880-Carrington Anticipated

880-Carrington Anticipated

Author: Albert D. Grauer December 19, 2025 Duration: 2:01
Just before noon on September 1st of 1859 Richard Carrington and Richard Hodgson were making sketches of clusters of sunspots when they were nearly blinded by an intense solar flare. 17.6 hours later a geomagnetic storm thought to be caused by a solar coronal mass ejection traveling at some 1,500 miles per second slammed into the magnetic field surrounding our home planet. We missed being hit with a such large coronal mass ejection by only 9 days in July of 2012. Next time we might not be that lucky.

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
304-Close One [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:01
Tracking a small asteroid as it makes a very close approach to planet Earth.
303-CRASH [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:01
Traveling to Mars is a risky business.
302-Sensing A Comet [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:01
Combining Art and Science gives us a new way to appreciate the wonders of the Universe.
301-Visitors From Afar [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:01
A pair of comets visiting our neighborhood are discovered in a matter of 4 days.
300-Biggest Ear [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:01
China's new big ear will be the most sensitive receiver to search for signals from alien civilizations.
299-Sporadic Geysers [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:01
The Hubble Space Telescope has spotted geysers erupting from Jupiter's Moon Europa.
298-Rosetta [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:01
A comet nucleus is a dynamic world of its own.
297-White Sky [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:01
Inappropriate night time outside lighting causes accidents and does not deter crime. However, it blinds you from the beauty of the Universe which surrounds you.
296-Tilted History [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:01
Where you are from and where you live has been influenced by changes in the tilt of the Earth's axis of rotation relative to its orbit around the Sun.
295-Close Passes [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:01
Small close approaching space rocks are part of our environment.