[AANC Contacts] Noted Astronomers Featured in Two Kinds of Podcasts from the Astronomical Society of the Pacific

[Andrew Fraknoi]

Noted Astronomers and Latest Astronomical Discoveries Featured in Two 
Podcast Series
from the Astronomical Society of the Pacific
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	The web-site of the nonprofit Astronomical Society of the Pacific 
now provides two different series of podcasts involving interviews 
with and talks by leading astronomers:

1) "Astronomy Behind the Headlines" features short interviews that 
give you a look at the latest discoveries in astronomy and space 
science and provide links to related resources and activities.  It is 
particularly designed for the staff of science museums, planetariums, 
and nature centers, but can be enjoyed by educators in all settings 
and everyone who follows astronomy.

	The latest episode takes a look at the black hole at the dusty heart 
of the Milky Way Galaxy. We can't see it visually, but radio 
astronomers can spot it with their instruments. A group led by Dr. 
Shep Doeleman at MIT's Haystack Observatory recently made a startling 
measurement of the disk through which the black hole is gathering in 
material, and in a brief interview, Dr. Doeleman explains the meaning 
of his discovery.

	To listen to the latest episode, access related resource and 
subscribe via iTunes or XML, go to:
http://www.astrosociety.org/abh/

	Other podcasts in the series include interviews with planetary 
astronomer Heidi Hammel and meteor expert and meteorite discoverer 
Peter Jenniskens.

2) "The Silicon Valley Astronomy Lectures" feature complete talks by 
noted astronomers, recorded in both audio-only and video 
formats.  Among the scientists who have spoken recently in the series 
are: Paul Kalas, whose group took the first visible-light image of a 
planet around another star (using the Hubble Space Telescope); Lynn 
Rothschild, an astrobiologists who explores some of the most hostile 
places on Earth to find life forms that might also survive on other 
worlds; and Patricia Burchat, a physicist who is seeking a better 
understanding of the dark matter and dark energy that seem to make up 
most of the universe through experiments.

	Recordings of past speakers include Frank Drake, the father of the 
experimental search for extra-terrestrial intelligence, planet hunter 
Geoff Marcy, and Stephen Beckwith, the former Director of the Hubble.

	You can find the audio podcasts, and instructions for getting to the 
video versions at:
http://www.astrosociety.org/education/podcast/

(Founded in 1889, the Astronomical Society of the Pacific is an 
international scientific and educational organizations, whose primary 
goal is to increase the public understanding of astronomy.)