Had Astra Historia - Ep 302 – Take the Gloves Off, Part II

Had Astra Historia - Ep 302 – Take the Gloves Off, Part II

Author: 365DaysOfAstronomy.org March 31, 2026 Duration: 40:51

Today's guest: Dr. Richard Tresch Fienberg, astronomer and science communicator, recently served as the Expert Astronomer for Sky & Telescope's September 2025 Astronomy Tour. In our interview, we explore "Galileo's Italy" with him. Though enjoying retirement, he volunteers his time for the American Astronomical Society as Senior Advisor to the CEO, and is a Senior Contributing Editor with Sky & Telescope. This is the second of two episodes covering our interview.

 

H'ad astra historia is the official podcast for the Historical Astronomy Division (https://had.aas.org/) of the American Astronomical Society. We're here to share stories from and about the people who study the stars, planets, and the cosmos. We'll be hearing from individuals who not only study the history of astronomy, but also those who lived it, who were "in the room" during pivotal events within the last 50 years or so.  

 

Podcast theme music: 

- "Frost Waltz" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com), licensed under creative commons: by attribution 4.0 license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) 

- Star Trek sound effects: the Trek Core website (https://www.trekcore.com/audio/)

- Music for interview question 3 (highlights of Rome):  Monteverdi's L'Orfeo (1607), an excerpt from Carnegie Hall+ from June 2022 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=doMbxshdTPc)

 

Podcaster: 

Loretta Cannon (an AAS affiliate via Rose City Astronomers) is a science-and-word-nerd who really likes outer space and the people who study it. She quite enjoys working as HAD's podcaster, sharing astronomy stories to you.

 

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Imagine a daily conversation about the cosmos, where each sunrise brings a fresh perspective from a different corner of the globe. That’s the essence of The 365 Days of Astronomy. Born from the spirit of the 2009 International Year of Astronomy, this enduring project has evolved into a genuine community effort, releasing a new episode every single day. You won’t hear the same host each time; instead, the microphone passes to astronomers, educators, enthusiasts, and scientists, each sharing their unique passion and expertise. This structure means the tone and topic can shift wonderfully from one day to the next-you might delve into the mechanics of a black hole on Tuesday and then explore ancient celestial myths on Wednesday. The consistent thread is a shared wonder for the universe, presented in accessible, bite-sized pieces. Managed by Avivah Yamani and edited by Richard Drumm, this daily podcast is a production of the Planetary Science Institute, sustained by listener support. It’s a calendar of the cosmos, offering a daily moment of reflection and discovery that proves you don’t need a telescope to have your perspective shifted. Tuning in regularly builds a habit of cosmic curiosity, connecting the vastness of space to the rhythm of our own days.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

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