Astronomy

(03/06/12) Alerts went out this week about solar activity that could be a predictor of northern lights. In the studio this morning, St. Lawrence University astronomer, and physics professor, Aileen O'Donoghue explains the Sun's electromagnetic storms, and tells Martha Foley it's hard to predict the aurora for sure.

(02/21/12) Planets are "zooming" across the night sky, according to St. Lawrence University astronomer and physic professor Aileen O'Donoghue. She sketched out how to follow the waxing crescent moon to find what's moving in the west, Venus and Jupiter, over the next week--and lots more--in a conversation with Martha Foley.

(01/10/12) St. Lawence University physics professor Aileen O'Donoghue talks astronomy with Martha Foley. She's got a lot to say about this year of Fridays the 13th; the first one is this Friday. Also, Venus is up in the evening sky, and Jupiter is moving its way.

(10/04/11) St. Lawrence University physics professor Aileen O'Donoghue was in the NCPR studio this morning, just after two Americans and one Australian-American, Saul Perlmutter, Adam Riess and Brian Schmidt, were announced as this year's Nobel Prize winners in physics. Their analysis of exploding stars showed that the universe is expanding at an accelerated rate.

She and Martha Foley talked about their work and its implications, and about other recent news that neutrinos have been measured at speeds faster than the speed of light. O'Donoghue also gave tips on what to see in the night sky, and how: Jupiter and its moons, with good binoculars.

(09/22/11) Why does the moon look bigger when it's on the horizon, than it does when it is high in the sky? Curt Stager shares some theories with Martha Foley.

(09/15/11) Martha Foley poses the classic child's question. According to Dr. Curt Stager, the answer lies in the composition of the atmosphere, and in the refractive qualities of different wavelengths of light.

(08/16/11) St. Lawrence University physicist and astronomer Aileen O'Donoghue was in the studio this morning, with a heads-up on the night sky.

She gave Martha Foley the latest on where the planets are, and the news that the sun cycle is building, with more sunspots and more northern lights expected in the rest of the year.

(06/14/11) Next Tuesday's solstice is usually taken as the beginning of summer in our region. The days are at their longest, but the short nights still remain awash with bright stars and planets. Todd Moe talks with St. Lawrence University astronomer Aileen O'Donoghue about the Summer Solstice, Saturn and the early summer night sky.

(01/11/11) Martha Foley talks with astronomer Aileen O'Donohue of St. Lawrence University about what's happening with the stars this time of year.

(12/15/10) Next Monday night, December 20, is a big night: it's the solstice, and there'll be a full eclipse of the full moon. Here's hoping for clear skies! St. Lawrence University physicist and astronomer Aileen O'Donoghue had the details of all that, and more, for Martha Foley.