Cosmic Queries – Astro-lore with Moiya McTier

About This Episode

Is it time to update the constellations? On this episode, Neil deGrasse Tyson and comic co-host Matt Kirshen dive into astrophysics, folklore, and our ancient connection to the stars with astrophysicist Moiya McTier, Ph.D.

How do you become an astrophysicist and a folklorist? We dive into the importance of connecting astrophysics to storytelling. What will the galactic collision between our galaxy and the andromeda galaxy feel like? What is the Dark Emu constellation? We dissect how different cultures envisioned the cosmos.

Why haven’t we come up with updated constellations for the modern day? Learn about the difference between an official constellation and an asterism. We talk about the ancient Babylonians, Greeks, and The Inca. What is Orion in different cultures? What about the Pleiades? Or the planets? Are constellations scientifically relevant?

Could dark matter be what is escaping from black holes? Is dark matter just little black holes? How do we map the Milky Way from inside of it? Discover Caroline and William Herschel and their 18th century attempt at mapping the Milky Way. Who was the first culture to believe that stars had influence on us? We explore astrology, redshifting, and even ghosts. Finally, are science and folklore just two different sides of the same coin?

Thanks to our Patrons Viny Adomonis, Thomas Blankenhorn, Weston Daniel L., Lauren Scott, and Aaryan Kukar for supporting us this week.

NOTE: StarTalk+ Patrons can watch or listen to this entire episode commercial-free.