The Jodcast – Details, episodes & analysis

In this month's show we go on a sound seeing tour of the Lovell Telescope during the winter solstice. On the way we discover why two pulsars orbiting each other is a good thing and what we can see in the night sky this month. Also the latest news on the Stardust mission.

In this month's show we talk to Gerry Gilmore about the Gaia spacecraft and find out why he says the solar system will be oscillating like a jelly. We find out about the recently launched New Horizons mission to Pluto, pose all your difficult questions to Tim O'Brien and find out what you can see in the night sky during February*. We also get a round up of all the latest news from the planets to the closing of the London planetarium.

We have another packed show for you this month. Megan tells us the latest news in astronomy including exciting news about the STEREO mission, the Nobel Prize for physics 2006, ice on the Moon, extrasolar planets, damage to the Faulkes Telescopes, the re-opening of Mt Stromlo and the future of the Hubble Space Telescope. Nick and Stuart talk to Robert Nemiroff about the great internet resource that is astronomy picture of the day. We find out about an exciting ESA/NASA mission that will attempt to detect waves in space-time (gravitational waves) using three spacecraft named LISA. We also get a spooky edition of Ask an Astronomer where Tim O'Brien tells Nick about the variable star Algol and Ian Morison tells us what we can see in the November night sky.

Stargazing. In this show we talk to the presenters of BBC Stargazing Live: Dara O Briain [03:20 - 18:29], Mark Thompson [19:28 - 34:45] and Professor Brian Cox [35:00 - 50:41]. As always, Dr Tim O'Brien answers your astronomical questions [56:14 - 73:01] and we report on some odds and ends from the world of astronomy

Bucky. In the show this time we find out about cosmology and the cosmic microwave background from Dr Hiranya Peiris [10:55 - 29:05] and learn about buckyballs in space from Dr Jan Cami [29:14 - 37:43]. Megan rounds up the news from the 217th AAS meeting [01:43 - 10:46] and we hear what can be seen in the night sky in February [45:22 - 63:06].

Royal. In this show, Professor Martin Rees tells us about gamma-ray bursts and the future of humanity [01:46 - 19:58] and two new work experience students ask Doctor-in-waiting Adam Avison about the ALMA telescope [20:53 - 31:59]. Dr Iain McDonald answers your astronomical questions [38:20 - 48:04], we report on some odds and ends from the universe of astronomy and there is a round up your feedback since the last show.

Llama. In the show this time we find out about quasars from Dr Alejo Martinez-Sansigre [08:42 - 18:30], and Dr Alastair Edge tells us about the gas between clusters of galaxies [18:30 - 30:29]. Megan rounds up the latest news [01:55 - 08:04] and we hear what we can see in the March night sky from Ian Morison and John Field [37:34 - 56:33].

Glorious. In this show, Professor Derek Ward-Thompson tells us about the early stages of star formation [00:49 - 14:06] and Libby talks to Dr Jay Farihi about locating the remains of planets around white dwarfs [14:15 - 27:18]. Dr Iain McDonald answers your far-out questions [37:18 - 43:59], we bring you the latest astronomical odds and ends and there is a round up your feedback since the last show.

Arriba! Arriba! In this episode we talk to 4 members of the Jodrell Bank Centre for Astrophysics: Dr Bob Watson [09:30 - 13:49] tells us about the cosmic microwave background radiation, Dr Cristobal Espinoza [13:49 - 21:03] tells us about pulsar glitches, Dr Jaime Pineda [21:03 - 27:28] tells us about star formation and Matias Vidal [27:28 - 33:42] tells us about cosmology. As usual, Megan has the latest astronomical news [02:15 - 08:34] and Ian Morison and John Field tell us what's in the night sky [40:07 - 60:01]

Conferring. In the show this time we have interviews from two conferences - .astronomy [08:28 - 30:26] and the National Astronomy Meeting [30:29 - 43:19]. Megan rounds up the latest news [02:17 - 08:12] and we hear what we can see in the May night sky from Ian Morison and John Field [45:28 - 63:35].