The Lunar Reconnaissance orbiter has made some startling discoveries on the moon.

Here we discuss the first six of these groundbreaking finds …..

Mimas, the well known moon of Saturn bears a striking similarity to the Star Wars “Death Star”, but what about the science behind it ? …….

A new comet has been discovered by one of the hard working space probes. This time its the infra red observatory “WISE” that has the bragging and naming rights to the new comet ….

Haley’s comet is the best known of all the comets, and this meteor shower is one of 2  chances each year to catch some of its dusty debris burning up in our Atmosphere … It has passed us now having peaked on the 22nd of October, but it is a timely reminder to watch out for the upcoming Geminid Meteor Shower on the 14th of December ….

With the upsurge in Cosmic ray activity in the atmosphere of mother earth and in line with the article I published recently. I speak of the matter with my Co-host Rob on the science Hour at Gove FM. So what is the signifigance of these cosmic rays and how does it interact with climate change on our planet …. ?

Preserving the dark skies of the world and raising awareness of this critical conservation effort is one of the cornerstone projects of the International Year of astronomy. I speak with Graham Murry of the Earth and Sky observatory at Mt John on their efforts to take a leading role in this field, in my third and final interview of my NZ tour …..

In this second interview I discuss the History, current projects and the future for NZ’s #1 research telescope “the Moa” on Mt John. I am speaking with Alan Gilmore, the resident superintendent at the Mt John Observatory. Alan is a prolific co-discoverer of Asteroids with his partner Pamela Kilmartin, having over 40 asteroids to his name, just to mention one of his many achievements.

We also cover progress in the search for dark matter through to the latest successful discovery of Exo-planets by the Gravity Micro Lensing surveys, being conducted by the Moa team ….

Saturn has been studied in great detail since the arrival of the Cassini Probe there several years ago. But new discoveries are still being made, now as Saturn turns it rings edge on to us …….

As promised here is the first in a series of interviews from the Mt John Observatory in NZ.

First up I speak to Ade Ashford, a professional Astronomer, Former editor of a major astronomy magazine and an Astro guide at the Earth & Sky Observatory on Mt John, by the beautiful Aqua waters of Lake Tekapo and surrounded by the magficent Southern Alps …….

Well here I am in the delightful South Island of New Zealand. I have been to the Observatory that is at the forefront of Astronomical research here in NZ. Yes, none other than the Mt John Observatory at Lake Tekapo in Mckenzie Country west of Timaru in the shadow of Mt Cook and the Southern Alps.

I have recorded some great interviews with the people that run the Earth & Sky observatory & The Moa research telescope. The Moa telescope is at the cutting edge of Exo Planet discovery in NZ.

Stay tuned to ATSG.com for the upcoming interviews !

Ian Maclean