How do we "autopsy" a galaxy from billions of light-years away? Join world-renowned astrophysicist Dr. Elisabete da Cunha as she sits down with Astrophiz host Brendan O’Brien to explore the life, evolution, and eventual "death" of the most massive structures in the universe. From her early inspirations under the stars of Portugal to her groundbreaking work in Extragalactic Astronomy, Elisabete shares her personal journey and the high-tech tools used to decode Starlight, Cosmic Dust, and Spectral Energy Distributions (SEDs). In this episode, we dive into: Galaxy Evolution: How star systems grow and transform over billions of years. Radio Astronomy: Using invisible light to peer into the deep universe. Stellar Populations: What the chemistry of stars tells us about the history of space. Cosmology & Dark Matter: The invisible forces shaping our galactic neighborhood. Whether you are a student of astrophysics or a casual stargazer, this conversation offers a unique, charming, and deeply insightful window into the forensic evidence of our universe. Read the full transcript and see the show notes at: https://astrophiz.com/2026/03/18/galaxy-forensics-with-dr-elisabete-da-cunha-astrophiz-230/ Subscribe to Astrophiz for your monthly dose of space science, telescope technology, and expert interviews.

Celebrate a decade of stargazing with Astrophiz! 🌟 In this milestone episode, host Brendan O'Brien is joined by acclaimed scientist, educator, and amateur astronomer Dr. Ian Musgrave to celebrate 10 years of the Astrophiz SkyGuide and the 19th anniversary of his renowned 'Astroblog'. Ian delivers your comprehensive Southern Hemisphere July Sky Guide, detailing when and where to spot the planet dance as it transfers to the morning skies. Discover how to witness a spectacular close conjunction between Mars and Uranus in Taurus, and how to track Saturn as it begins its retrograde path toward September opposition. Plus, get crucial viewing tips for the Southern Delta Aquariid meteor shower and learn how to navigate the brilliant winter Milky Way to find deep-sky treasures like Omega Centauri, the Carina Nebula, and Ptolemy’s Cluster. In a deeply moving and personal Tangent, Ian dedicates this anniversary edition to the memory of his late son, Jack. Shifting his gaze to our atmosphere, Ian explores the historical beauty, science, and classification of clouds—from Luke Howard's 1802 nomenclature to stunning 'asperitas' formations—while playfully dismantling modern "cloud-shaming" chemtrail conspiracies. Grab your binoculars, check your local twilight times, and keep looking up! *** TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 - Introduction & Celebrating 10 Years of Sky Guides 03:15 - July Moon Phases, Solstice & Earth at Aphelion 04:45 - Evening Planets: Venus climbs through Leo, goodbye to Jupiter 06:20 - Morning Skies: Mars meets Uranus; Saturn’s retrograde track 09:15 - Deep Sky Treasures: Scorpius, Sagittarius & Omega Centauri 11:40 - Southern Delta Aquariids Meteor Shower Peak 13:10 - The Tangent: Dedicated to Jack, Luke Howard & the beauty of clouds 19:45 - Future Anniversaries, Apophis Flyby & Solar Eclipses *** LINKS & RESOURCES: • For full episode transcripts, back-catalogues, and planetarium updates, visit our website: https://astrophiz.com • Listen to our special live recording piano, violin, and cello tribute to Jack Musgrave: https://tinyurl.com/jackstribute Astrophiz is an independent, completely free, ad-free, and unsponsored science podcast produced on Yorta Yorta, Pangerang, and Kahuna Country.

Welcome to Astrophiz! In this episode, host Brendan O'Brien sits down with the brilliant Dr. Gabriela Ligeza, an Internal Research Fellow at the European Space Agency (ESA) in the Netherlands. Dr. Ligeza works at the absolute cutting edge of planetary exploration, bridging the gap between orbital maps and physical alien terrain. As a key scientist for ESA’s ExoMars mission, she is developing the science sampling strategies that will guide the Rosalind Franklin rover in its high-stakes hunt for ancient morphological biosignatures (fossilized signs of microbial life) in the 4-billion-year-old clays of Oxia Planum. We also dive deep into her incredible work for NASA’s Artemis program at the Johnson Space Center, where she mapped the lunar South Pole to establish the landing and geological sampling sites for the next human footprints on the Moon. In this episode, we explore: • The childhood spark: How a postcard from a NASA astronaut geologist changed her life. • Martian lighting secrets: How light and shadow in the Mars Lab reveal (or hide) the true history of alien rocks through the CLUPI (Close-Up Imager) instrument. • Four-legged space dogs: Why autonomous legged robots can conquer steep crater rims and lava tubes where traditional wheeled rovers fail. • Training Astronauts: What it takes to teach pilots and engineers to think like field geologists on the lunar surface. • The mystery of Noachian iron/magnesium phyllosilicates—the ancient Martian mud that could hold the key to answering: Are we alone? Whether you are an aspiring researcher or a casual stargazer, Dr. Ligeza’s journey from a small village in Poland to the forefront of solar system exploration is profoundly inspiring. Subscribe to Astrophiz for more interviews with the world's leading space scientists. Join us as we fight for a greener future and explore how our universe works. #Astrophiz #SpacePodcast #ESA #ExoMars #Artemis #MarsRover #PlanetaryGeology #Astrobiology

