Is it better to buy a complete amateur astronomy telescope system that includes optical tube, mount, drive, etc or can you get better quality by assembling your own from individual components.  Dustin talks advantages and disadvantages to both.

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Tony is finally getting to a place where he can start construction on his backyard observatory for his 20 inch reflector.  In this episode, we discuss the value of having a permanent place for your telescope and it doesn't have to be fancy!

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We've been listening for signals from the galaxy hoping to detect another civilization out there.  What are the actual chances we'll hear anything?  Let's take a look at this paper and find out: https://arxiv.org/pdf/1007.0850.pdf

Dustin and Tony also talk about APO refractors and catadioptric telescope systems.

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Cat Machin is in town and talking with Dustin and Tony, picking up where we left off last time in discussing all the ways your passion of space and the cosmos can be expressed and we get a little philosophical about what it all means.

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Tony met Dustin and Ian for the first time IRL in NYC.  This episode is a preview of what we hoped to do while in the Big Apple.

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Join Tony Darnell and Dustin Gibson as we talk amateur astronomy with Scott Roberts of Explore Scientific

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In this episode of Space Junk, we discuss astrophotography with a husband/wife team from the American southwest whose work is rapidly gaining notice.  Antoine and Dalia Grelin starting taking astro photos around five years ago and haven't looked back.  Their work is featured in many places and they have a YouTube channel full of excellent tutorials on getting stuff done in astrophotography.

Check out their website here:

https://www.galactic-hunter.com

YouTube:

https://youtube.com/GalacticHunter

Instagram:

@galactic.hunter

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Astronomer and science communicator Paul Sutter joins the Space Junk crew to talk about the worst job in the universe: stealing tidbits of information from a universe that is very stingy with its secrets.  Tony and Dustin discuss what it's like to be a professional astronomer using some of the best equipment from around the globe.

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This week we talk with the Bad Astronomer himself and discuss a wide range of issues that deal with just how dangerous a place the universe is.  What are some of the biggest threats from the sky that face humanity?  Should we be worried?

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Near OPT Telescopes HQ, there is a great brewery: Wavelength Brewing Co that is a great place to hang out if you're a science nerd.  Every Friday they offer science talks on all sorts of topics and if you're in the area, you have to check 'em out.  In this episode, Tony and Dustin talk with the owner of Wavelength Brewing Co about all kinds of space junk.

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We've all heard this before: what's so great about astronomy?  Why do I have to know about stuff I'm never gonna be able to go see?  Why is this stuff important?  This week, we discuss this and much more with Alize Shilling from OPT Telescopes

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Rogelio Bernal Andreo is one to the foremost astrophotographers and in this episode, he tells the story of his journey to becoming featured on APOD, Nat Geo and many other media outlets.  Tune in and learn how to take better astrophotos from one of the masters.

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In this episode, we talk with Victor Aniceto, president of Meade Instruments.  Learn about the challenges facing the company and the subsequent turnaround.

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The study of planets around other stars, exoplanets, is a brand new field, one that closely tracks my career as a software engineer in professional astronomy.  I've had the privilege to watch our knowledge about exoplanets explode: in just a few decades, we've gone from not being sure there were other planets around other stars, to knowing how many there are in our galaxy, their types and in some cases, we can guess as to whether life may be present on them.

Let's talk about this as well as Dustin and I discuss what you should think about when imaging your first night sky object.

Oh, and I got an email!

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When it comes to end of the world theories, NASA conspiracies or astronomy hoaxes Fraser has seen or heard them all.  This episode picks apart those ideas and we talk about whether anything should or could be done to combat them.

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This episode features a great discussion on what astronomy means to us and how it influences our lives.  The study and enjoyment of the night sky affects us in ways we don't often think about... in this episode, we think about it! :-)

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Our guest this week is Ralph Emerson from Planewave Instruments, makers of some of the most high-quality equipment for amateur astronomers.

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While it's true that we are losing our dark skies, not all is lost.  It is still possible to not only see the stars using a telescope from some of the most light-polluted areas in the world, but we can also take images of the night sky. 

Our guest this week, Dr. Steven Swancoat, an OB-Gyn, artist and astrophotographer, describes how he images from places like Times Square with Dustin Gibson.

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I think we all realize just what a great time it is to be involved in amateur astronomy: gaining access to the stars has never been easier.  The equipment available to image the night sky is easier to use and extremely affordable.
In this episode, Dustin and Tony discuss the high points of 2018 and look ahead to what's in store for 2019.

