334E-353-Backwards

334E-353-Backwards

Author: Albert D. Grauer April 29, 2025 Duration: 2:01
Using the University of Arizona's Large Binocular Telescope atop Mt. Graham in southern Arizona, Dr. Paul Wiegert of Western University in Canada, led a team of astronomers who have determined that a 2 mile diameter object bucks the solar system traffic by traveling in a direction backwards to all of the planets. In their March 30, 2017 article in the journal Nature, these astronomers confirm that 2015 BZ509, travels about Jupiter on a path in a direction opposite to nearly every other member of our solar system. Amazingly it has avoided a collision with Jupiter by using the giant planet's gravity to maintain a path that has been stable for a million years or so. This astounding trick is performed as 2015 BZ509 passes once inside and once outside of Jupiter's orbit as they both travel about the Sun. The resulting effect of Jupiter's timely gravitational pulls on this small asteroid are exactly right to keep it from having a collision or from being ejected from the solar system.

Each episode of Travelers In The Night feels like a quiet, personal conversation under a dark sky. Hosted by astronomer Dr. Albert D. Grauer, this podcast brings the distant cosmos into sharp, intimate focus. Dr. Grauer isn't just an observer; he's an active participant in the hunt, working with the Catalina Sky Survey team that has consistently discovered near-Earth asteroids for years. In these brief and engaging segments, you'll hear firsthand accounts of what it's like to track these ancient celestial travelers-the asteroids and comets that silently pass by our world. The discussions move beyond simple facts to explore the real-world implications of these discoveries, from planetary defense to the sheer wonder of our dynamic solar system. Accompanied by the contemplative music of John Lyell's "Eternity," each installment offers a moment of calm reflection on humanity's place in the universe. It’s a perfect blend of grounded science and cosmic curiosity, making complex astronomical concepts accessible and deeply fascinating. For anyone who has ever looked up and wondered what's out there moving in the dark, this podcast provides a direct line to the front lines of discovery.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 1000

Travelers In The Night
Podcast Episodes
344-Gnats [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:01
Small asteroids swarm about the Earth in its orbit around the Sun like gnats around an outdoor light in the summer time.
343-Mars Window [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:01
Humans are sending a fleet of their emissaries to Mars in 2020.
342-That's Close [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:01
A small asteroid, which could pass under a basketball hoop, missed the Earth by about 9,000 miles.
341-Ballooning to Space [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:01
A ride under a balloon can give you several hours to enjoy the wonders of the Earth and its curvature against the back drop of space.
340-Carson's Comet [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:01
In the distant future, Carson's first comet discovery is likely to impact a planet or be ejected from the solar system.
339-No Need To Smile [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:01
The company called Planet has 149 satellites orbiting the Earth which are imaging the Earth's entire land area every day.
338-Psyche Bound [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:01
A spacecraft will be launched to visit a small metal world whose composition is likely to be worth 10,000 quadrillion dollars on today's market.
337-Lucy [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:01
The Lucy Spacecraft, named after the human fossil Lucy, will revolutionize our knowledge of the origins of our solar system.
336-Meteorite Mystery [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:01
Travel to the South Pole to Solve A Mystery.
335-DART [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:01
When Failure Is Not A Good Option.