In Astrophiz Episode 235, Dr. Ian Musgrave joins host Brendan O'Brien to deliver your comprehensive June 2026 SkyGuide, detailing a spectacular month of naked-eye astronomy and astrophotography targets. [00:00] Introduction & Indigenous Country acknowledgment [01:05] The June Moon Phases: Apogee, Perigee, and High Tides [02:18] How to observe the Lunar X and Lunar V (June 22) [03:45] The Evening Sky: The Great Planet Dance of Venus, Jupiter, and Mercury [06:22] The Morning Sky: Mars tracking towards Uranus, and Saturn's rings opening up [07:44] Early Morning Occultation of Antares (June 28) [09:02] Autumn Stargazing: Tracking the First Nations Dark Constellation, the Cosmic Emu [10:11] The June Tangent: Comet Orbits & Busting Social Media Myths [12:35] June Astrophotography Challenge: Capturing Real-Time Planetary Motion [15:10] Looking ahead to the 10th Anniversary of Astrophiz EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS: - The Planet Dance: Watch Venus, Jupiter, and Mercury form dynamic triangles and planetary massings in the western evening twilight. - The Cosmic Emu: How to utilize dark sky sites to see the Coalsack and the dark rifts of the Milky Way shape this iconic celestial silhouette. - The Tangent: Dr. Musgrave counters a viral internet myth regarding comets moving in "lockstep" with the stars, explaining how to observe and calculate actual orbital progression. For the full, human-curated transcript of this episode and links to resources mentioned by Ian, visit our website: https://astrophiz.com Astrophiz is an independent, ad-free, and unsponsored science podcast produced on Yorta Yorta, Pangarang, and Kaurna country. If you enjoy our monthly sky guides and deep-dive interviews with global space scientists, please subscribe, leave a review, and share the universe with a friend. Keep looking up!

In May 2024, the "Mother’s Day Superstorm" slammed into Mars with a force Earth didn't experience. But how do we see a storm on a planet without a magnetic field? In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Jacob Parrott from the European Space Agency (ESA) to discuss his groundbreaking research recently published in Nature Communications. Jacob explains how he and his team "hacked" veteran satellites—the Mars Express and the ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter—to perform an unintended dance known as "mutual radio occultation." Discover how redundant hardware from failed landers became a cutting-edge sensor for Martian aeronomy, revealing how solar flares strip the atmosphere from the Red Planet. In this episode: • From biology and media internships to ESA’s grad scheme. • The physics of radio occultation: Using signal "bending" to measure atmospheric density. • Retasking the Melacom and Electra antennas for deep-space science. • Processing the data: From raw waveforms to Python and SPICE simulations. Read the full transcript and see the images at: https://www.Astrophiz.com

Welcome to Astrophiz Episode 233 This month, we are joined by Dr. Ian Musgrave for the May Sky Guide. We explore the planetary alignments, the upcoming Eta Aquariid meteor showers, and how you can track Comet C/2025 R3 (PANSTARRS). Plus, we dive into the fascinating world of sun-grazing comets and how you can get involved in citizen science. In this episode: Planetary Watch: Venus and Jupiter dominating the evening; Saturn and Mars rising in the morning. Moon Phases: Full Moon details, the "Blue Moon" on May 31st, and the occultation of Antares. Meteor Showers: What to expect from the Eta Aquariids (and how to watch them away from the Moon). Comet Hunting: Tracking Comet C/2025 R3 (PANSTARRS) and finding "sun-grazers" via SOHO and STEREO spacecraft imagery. Citizen Science: Tips on how to hunt for comets using online archives. Upcoming: Join us on May 15th as we speak with Dr. Jacob Parrott from the ESA Space Research and Technology Centre about the Mother's Day solar storm and Mars' atmosphere. Support Independent Science: Astrophiz is free, ad-free, and unsponsored. For full transcripts, show notes, and celestial charts, please visit: https://astrophiz.com #Astrophiz #Astronomy #Stargazing #SciencePodcast #MaySkyGuide #IanMusgrave #CitizenScience #Space #CometHunting #AstronomyPodcast

