StarTalk Radio Cosmic Queries – Galactic Grab Bag – Blue Steel
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Jan 16, 2026 Dive into cosmic curiosities as Neil deGrasse Tyson and Chuck Nice tackle fascinating questions! Can we terraform Mars? What happens when black holes die? Discover lunar libration's wobble, the changing night sky, and why mercury is liquid at room temperature. Unravel the secrets of telescope time allocation and the mesmerizing story of the Hubble Deep Field. Plus, learn why photons are timeless and how black holes evaporate. Prepare for a galactic journey filled with science and humor!
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Why The Moon 'Wobbles'
- The Moon appears to 'wobble' because its elliptical orbit makes its rotation sometimes lead or lag its orbital motion (libration).
- Libration lets us see a bit more than half the lunar surface over a month.
Night Sky Changes Over Human Timescales
- Stars move across space so constellations change noticeably over tens of thousands of years.
- Neil de Grasse Tyson says many familiar constellations would look very different 75,000–100,000 years ago.
Why Mercury Is Liquid Is Complex
- Melting point depends on atomic structure and electron orbitals, not just proton count.
- Neil de Grasse Tyson admits he lacks a deep answer for why mercury is uniquely liquid at room temperature.