PODCAST · science
Kielder Observatory Podcast
by Kielder Observatory Astronomical Society
The official monthly podcast from Kielder Observatory in Northumberland UK, situated under some of the darkest skies in the world.If you've ever wondered what happens when you fall into a black hole, if intelligent life is watching us from other galaxies, or how the North East is at the forefront of the British Space programme, then you can find out more in this series!Each month we also update you on the things to look out for in the night sky wherever you are, and of course update you on what's happening at the observatory too!Subscribe now, and maybe we'll see you at Kielder soon!
Episodes
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Special Guest ROBSON GREEN at Twice Brewed official opening!
In this episode of the Kielder Observatory Podcast, join Ian Brannan and Director of Astronomy Dan Pye as they unveil the new experience at Twice Brewed Inn, located right on Hadrian's Wall. They discuss the significance of summer openings for stargazing, share exciting astronomical events...
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Dark Matter - the Ghost in the Machine, with Prof Richard Massey
In this episode, we dive deep into the "invisible scaffolding" of the cosmos with Professor Richard Massey. Richard and his team at Durham University recently made headlines by releasing the highest-resolution map of dark matter ever created, using 255 hours of data from the James Webb Space...
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Mission to the Moon! Everything you need to know about Artemis II
In this episode, we venture beyond the dark skies of Northumberland to the launchpads of Florida. We dive deep into the Artemis II mission, NASA’s historic first crewed flight to the Moon in over half a century. We discuss the the crew’s journey, and why this mission is a pivotal stepping stone…
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Introducing our new observatory, and it's at a pub!
In this episode Ian Brannan and Director of Astronomy Dan Pye chat under the virtual night sky of our planetarium, which you will find at our brand new extra location in Northumberland! In addition to the observatory you know and love we are now running events at Twice Brewed Inn near Hadrians...
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Cannibal Aurora, Comets & Cosmic Phenomena - Nov 2025
In this episode, Ian Brannan and Director of Astronomy Dan Pye explore the fascinating world of solar flares and their impact on Earth's auroras. Dan shares insights on the recent X5.1 solar flare and its significance, as well as its ability to trigger stunning auroras across the globe. We also...
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Why you should love the Fly! Dr Erica McAlister
Before you swat a fly next time, consider without them we wouldn't have chocolate! The advice of expert in all things flies Dr Erica McAlister, who joins Ian Brannan and Dan Pye to discuss the role flies have played in space travel, the work they do on earth doing the jobs we hate, and why if you...
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Talking the summer night sky - On Location at Kielder
Summer means light nights but that doesn't mean there's nothing going on at the observatory, far from it there has been lots both at the observatory and in space to talk about! Director of Astronomy Dan Pye joins Ian Brannan on the deck at Kielder to chat about why all eyes are on the North East...
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Noctilucent Clouds: The Summer Spectacle You Can't Miss
In this episode of the Kielder Observatory Podcast, join Ian Brannan and Director of Astronomy, Dan Pye, as they explore the intriguing developments in the search for alien life and discuss Elon Musk's ambitious plans for humanity on Mars. They also delve into the wonders of the summer night sky,...
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Apollo Remastered Live With Andy Saunders
Recorded live in Hexham Andy Saunders, the author of Apollo Remastered, discusses wit Dan Pye & Ian Brannan how he brought the Moon landings to life with stunning, high-definition images restored from NASA’s original Apollo film footage, which had been stored away for decades. His groundbreaking...
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At HELIOS with creator Luke Jerram
In this episode Director of Astronomy Dan Pye, and Ian Brannan head to Seaton Delaval Hall in Northumberland, to get up close to The Sun! HELIOS is the latest creation of artist Luke Jerram, whose previous works of the Moon & Earth you may have previously seen in the North East. Luke chats to us...
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Amazing Space Rocks! With Dr Luke Daly
Join us in this captivating episode of the Kielder Observatory podcast as we explore the origins of life and the universe with Dr. Luke Daly, an expert in planetary geoscience from the University of Glasgow. Discover how space rocks like asteroids and meteorites may hold the key to understanding...
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NASA Astronaut CLAY ANDERSON!
