Kielder Observatory Podcast
Episodes
Dark Matter - the Ghost in the Machine, with Prof Richard Massey
17 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, we dive deep into the "invisible scaffolding" of the cosmos with Professor Richard Massey. Richard and his team at Durham University ...
Mission to the Moon! Everything you need to know about Artemis II
03 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
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&rsquo...
Introducing our new observatory, and it's at a pub!
02 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 ne...
Cannibal Aurora, Comets & Cosmic Phenomena - Nov 2025
14 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
Why you should love the Fly! Dr Erica McAlister
22 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 jo...
Talking the summer night sky - On Location at Kielder
21 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 a...
Noctilucent Clouds: The Summer Spectacle You Can't Miss
19 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of the Kielder Observatory Podcast, join Ian Brannan and Director of Astronomy, Dan Pye, as they explore the intriguing developments i...
Apollo Remastered Live With Andy Saunders
17 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Recorded live in Hexham Andy Saunders, the author of Apollo Remastered, discusses wit Dan Pye & Ian Brannan how he brought the Moon landings to li...
At HELIOS with creator Luke Jerram
26 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
Amazing Space Rocks! With Dr Luke Daly
13 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 exper...
NASA Astronaut CLAY ANDERSON!
02 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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 conducti...
Meteor Shower Season - November Update!
18 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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 ama...
The Search For Life - Professor Wallace Arthur
02 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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 astro...
Autumn Skies Are Here!
13 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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 exper...
Saving Earth from Space thanks to the Cold War!
31 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of the Kielder Observatory podcast, we venture into the fascinating world of remote sensing with Professor Danny Donoghue from Durham ...
Martian Frost, Comets, and Summer Stargazing!
01 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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 constellati...
The "Super Earth" & New Rockets - May Update!
23 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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 discove...
Astrophotography, Eclipses & Aurora!
28 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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 Dire...
The Black Hole from the dawn of time & meet our new CEO!
26 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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 inter...
Aurora Hunting Inside The Arctic Circle!
31 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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 Direc...
Kielder Narratives: How we brought art & space together!
21 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode we are joined by some of the team behind out "Kielder Narratives" project: Composer Will Todd, Poet Dan Simpson, and musician & Pr...
@VirtualAstro Adrian West - Night Sky Show Host
17 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
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 indepe...
Kids Takeover - Family Events, Rockets & More!
05 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
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...
Astronomical Darkness Returns! What to look for in August
28 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
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...
Renaming Our Telescope!
03 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
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 wi...
The Laws Of Space! With space lawyer Lauren Napier
07 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
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...
Analogue Astrophotography - Melanie King
17 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
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...
James Webb Space Telescope - 1 Year On!
05 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
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 l...
In search of the Aurora - Dr Melanie Windridge
20 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
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...
Quasars and the evolution of the universe! Dr Victoria Fawcett
30 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This month we talk to observational astronomer Dr Victoria Fawcett, about some of the research she has been involved in including the DESI & MOONs...
Dr Jarita Holbrook - Cultural Astronomy
23 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this month's episode Ian Brannan, and astronomers Dan Pye & Ellie Macdonald explore the relationship between humans and the night sky, with c...
Winter Astrophotography & Why Wind Is Important to Kielder!
28 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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...
Black Holes Explored! With Prof Martin Ward
27 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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 noth...
Chris Lintott - BBC The Sky at Night Presenter!
22 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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...
New James Webb Images Explained!
20 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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. ...
The Secret Life of Stars!
28 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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, t...
Noctilucent Clouds, the sound of a Black Hole, and art at the Obsy!
27 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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...
International Dark Sky Week - UK vs NZ!
04 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
This episode was recorded live during #internationaldarkskyweek. Kielder Observatory is situated in the Northumberland International Dark Sky Par...
All About The Royal Astronomical Society
29 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
For over 200 years, the Royal Astronomical Society has been encouraging and promoting astronomy, solar system science and other related branches of sc...
Ask An Astronomer Special
23 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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 s...
Tracking Satellites & Space Junk
24 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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...
Dr Olivia Jones - James Webb Telescope Expert + Ask An Astronomer
10 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
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...
Radio Astronomy Comes To Kielder
23 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
Dr Natalie Starkey: Volcanoes of the Solar System
07 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Hello and Welcome to The official monthly podcast from Kielder Observatory situated in the Northumberland Dark Sky Park in the UK,...
Perseids Meteor Shower & September Update
11 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
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...
Science Vs Faith Vs The Universe, with Rev. Prof. David Wilkinson
11 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode we talk to the Reverend Professor David Wilkinson, who began his career as an astrophysicist before becoming a Methodist minister and ...
Dr Sam James, Why The Universe Is Moving..!
16 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
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...
Apollo 11 Moon Landing Expert, Dr Ken MacTaggart
25 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
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...
Meteorite Man Steve Arnold and Áine O’Brien
10 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
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...
Staying Healthy In Space! Dr Saralyn Mark, Medical Advisor to NASA
08 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Coming up, the month of March sees International Women’s Day, and in this episode we speak to a true pioneer of Women’s Health, Dr Saralyn Mark. D...
Prof John Girkin - Durham's role on the James Webb Telescope
12 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In the February 2021 episode we speak to Prof John Girkin about some of the research and advancements taking place at Durham University's centre of ad...
The Realities Of Life On Mars - Hayden Goodfellow
17 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In this months podcast we chat to Astrophysicist and keen enthusiast of Astro-Engineering Hayden Goodfellow BSc (Hons) about ExoMars. Being constructe...
Dr Fred Stevenson, Cosmology and Black Holes
10 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
In this December episode we take a look at cosmology with Dr Fred Stevenson, who takes os on a journey into the origins of the universe and the other ...
Kielder Observatory CEO Catherine Johns
06 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
We speak to Kielder Observatory CEO Catherine Johns about the challenges of making the site Covid safe and keeping disappointed visitors happy, plus l...
Prof Wallace Arthur - The search for life on other planets.
06 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode we speak to Professor Wallace Arthur, one of the world’s leading experts on the question of life elsewhere in the universe. Find out...
Kielder Podcast Trailer
01 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
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