Antarctica and the Edge of Astronomy - Professor Michael Ashley

How is Antarctica's unique environment revolutionising the way astronomers observe the universe? In this episode, Professor Michael Ashley shares the advantages, challenges, and groundbreaking discoveries made from the icy continent.Professor Ashley is an astrophysicist at the University of New South Wales, specialising in astronomical instrumentation and observational astronomy. He completed his Master’s at Caltech and his PhD at the Australian National University (ANU). His work focuses on conducting cutting-edge observations from Antarctica, one of the world’s most extreme and scientifically valuable observing sites. He has pioneered the use of robotic telescopes in remote environments, enabling studies of transient celestial events such as supernovae and gravitational wave sources.