Dog Stars

May 17 2024 30 ep. 7 mins 45
Dog Stars Podcast artwork

Join Chris Lintott and Mr Max on their evening exploration of the night sky (Chris) and the discarded pizza boxes of Oxford (Max). Indulge in lazy astronomy: the art of being impressed simply by looking up. The podcast is your five minute guide to what to look for in our changing night sky and the stories of what's found there, as you wander with or without your own four-legged friend. Remember: No barking! Descriptions of the sky suitable for anywhere in the northern hemisphere.

  Science
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Episode 29: Aurora

May 17 2024 12 mins  
Mr Max and Chris are back out for an evening walk in the Sun, rejoicing in the nearly once-in-a-lifetime view of the aurorae that much of the world enjoyed last week. We find out what causes the Northern and Southern lights, why last week was quite so good, and what the chances are of a similar show in the near future. We respect the lights, while being very good and Not Barking a

Episode 28: Capella

Mar 19 2024 7 mins  
Mr Max and Chris are back out under surprisingly wintery skies. We check in on our old friend Betelgeuse, follow a new friend for a while with #nobarking, and talk about why you need goats in your chariot, why one star is really four, and what to spot with binoculars. You can read more about Capella here: https://www.skyatnightmagazine.com/advice/star-capella And buy Chris'

Episode 27: Radio

Feb 16 2024 8 mins  
On a cloudy damp evening in Oxford, Chris and Mr Max are braving the weather. Max is keen on a jam jar, while Chris tells us the story of world’s greatest radio astronomer, Grote Reber. Missiles and parrots also feature. The story is included in Chris’s new book, ‘Our Accidental Universe’, out in March and available from Amazon (https://blackwells.co.uk/bookshop/product/O

Episode 26: Gemini

Feb 02 2024 6 mins  
On a clear February night, Mr Max is heading for home after visiting Bread Corner. Meanwhile, Chris picks on his least favourite constellation, Gemini. The twins take a prominent place in the winter sky, but we find out why it disappoints Chris, how it harbours a strange, pulsing mystery, and why it's the place to keep an eye out for planets. There's a guide to Gemini fro

Episode 25: Orion Nebula

Jan 05 2024 9 mins  
This episode is dedicated to a winter wonder, the Orion Nebula. Learn about Chris' favourite object as we hear how conditions in this nearby stellar nursery may have given us a clue to the start of life on Earth while Mr Max explores a new set of streets in search of pizza. Amazing image of the nebula from Hubble here: https://hubblesite.org/contents/media/images/2006/01/1826

Episode 24: Christmas

Dec 22 2023 8 mins  
It's Christmas, and the International Space Station will be paying us a festive visit. Mr Max is enjoying festive pavement treats, Chris tells us a Christmas story about the power of doing very little, and the Moon just about peeks through the clouds. Thanks for joining us on our walks this year! Let's Go! International Space Station predictions from https://heavens-abov

Episode 23: Jupiter

Nov 24 2023 9 mins  
Chris and Mr Max are out under a beautifully clear winter sky, looking at Jupiter and talking about its enormous (but shrinking) red spot. New results from the Juno spacecraft (https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/jupiters-great-red-spot-is-surprisingly-deep/) teach us about this long lived storm, and provide a surprising connection to lego. Mr Max is keen for speed, and is n

Episode 22: Pegasus

Oct 13 2023 7 mins  
Chris and Mr Max are out under autumn skies. Chris talks about the special stars of the Great Square of Pegasus, which is not Great or even a square. We wonder if the Moon illusion applies to flying horses, while Mr Max deals with the students of Oxford by choosing to stroll down the middle of the street. You can read about counting stars in the square here: https://skyandtelesco

Episode 21: Saturn and Titan

Oct 06 2023 8 mins  
Chris and Mr Max are back, enjoying dark skies, freshly cut grass and the splendours of Saturn. The pair find out why lunar conspiracy nuts should pay attention to Saturn's rings, invent a new paint colour and talk about Titan's methane rain, all while Not Barking at a lively 'guest'. Galileo's drawing of Saturn is here: https://attic.gsfc.nasa.gov/huygensgcms

Episode 20: Lyra Vega

Aug 25 2023 7 mins  
Mr Max and Chris are up late following a lunar landing, and enjoying a quiet, starry sky. Find out what an eagle is doing with a harp, why aliens shouldn't exist around brilliant Vega, and the ultimate fate of the Sun. Meanwhile, Mr Max is being A Good Boy despite having encountered Eric, the local bulldog. You can read more about Vega here: https://www.skyatnightmagazine.com/