#32 - February 2015

The Discussion: Enjoying views of Comet Lovejoy, engaging in
astronomy outreach at schools, looking forward to the Spring
AstroCamp in the Welsh Brecon Beacons dark sky reserve and
catching up with the Project Helium Tears high altitude balloon
team.


The Competition


Thanks to the Project Helium Tears team, we’re offering you the
opportunity to see your name in space! Just tweet or email us and
we’ll pick a winner (or winners) to have their name on the side
of the spacecraft and have it photographed with the curvature of
the Earth and the blackness of space in the background! Use the
hashtag #TakeMeToSpace


The News: A full-to-bursting round up of the news over the last
month, starting with the phoenix-like Kepler Space Telescope and
the latest ‘Earth-like’ exoplanet and the possibility of life on
Mars getting more likely following Curiosity’s detection of
methane on the Red Planet. Next up is NASA’s options for an
asteroid redirect mission, SpaceX’s attempt to land spent rocket
stages and we finish with the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter finding
a Beagle on Mars.


The 5 Minute Concept: This month Paul puts a few myths to rest as
he explores the facts about the asteroid belt between Mars &
Jupiter.


The Interview: Ralph catches up with the European Space Agency’s
Project Scientist for the Rosetta mission, Dr Matt Taylor, to get
the latest on Rosetta and Philae results and find out what we can
expect next from these intrepid comet explorers


Q&A: Listeners’ questions via email, Facebook & Twitter
take us on a journey into the astronomy issues that have always
plagued our understanding or stretched our credulity. This month
Ralph & Paul answer:


How many active satellites are there in orbit? Elizabeth
Chamberlain in Worcester via email.

What’s the difference between a comet, asteroid and a meteor?
Christine L in Derbyshire via Twitter (@ChrispyDoDa) .