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Lots of people think that to get paid to study or enjoy the universe takes a huge amount of education, maths, and a lifelong dedication to research.  The thing is that's just not true.  In this podcast Tony and Dustin talk with Cathrin Machin, a space artist making her dreams come true by bringing space to everyone.  Listen to her story and we'll also give you some great tips for making money from your passion of the night sky.

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Advances in technology and communication have brought the world of professional science to the rest of us.  With initiatives like Galaxy Zoo and CosmoQuest, the interested public can get involved in producing scientific results that are often a crucial component in a scientific paper or a new discovery.

In this episode, Tony Darnell and Dustin Gibson discuss the growing importance of citizen science and we'll talk about CosmoQuest, a citizen science initiative started in 2012 that has faced budget cuts and needs your help.

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Kevin Legore is an avid astronomy promoter and runs Focus Astronomy, and outreach company that works hard to spread the amazing science of astronomy. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/spacejunk/support

David Nagler, President of Televue Optics is our guest on this episode. Join us as we explore the optical innovations heralded by Televue and Al Nagler, founder of the company. David outlines how Televue got started and we explore the details of some of the best eyepieces and telescopes in the world of amateur astronomy. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/spacejunk/support

Blake Estes is one of the world's premier planetary imagers. He also works as a telescope operator at the Mount Wilson and Griffith Observatories in California. In this episode Dustin Gibson and Tony Darnell discuss the intricacies of planetary imaging and get the inside scoop on what it's like to work at two of the most important observatories in the United States. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/spacejunk/support

In recent decades, our knowledge of what black holes are, how many and what types, has exploded.  Coupled with the brand-new field of gravitational wave astronomy, we are poised to learn even more.  Let's take a tour of what black holes are, the different kinds and how many of these enigmatic objects there are in our universe.

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We live in an era where women are increasingly making inroads in a variety of professions that were previously dominated by males. What about STEM fields? Are more women getting into science and math? Join us for today's discussion with Twitch science streamer Skylias as she tells us her story and discusses her research into this topic. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/spacejunk/support

If you are interested in imaging with your telescope, then you'll want to listen to what Tim Puckett, long time astro-imager has to say. In this episode, Tony Darnell and Dustin Gibson talk with Tim about the how to start taking images as well as advice for those who have been doing it for a while. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/spacejunk/support

SpaceFab is a company that is currently building a 8 inch space telescope built around a 12U Cubesat. Scheduled for launch in 2020, this space telescope will be made available to everyone. There are plans to launch a network of these space telescopes to be used for everything from taking selfies and taking your own pics of the early universe to looking at your property from space. Join us as Tony Darnell and Dustin Gibson discuss this amazing opportunity with Sean League, the Director of Spacecraft Development at SpaceFab. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/spacejunk/support

What's it like to be an outdoor adventure photographer? This podcast episode features Travis Burke, a professional who has traveled the world taking pictures of some of the most amazing places on the planet Earth. We discuss one of his most famous images: a blood super moon with human figures in the foreground, all of it real, no Photoshop. Travis also tells us what it's like for him to get started in astrophotography. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/spacejunk/support

Welcome to Space Junk, a new podcast dedicated to the joys of the night sky. Tony Darnell from Deep Astronomy and Dustin Gibson from OPT Telescopes have teamed together to bring you a weekly podcast dedicated to understanding the amazing hobby of amateur astronomy. Today's topic: visual observing or imaging, which is it? --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/spacejunk/support

The magnetic field of the Earth is undergoing some changes.  Scientists measuring the strength and direction have noticed a weakening of the magnetic field along with movement.  Is this something to worry about?

Dustin Gibson and Tony also discuss smart telescopes along with computers designed to run imaging equipement.

Winter is a great time to see Orion the Hunter, let's talk about that.

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Can we terraform the Moon?  It's a better idea than terraforming Mars believe it or not.  Dustin and Tony discuss putting together an astrophotography rig for beginners and some space news.

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Imaging with filters can dramatically improve the signal to your camera allowing for much higher quality images.  The question of which filter to use on what object can be daunting.  Dustin and Tony dive into the topic of filters, specifically narrow band filters to give you insight on what they are, what you can get from using them and what to look for in a good filter.

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At long last, the launch of the next big NASA flagship telescopes: JWST is ready for launch, sitting atop its rocket and awaiting good weather.  This telescope marks the pinnacle of ambition for NASA as it is doing something that has never been done before.  Launching a telescope of this size is a first for the human race and promises to bring us insights about our place in the universe like nothing that has come before.

Humanity will look farther into the universe than ever and JWST, the most technically advanced and capable telescope ever built, will collect light from a time when the very first stars and galaxies were born.

