Neptune... At Last!

Neptune... At Last!

Author: The Royal Astronomical Society November 28, 2023 Duration: 49:46
They've done it. It has taken them all year but Izzie Clarke and Dr Becky Smethurst have reached the final planet in our solar system; Neptune.

Dr Leigh Fletcher from the University of Leicester is back to cover the basics of the planet and Carolyn Kennett, Chair of the Society for the History of Astronomy, tells Izzie about its controversial discovery. Plus, Dr Robert Massey is on hand for some winter stargazing.

The Supermassive Podcast is a Boffin Media production by Izzie Clarke and Richard Hollingham for the Royal Astronomical Society. 



Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.


Hosted by science journalist Izzie Clarke and astrophysicist Dr. Becky Smethurst, The Supermassive Podcast is a journey through the cosmos produced by The Royal Astronomical Society. Each episode blends cutting-edge science with historical context, creating a rich narrative that connects past discoveries to present-day mysteries. You’ll hear conversations with leading researchers breaking down complex ideas, from gravitational slingshots to the nature of time itself, alongside deep dives into archival material that reveals how our understanding of the universe has evolved. The tone is both curious and conversational, making even the most profound concepts in physics and astronomy feel accessible and exciting. Regular contributions from Dr. Robert Massey offer practical guidance for observing the night sky, grounding the theoretical in the tangible. This isn't just a series of interviews; it's an exploration driven by listener questions, which range from the wonderfully weird to the fundamentally profound, ensuring every topic has a direct link to shared human curiosity. Tuning into this podcast feels like having a front-row seat to the latest scientific discussions while being reminded of the long, fascinating history that got us here. It’s where the biggest questions about black holes, multiverses, and our place in the cosmos are met with genuine enthusiasm and expert insight, all delivered with a distinctly engaging energy.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

The Supermassive Podcast
Podcast Episodes
BONUS - Wobbly Planets and Baby Names [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 13:50
Can wobbly planets have more than two solstices? Are we earthlings receding from the sun and the other planets? What is dark flow and why is it controversial? When stars die, is their energy lost forever? Send your quest…
Into The Interstellar [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 45:45
Izzie and Dr Becky are venturing into interstellar space. What is it? Where is it? And what do we know about it? With special thanks to Professor Martin Barstow from University of Leicester and Professor Chris Lintott fr…
BONUS - Dust, stars and alien streetlights [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 12:17
What is cosmic dust? Could we reignite a dying Sun with a nuclear weapon? How do we know what galaxies stars are in, and can the JWST see streetlights on alien worlds? If you have a question for the Supermassive team, se…
Quakes in Space [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 53:40
Izzie and Dr Becky are exploring shaky ground, whether that’s on Earth, other planets and even on our neighbour the Moon. This month is all about quakes. With special thanks to Mark Panning, the project scientist for NAS…
BONUS - Double Yolker Galaxies [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 13:19
Do we see black hole mergers as a result of galaxy mergers? What did the night sky look like to the dinosaurs? Is a gas giant just a rocky planet with a huge and dense atmosphere? Do all orbits eventually end up in reson…
The End of the World [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 47:52
The Supermassive Podcast is back for 2024 and putting the "happy" in Happy New Year! What could be a cheerier start to the year than an episode about the End of the World… Astronomically speaking!?From supernova explosio…
Do We Live In A Multiverse? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 48:04
Izzie Clarke and Dr Becky Smethurst are rounding off 2023 with a biggie. Arguably the biggest of them all. This episode is ALL about the Multiverse. What is it? What does it mean? Does it even exist? A big thank you to A…
BONUS - Could Space Junk Block JWST's View? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 13:40
From barbie dolls, to birds baths, what will happen to all the stuff we have made between now and the end of time? Could a large black hole spaghettify a small black hole? Could more satellites block JWST's view? And wha…
BONUS -  Space News Bulletin [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:39
Bizarre free-floating planets in space, the retrieval mission from a 4.6 billion year old asteroid, and the first images from our dark universe. Join Izzie Clarke, Dr Becky Smethurst, and Dr Robert Massey as they take yo…
Q&A - Spice Girls, Black Holes, and Ice-Cream in Space [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 40:10
It's been a while, so Izzie, Dr Becky and Robert dive into The Supermassive Mailbox for a Q&A Special. How is the mass of a star determined? Does JWST have fuel to come back? And is it possible for Voyager 1 or 2 to swit…