Exploring Dark Skies

About This Episode

Where are the darkest skies in the U.S.? Neil deGrasse Tyson and comedian Chuck Nice learn about dark sky efforts, light pollution, and cool places to stargaze with guests astrophysicist Matt O’Dowd, astrophotographer Babak Tafreshi, and national park ranger Bradley Mills.

What makes for a good stargazing spot? Neil and Matt talk about their experience as astrophysicists looking at the night sky. Does understanding aspects of space takeaway or enhance the magic? What are the cool things you can see through a telescope in the Northern Hemisphere? We discuss the impact of seeing Saturn through a telescope and why people get so excited.

Babak tells us about his project Life at Night and how light pollution impacts wildlife.  Learn about astrophotography, how to create a great image, and where to find dark skies to create your own astrophotography. Plus, Neil shares a story about the International Dark Sky Association.

We speak to Bradley about being an Astronomy Ranger at Great Basin National Park. What options are there for amateur astronomers to observe the night sky? All that, plus, we discuss what you need to know in order to become an astronomy park ranger or volunteer and how to get more people to keep looking up.

Thanks to our Patrons Rob Arifur, Peter Kariuki, Tina Anapolsky, Micheal Bishara, Rebecca Cain, John Aaron, and Stephan Kokot for supporting us this week.

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