The Supermassive Podcast
The Royal Astronomical Society
The UK's #1 space podcast.Science journalist Izzie Clarke and astrophysicist Dr Becky Smethurst whizz through the universe to explore the latest research with leading experts, dive to history from the society’s archives and take on your weird and wonderful questions about all things space. Can we gravitationally hitch-hike out of the solar system? Do we live in a multiverse? What is time? Plus Dr Robert Massey is on hand with his top star-gazing tips.Want to support the show? Join The Supermassive Club for exclusive content, star-gazing forums and ad-free listening... supermassive.supportingcast.fmAnd keep adding to The Supermassive Mailbox with your pictures and questions for the team. Send them to podcast@ras.ac.uk or follow them on Instagram, @SupermassivePod.The Supermassive Podcast is a Boffin Media production for the Royal Astronomical Society. The producers are Izzie Clarke and Richard Hollingham. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Jun 13, 2023 • 15min
41: BONUS - Why do Gas Giants exist?
Exploring the history and variations of constellation naming, creating your own constellations, observing galaxies at different life stages, the existence of gas giants, the position of black holes in galaxies, the monochromatic appearance of Jupiter, Taylor Swift's space references, and astronomical namesakes.
May 27, 2023 • 46min
41: BIG Observatories
We love stargazing on The Supermassive Podcast, so we thought it was about time we had an episode on the future of ground-based telescopes. From the brilliant named Extremely Large Telescope to the Square Kilometre Array Observatory, Dr Aprajita Verma from Oxford University and science journalist, Sarah Wild, tell Izzie and Dr Becky about the observatories that will transform our understanding of the universe. Searching African Skies by Sarah Wild - https://www.waterstones.com/book/searching-african-skies/sarah-wild/9781431404728Send your questions or astrophotography to podcast@ras.ac.uk, tweet @RoyalAstroSoc, or find us on Instagram @SupermassivePod. The Supermassive Podcast is a Boffin Media production for The Royal Astronomical Society. The producers are Izzie Clarke and Richard Hollingham. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
May 13, 2023 • 16min
40: BONUS - Are Lunar Poles Arbitrary?
What's the most efficient way of space travel? How does longitude change your night sky view? Why does M87* look different? This month, Izzie Clarke, Dr Becky Smethurst and Dr Robert Massey take on your questions in The Supermassive Mailbox.Want to support The Supermassive Podcast? Why not buy our book The Year In Space - https://geni.us/jNcrwThe Supermassive Podcast from the Royal Astronomical Society is a Boffin Media Production. The producers are Izzie Clarke and Richard Hollingham. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Apr 29, 2023 • 50min
40: Becky Loves Saturn
Join Dr Becky as she discusses her favorite planet, Saturn, with Professor Geraint Jones and Professor John Zarnecki. They delve into topics such as Saturn's captivating rings, mysterious dark markings, NASA's Dragonfly mission on Titan, Saturn's atmosphere, and the possibility of Earth getting a ring. Dr Robert Massey also shares stargazing tips and takes listener questions.
Apr 7, 2023 • 14min
39: BONUS - Do black holes stop time?
Are gravitational waves destructive? Will the universe ever expand faster than the speed of light? Should we only send robots to space? This month, Izzie Clarke, Dr Becky Smethurst and Dr Robert Massey take on the BIG questions in The Supermassive Mailbox. Want to support The Supermassive Podcast? Why not buy our book The Year In Space - https://geni.us/jNcrwThe Supermassive Podcast from the Royal Astronomical Society is a Boffin Media Production. The producers are Izzie Clarke and Richard Hollingham. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Mar 24, 2023 • 47min
39: Jupiter The Monster
Scott Boulton and Emma Bunce, experts in Jupiter missions, join the podcast to discuss the planet's unique characteristics, the upcoming Juice mission to explore its icy moons, and the challenges of traveling to Jupiter. Stargazing expert Robert Massey shares April night sky observations.
Mar 10, 2023 • 13min
38: BONUS - More Comets, Less Asteroids
Is there a Cosmological Horizon? Can we change a comet's orbit to see more of them? What's the most distant human-made object in space? Izzie, Dr Becky and Robert dive into The Supermassive Mailbox to answer your questions. Want to support The Supermassive Podcast? Why not buy our book The Year In Space - https://geni.us/jNcrwThe Supermassive Podcast is a Boffin Media Production by Izzie Clarke and Richard Hollingham. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Feb 24, 2023 • 44min
38: Gettin' Gravitational Wave-y
The Supermassive team take on their toughest challenge (and most tenuous title) yet…Gravitational Waves. Izzie and Dr Becky explore what they are and ask how the heck to detect something so small? With special thanks to Prof. Mark Hannam from Cardiff University and Prof Sheila Rowan, Director of the Institute for Gravitational Research at the University of Glasgow. Plus Dr Robert Massey takes on your questions and shares his stargazing tips for spring. Get your copy of our book, The Year in Space, here: https://geni.us/jNcrwTo add to the Supermassive Mailbox, email questions to podcast@ras.ac.uk, tweet @RoyalAstroSoc or slide into the DMs on Instagram, @SupermassivePod. 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.
Feb 11, 2023 • 14min
37: BONUS - The Supermassive Mailbox
You spoke. We listened. We're releasing more episodes! Izzie, Dr Becky and Robert answer your questions in this first bonus episode of The Supermassive Podcast. How hard is life for an astronomer that's a morning person? How do we know if a star is really red or just red-shifted? And more. To add your questions, photos, messages to The Supermassive Mailbox then email podcast@ras.ac.uk, tweet @RoyalAstroSoc or find us on Instagram @SupermassivePod. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Jan 31, 2023 • 48min
37: Q&A - Black Hole Burps and Space Station Pacman
Can a black hole eat a black hole, whole? Is there a Universal now? Which household appliances wouldn't work on the International Space Station? Izzie Clarke puts your questions to Dr Becky Smethurst, Dr Robert Massey and Richard Hollingham. Here are the websites to help find Comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF)https://theskylive.com/https://in-the-sky.org/ If you have a burning question for the team email it to podcast@ras.ac.uk, tweet @RoyalAstrocSoc or finds us on Instagram @SupermassivePodThis is a Boffin Media Production by Izzie Clarke and Richard Hollingham. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