In this very special episode we are joined by a man who has spent 166 days aboard the international space station, flying on the Shuttle, and conducting over 38 hours of spacewalks! Clay shares his firsthand experiences of life beyond Earth, offering fascinating insights into what it’s really…
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Meteor Shower Season - November Update!
Crisp winter nights are back, and with clear skies that makes for perfect star gazing conditions for the whole family to wrap up warm and see some amazing things..! It is a busy time for meteor showers, a number of planets are visible to the naked eye, and we now have the best chance for the next...
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The Search For Life - Professor Wallace Arthur
Life IS 100% out there, we just need to find it, however that's not to say other life hasn't found us..! A few of the insights from evolutionary astrobiologist Wallace Arthur, who joins us once again to discuss the latest discoveries relating to Exo Planets, and why they could be the key for...
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Autumn Skies Are Here!
We are recording on location at the Kielder Observatory. As the seasons change and autumn approaches, join host Ian Brannon and a panel of space experts as they delve into the latest celestial events and missions. From the best time to view the Milky Way and Saturn to upcoming lunar eclipses and...
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Saving Earth from Space thanks to the Cold War!
In this episode of the Kielder Observatory podcast, we venture into the fascinating world of remote sensing with Professor Danny Donoghue from Durham University. Discover how legacy satellite data from as far back as the 1960s is being utilised to enhance our understanding of Earth's resources,...
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Martian Frost, Comets, and Summer Stargazing!
As we head through the middle part of the year, Ian Brannan and Director of Astronomy Dan Pye look at the Summer Triangle, a collection of constellation which take centre stage in the night sky at this time of year. We also discuss the discovery of frost on Mars, which has been found at the top…
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The "Super Earth" & New Rockets - May Update!
In this episode Ian Brannan & Director of Astronomy Dan Pye take a look at some of the recent space stories making the news, including the discovery of an Exo Planet dubbed "Super Earth". Find out why though it is probably not a place you want to book a holiday to just yet. We also look at Black...
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Astrophotography, Eclipses & Aurora!
This month we record the podcast at the observatory itself, and it's a Dan fest. Host Ian Brannan is joined by Director of Astronomy Dan Pye, and Director of Astrophotography Dan Monk, to discuss a couple of hot topics and give you some top tips heading into April! On April 8th there is due to be…
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The Black Hole from the dawn of time & meet our new CEO!
The spring equinox is approaching, and in this month's episode Director of Astronomy at Kielder Observatory Dan Pye joins us to look ahead to an interesting time of year as the seasons change! Plus will look at a few news stories from the universe including the discovery of the oldest Black Hole...
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Aurora Hunting Inside The Arctic Circle!
February is the month of love, and in this episode of the Kielder Observatory Podcast discover how to see a heart light years away in space! Our Director of Astronomy Dan Pye explains the other celestial events occurring through February including our Pye in the Sky challenge! The main theme of...
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Kielder Narratives: How we brought art & space together!
In this episode we are joined by some of the team behind out "Kielder Narratives" project: Composer Will Todd, Poet Dan Simpson, and musician & Producer Chad Male join Ian Brannan & Director of Astronomy Dan Pye to tell the story behind the work, and we will also hear the final production in full...
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@VirtualAstro Adrian West - Night Sky Show Host
This month we are joined by Adrian West, an astronomer with over 30 years' experience. Better known as Virtual Astro, he has one of the largest independent astronomy and space accounts on social media. He's passionate about the night sky and inspiring people to look up. Adrian is author of the…
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Kids Takeover - Family Events, Rockets & More!
In this episode we hand over to Amber, age 6 (nearly 7!) from Sunderland who came to visit and take part in one of out many family events. Rather than a grown up talk all about it, we thought it best to hear about the experience from one of our younger guests! Rockets & More is one of the summer...
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Astronomical Darkness Returns! What to look for in August
This month Ian and Dan head out to combine recording a podcast, with a spot of stargazing as they highlight some of the other great and free locations across the North East offering a great view of the night sky. They have a chat on a hill near Derwent Reservoir which despite some patch weather…
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Renaming Our Telescope!
This month for the first time ever we record the Kielder Observatory Podcast on location at the observatory! And it has been a busy time, not least with one of our telescopes being renamed. Find out its new name, and why it was chosen in the podcast! Plus Ian Brannan and Director of Astronomy Dan...