Discover the hidden science of the Northern Lights! In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Maria-Theresia Walach to uncover the physics behind the aurora and the fascinating complexities of space weather. In This Episode, You’ll Learn: The Science of the Aurora: What actually causes the different colors and shapes in the night sky? Space Weather Impacts: How solar activity affects our satellites, power grids, and GPS systems. The Ionosphere: A deep dive into the layer of Earth's atmosphere that acts as a gateway to space. Current Research: Dr. Walach shares insights from her latest work on magnetospheric physics. Timestamps: 00:56 - Introduction to Dr. Maria-Theresia Walach 05:15 - How Auroras are formed: Solar wind meets the Magnetosphere 12:30 - The impact of Space Weather on modern technology 22:45 - Researching the Ionosphere: Challenges and breakthroughs 35:10 - Future missions and what’s next for Space Physics 42:00 - Closing remarks and where to find more research About the Guest: Dr. Maria-Theresia Walach is a leading researcher specializing in Space Physics and the Earth's Ionosphere. Her work is vital for understanding the Sun-Earth connection and protecting our planetary infrastructure. Links & Resources: AstroPhiz Website: https://astrophiz.com/ Follow us on Twitter: @AstroPhiz Keywords: Astronomy, Aurora Borealis, Northern Lights, Space Weather, Physics, NASA, Dr Maria-Theresia Walach, Science Podcast, Ionosphere.

Will we see a "Headless Comet" this month? ☄️ Join Brendan O’Brien and Dr. Ian Musgrave for the April 2026 SkyGuide as we track the rare C/2026 A1 (MAPS) Comet and a spectacular Morning Planet Parade. In this episode, you’ll discover: The "Planet Dance": How to spot Mercury, Mars, and Saturn clustering in the morning twilight. Double Comet Watch: Updates on C/2026 A1 and C/2025 R3 (PANSTARRS)—will they survive perihelion? Deep Sky Targets: Finding the "Sickle of Leo" and the blue-white star Regulus. Lunar Events: When to catch the "Lunar X" and "Lunar A" on the moon’s surface. Viewing Tips: Why the April 5th end of Daylight Saving is your best friend for early stargazing. Links & Resources: Full Transcript & Imagery: astrophiz.com Detailed Star Charts: Visit Ian’s Astroblog Subscribe: Never miss an episode—follow us on SoundCloud, Youtube podcasts, Audible podcasts, Spotify, or Apple Podcasts. Connect with Astrophiz: https://astrophiz.com/2026/03/31/astrophiz-231-april-2026-skyguide-two-rare-comets-and-the-morning-planet-dance/ Produced on Yorta Yorta, Pangarang, and Kaurna country. We acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land and the first astronomers of Australia. Host: Brendan O’Brien: Astronomers, Astrophysicists & Space Scientists. Guest: Dr. Ian ‘Astroblog’ Musgrave. #Astronomy #SkyGuide #Comet #Space #Stargazing #SciencePodcast #PlanetParade #STEM

Welcome to the Astrophiz March SkyGuide, where Ian tells us about the Total Lunar Eclipse and all the observation and astrophotography tips that go with it. Also you get highl;ights of the morning and evening skies and how to find the Variable star, Mira.

A fantastic interview with an amazing pulsar astrophysicist who is unravelling the secrets of misbehaving pulsars using his phenomenal coding skills. Subscribe and/or Listen here... or read the transcript on Astrophiz.com

Dr. Ian ‘Astroblog’ Musgrave give us 'February' in his monthly SkyGuide series. This month you get moon phases, the Beehive Cluster, nice planetary action, Lunar X, the Pleiades and the Southern Pleiades. Our audio files and transcripts are available on our website at Astrophiz.com, and our MP3 files can be freely streamed or downloaded to your favourite device from our SoundCloud channel, our free Amazon Audible stream, YouTube podcasts, Podbean, Spotify and Apple Podcasts.