We Learned On Season 1
2022-Dec-27
58 minutes
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Learning Science Through Historic Literature
2022-Dec-20
46 minutes
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How Realistic Were These Popular Sci-Fi Movies? A Scientist’s Review
2022-Dec-14
59 minutes
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Fostering Education Resources in Communities
2022-Dec-06
51 minutes
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Tales from the Drinking Horn: We Talk Norse Mythology with the Meadcast
2022-Nov-29
44 minutes
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Arecibo Observatory: A Message To The Unknown
2022-Nov-22
51 minutes
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The Modern Hunt for Aliens: What Is Astrobiology?
2022-Nov-15
50 minutes
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‘Oumuamua: The Extrasolar Asteroid… Or Alien Craft
2022-Nov-08
59 minutes
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The Fear and Beauty of the Night: We Talk to Grand Canyon’s Astronomer in Residence Lauren Camp
2022-Nov-01
56 minutes
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We Got Astronomers to Review ‘The Thing’
2022-Oct-25
58 minutes
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Searching for New Worlds with Jake Clark
2022-Oct-18
70 minutes
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Debating Space Conspiracy Theories
2022-Oct-11
46 minutes
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How Would You Remember The Stars? | We Talk to Rader Lane, Dark Sky Ranger at Grand Canyon National Park
2022-Oct-05
55 minutes
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When Black Holes Collide
2022-Sep-27
49 minutes
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Throwing DARTs: Exploring NASA’s Planetary Defense Mission
2022-Sep-20
46 minutes
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Asteroids: How Love, Fear, and Greed Will Determine Our Future in Space
2022-Sep-13
70 minutes
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Dr. Vera Rubin: Discoveries, Stories, and Good Memories
2022-Sep-06
67 minutes
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Academic Burnout
2022-Aug-30
74 minutes
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Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir: An Astronomer’s Review
2022-Aug-23
73 minutes
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Guess That Sci-Fi Movie: We Play A Podcast Game
2022-Aug-16
59 minutes
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The Path of a Female Scientist
2022-Aug-09
57 minutes
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Saturn Opposition: What It Means and Why It’s So Cool
2022-Aug-02
26 minutes
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The Art of the Night Sky – We Talk to “NightVisions” Artist Arline Martens and Exhibit Co-Creator Chris Luginbuhl
2022-Jul-26
42 minutes
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Astronomy in Poetry with Author Julie Swarstad Johnson
2022-Jul-19
47 minutes
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How The James Webb Space Telescope Will Change The Way We Look At The Cosmos
2022-Jul-12
66 minutes
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Star Stories (the Constellations of Summer)
2022-Jul-05
49 minutes
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Talking With Grown-Ups About Pluto (And Other Fun Controversies) | We Talk To Dean Regas
2022-Jun-28
67 minutes
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The Lowell Iceberg: Strange Sightings, Observatory Lore, and Clown Man
2022-Jun-21
60 minutes
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Car Trouble and the Rings of Uranus
2022-Jun-13
76 minutes
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Finding Your Unicorn Career in STEM: We Talk To Alaina Levine
2022-Jun-07
81 minutes
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The Sound of Science in Movies: We Review Sci-Fi Scores
2022-May-31
48 minutes
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The Career Path of an Astronomer
2022-May-24
50 minutes
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Uncovering 50-Year-Old Moon Rock: We Talk to Dr. Chip Shearer
2022-May-17
57 minutes
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The Total Lunar Eclipse: Myth, Lore, and History
2022-May-10
58 minutes
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Sol’s Planets – We Talk To Two Lowell Planetary Scientists
2022-May-03
61 minutes
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Exploring Dark Skies with Grand Canyon “Dark Sky Ranger” Rader Lane
2022-Apr-26
54 minutes
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Comets, Asteroids, and Centaurs
2022-Apr-19
63 minutes
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What Does It Mean To Imagine? We Talk To Ed Finn of ASU’s Center for Science and the Imagination
2022-Apr-12
40 minutes
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The $10 Billion Origami Project: We Review the Basics of the James Webb Space Telescope
2022-Apr-05
44 minutes
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The Life of Stars: We Talk to Lowell Astronomer Gerard van Belle
2022-Mar-29
51 minutes
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Star Stories (The Constellations Of Spring)
2022-Mar-22
49 minutes
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Life on Mars (Human and … Otherwise)
2022-Mar-15
60 minutes
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Capturing Dark Energy On Camera: We Talk to Dr. Kyler Kuehn
2022-Mar-08
39 minutes
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Life On Other Planets, In Art And In Our Universe: We Talk to Dr. Dan Durda
2022-Mar-01
46 minutes
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Clyde Tombaugh, From The Eyes of His Son: We Talk to Alden Tombaugh
2022-Feb-22
44 minutes
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The Real Indiana Jones: We Talk to Dr. Johanson, the Lucy Discoverer
2022-Feb-15
52 minutes
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The Adventures of a Shadow Chaser and Asteroid Hunter: We Talk to Dr. Cathy Olkin
2022-Feb-08
57 minutes
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“My Other Vehicle Explored Pluto” – We Talk To Dr. Alan Stern
2022-Feb-01
46 minutes
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What Would “Armageddon” Really Be Like?
2022-Jan-25
40 minutes
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The Secrets of Lowell Observatory
2022-Jan-18
48 minutes
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A Case For The Sky Egg
2022-Jan-11
39 minutes
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Black Holes, Spacetime, and Bread
2022-Jan-04
42 minutes
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Introducing Star Stuff: A Space Poddity
2021-Nov-18
15 minutes
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