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The Laws Of Space! With space lawyer Lauren Napier
Who is responsible if something goes wrong in space? Whilst we are a way off having an intergalactic police force, there are many laws and regulations specific to space. From space junk & satellites to who owns a planet, the countries of Earth have come together to make agreements on the rules of...
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Analogue Astrophotography - Melanie King
This month on the Kielder Observatory podcast we speak to photographic artist Melanie King, and explore her work capturing scenes of the night sky via classic analogue methods. Many of us now have switched to digital cameras or even smart phones, but Melanie explains her love for space and the...
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James Webb Space Telescope - 1 Year On!
In this episode of the Kielder Observatory Podcast Ian Brannan and our Director of Astronomy Dan Pye are joined by special guest Dr Olivia Jones, to look back on the first year since first light on the James Webb Space Telescope. Dr Olivia Jones was involved in the launch mission, and is one of a...
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In search of the Aurora - Dr Melanie Windridge
The Aurora Borealis, or the Northern Lights are widely regarded as a Holy Grail for any sky watchers. For those lucky enough to see a display it's all about the beautiful serene colours lighting up the sky. However what we witnessing is the Earth's magnetic field protecting us from a violent...
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Quasars and the evolution of the universe! Dr Victoria Fawcett
This month we talk to observational astronomer Dr Victoria Fawcett, about some of the research she has been involved in including the DESI & MOONs projects. As we get more data about the deeper universe scientists like Victoria hope to learn more about the formation of galaxies and even the…
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Dr Jarita Holbrook - Cultural Astronomy
In this month's episode Ian Brannan, and astronomers Dan Pye & Ellie Macdonald explore the relationship between humans and the night sky, with cultural astronomy expert Dr Jarita Holbrook. Since the dawn of time humans have gazed into the night sky, with many civilisations drawing their own...
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Winter Astrophotography & Why Wind Is Important to Kielder!
This month the spotlight is on both wind, and astro photography..! Firstly we introduce our new crowd funding initiative to raise money for a 2nd wind turbine on the Kielder Observatory site. One of the first features many visitors notice will be the general hum coming from the existing wind...
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Black Holes Explored! With Prof Martin Ward
Ever wondered what would happen if the Earth should fall into a black hole? A black hole is a region of spacetime where gravity is so strong that nothing, no particles or even light can escape from it, and time literally ends. Prof Martin Ward is currently the Temple Chevallier Chair of Astronomy...
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Chris Lintott - BBC The Sky at Night Presenter!
Joining us this month is Chris Lintott, a Professor of Astrophysics at Oxford University but known to millions as a current presenter on the BBC's The Sky At Night, a show which has been on our screens ever since 1957! He co-authored Bang! – The Complete History of the Universe and The Cosmic...
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New James Webb Images Explained!
In our July episode we try and explain as simply as possible, exactly what we are seeing in the first stunning images from the James Webb Telescope. Positioned 1 million miles away from earth, and looking billions of light years into the universe, to a time relatively shortly after the Big Bang…
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The Secret Life of Stars!
This month Ian Brannan chats with Kielder Observatory Director of Astronomy Dan Pye, about the Secret Life of Stars. From our nearest star, The Sun, to how that compares with the very largest star in the known universe..! We also explore the life cycles of stars, from the birth, to their slow but...
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Noctilucent Clouds, the sound of a Black Hole, and art at the Obsy!
As we head towards the mid point of the year and the nights become lighter, we explore some of the unique things about the summer night sky. The north of England is a fantastic place to see Noctilucent Clouds, a phenomena only visible at this time of year. In this episode Director of Astronomy…
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International Dark Sky Week - UK vs NZ!
This episode was recorded live during #internationaldarkskyweek. Kielder Observatory is situated in the Northumberland International Dark Sky Park, and we will linked up with a Dark Sky Park about as far away as you can get on this planet..! We were joined live from New Zealand by Gareth Davies...
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All About The Royal Astronomical Society
For over 200 years, the Royal Astronomical Society has been encouraging and promoting astronomy, solar system science and other related branches of science. In this episode Ian Brannan & Dan Pye speak to Dr Robert Massey, Deputy Executive Director of RAS about how the society has changed over the...