In this episode, Dustin and Tony talk about this amazing telescope, and we answer a listener question about getting Stellina or eVscope for an astronomy club.

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Using filters in amateur astronomy can be confusing, but once you get through some of the basics, they can really enhance your sessions under the stars - either visually or photographically.  In this episode, Tony and Dustin go through filter basics, what they can do for you visually and when imaging, as well as offer advice on which ones to get and why.

We also go over filter wheel options and strategies for using all of this amazing optical gear.

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Taking images through your telescope has never been easier.  What used to be complicated, time-consuming and expensive is now accessible to people who've never used a telescope before.  Getting started in taking pictures of the night sky is orders of magnitude simpler than it was decades ago when film reigned supreme.

Now, with modest equipment budding astrophotographers can achieve amazing results right out of the gate, but navigating all that gear can be overwhelming.  In this episode of Space Junk Podcast, we'll explore strategies and gear to get you off to a roaring start taking images that will please your family, friends and all your social media followers.

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Building your own observatory is a great way to enhance your enjoyment of getting out under the stars.  Whether it's a simple cover for your tripod-mounted telescope, an easy to build roll off roof on a shed, or a beautiful clam-shell dome with all the bells and whistles, having an observatory can increase the amount of time using your equipment while decreasing your stress level.

In this episode Dustin and Tony discuss all options for creating a personal observatory to house your equipment and offer advice and tips for making your observatory easily and with minimal mistakes.

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We have a guest today!  Beth Johnson from the SETI Institute kindly agreed to join us to talk about her role at the SETI Institute and what they are doing to help us find signs of intelligence in the universe.  

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It's good to be back!  To get things started again, we are talking about the beginning - the beginning of getting started in the hobby of amateur astronomy.  We've also brought some gear to check out.  The links are here:

https://optcorp.com/products/star-party-essentials-adventure-kit

https://optcorp.com/collections/astronomy-accessory-kits/products/beginning-astronomy-telescope-starter-kit (pre-order)

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There are things we can see, supported by mathematics, that appear superluminal.  In a new book by Robert Nemiroff, we explore some of these and since the author also happens to be the co-founder of the Astronomy Picture of the Day website, well, we talk about that too!

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It's no surprise, but JWST will be delayed again.  Now we're looking at a November (at the earliest) 2021 launch thanks to problems with the Ariane 5 rocket.  NASA has selected two missions to go to Venus and Jeff Bezos will get into his own rocket.

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Have you ever wondered what it takes to get your astrophotos into major distribution outlets?  What makes a high-quality astronomy image?  In this episode, Dustin and Tony talk with some of the best astro imagers in the world: Rogelio Bernal Andreo, Bray Falls and Chuck Ayoub and get their advice.  Listen to their stories and learn from the best.

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The Dark Energy Survey has released it's latest catalog of over 200 million galaxies to help study dark energy.  How do they do it?  What equipment is involved?

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Welcome to our first segment of Astronomy News from Space Junk Podcast.  The successor to Hubble is finally getting ready for launch.  This month the mission team at Northrop Grumman are putting the final touches on the telescope and testing is almost complete.  Soon, the telescope will be placed on a ship to French Guyana where it will hopefully launch in October.

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We've all heard of the Astronomy Picture of the Day from NASA, but there is another website showcasing amazing photos from the amateur community: The Amateur Astronomy Picture of the Day.  Our guests Charles Lillo and Jason Matter tell us the story of how they got AAPOD going and what you can win if you submit your images for consideration!

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Automating an observing run is one of the most efficient uses of your equipment.  You can plan the night's observing, then let your equipment do the work!  But what do you need to make this possible?  What can you expect for results?

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NASA has always excelled at helping us visualize the Cosmos.  Brian Day works at the Solar System Exploration Research Institute, one of the premier groups at NASA that use data from a variety of space probes, telescopes and observatories from around the world to enable us to explore solar system objects like the Moon, Titan, Mercury and more.

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TagBackTV is a popular gaming streamer on YouTube who has incorporated his love of astrophotography into his streams, introducing a new audience to amateur astronomy

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Tony's been thinking a lot out his life and the meaning it holds.  Getting philosophical, Dustin helps Tony realize that autoguiders are the key to understanding.

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What better way to commemorate International Dark Sky Week than by talking with Kelly Beatty, a former editor of Sky and Telescope Magazine and light pollution activist.  He tells us how big an issue our disappearing dark skies are, his thoughts on the new Starlink constellation of satellites from SpaceX and what we can all do to help combat the lightening of our night.

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