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Ask An Astronomer Special
In this month's episode it was over to you, as we hosted a LIVE Ask An Astronomer session with Director of Astronomy Dan Pye. You can also watch the show back on the Kielder Observatory Facebook page. We cover all manner of topics from Astrophotography to the chances of finding life in other...
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Tracking Satellites & Space Junk
This month we look at how Kielder Observatory has become the first place in the world to take part in a new project tracking space junk and satellites. There are over half a million objects orbiting our planet, some are working satellites but there are many objects including old satellites, space...
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Dr Olivia Jones - James Webb Telescope Expert + Ask An Astronomer
Recorded live in front of an online audience on Facebook this month, Director of astronomy Dan Pye, Ellie Macdonald and Adam Shore join Ian Brannan as we explore some of the things to look out for over the final weeks of 2021 in the night sky. And we are joined by special guest Dr Olivia Jones of...
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Radio Astronomy Comes To Kielder
This month we meet the new SPIDER Radio Telescope which has become the latest addition to the Kielder Forest landscape. Director of Astronomy Dan Pye give us a tour, and explains some of the things we will now be able to detect in space with it. This addition means that even on a cloudy night,...
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Dr Natalie Starkey: Volcanoes of the Solar System
Hello and Welcome to The official monthly podcast from Kielder Observatory situated in the Northumberland Dark Sky Park in the UK, under some of the darkest skies in Europe. Our special guest is Dr Natalie Starkey a cosmochemist and author who joins us to talks about some of the amazing findings...
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Perseids Meteor Shower & September Update
On September’s Kielder Observatory Podcast Ian Brannan is joined by Director of Astronomy at Kielder Dan Pye, and one of our newest astronomers Finn Burridge. This month we explore how a visit to Kielder Observatory is more than peering into the night sky, it’s a full education on our place in…
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Science Vs Faith Vs The Universe, with Rev. Prof. David Wilkinson
In this episode we talk to the Reverend Professor David Wilkinson, who began his career as an astrophysicist before becoming a Methodist minister and is currently a professor in the Department of Theology and Religion at Durham University. We discuss the connection between science and faith...
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Dr Sam James, Why The Universe Is Moving..!
Coming up in this months episode we’ll take you to a couple of our recent sessions up at the observatory, but both with very different themes. First was our space kids event which is one of our most popular daily events which take place in the daytime, ending with youngsters building and…
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Apollo 11 Moon Landing Expert, Dr Ken MacTaggart
Ken MacTaggart has worked on NASA’s Apollo Lunar Surface Journal with editor Dr Eric Jones and colleagues for 20 years, and is co-editor of the Apollo 11 Flight Journal established by W. David Woods. He has interviewed and written about spaceflight for The Independent, The Herald, The Scotsman,...
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Meteorite Man Steve Arnold and Áine O’Brien
In this month’s episode we get ready for the Lyrid Meteor shower with 2 people who know what it takes to be a meteor hunter. Steve Arnold is one the TV’s Meteorite Men, and has travelled the world searching for fragments of space rock, and he offers his tips for would be meteor hunters. We also...
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
The official monthly podcast from Kielder Observatory in Northumberland UK, situated under some of the darkest skies in the world.If you've ever wondered what happens when you fall into a black hole, if intelligent life is watching us from other galaxies, or how the North East is at the forefront of the British Space programme, then you can find out more in this series!Each month we also update you on the things to look out for in the night sky wherever you are, and of course update you on what's happening at the observatory too!Subscribe now, and maybe we'll see you at Kielder soon!
HOSTED BY
Kielder Observatory Astronomical Society
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Kielder Observatory Podcast have?
Kielder Observatory Podcast currently has 57 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Kielder Observatory Podcast about?
The official monthly podcast from Kielder Observatory in Northumberland UK, situated under some of the darkest skies in the world.If you've ever wondered what happens when you fall into a black hole, if intelligent life is watching us from other galaxies, or how the North East is at the forefront...
How often does Kielder Observatory Podcast release new episodes?
Kielder Observatory Podcast has 57 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
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You can listen to Kielder Observatory Podcast on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Kielder Observatory Podcast?
Kielder Observatory Podcast is created and hosted by Kielder Observatory Astronomical Society.
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