More Astronomy Podcasts

Last October I wrote that a video podcast I enjoyed, This Week in Space, had run out of steam and ceased production.  Well, over time I found other podcasts that kept me abreast of events in astronomy.  Here are a few I recommend:

-- Deep Astronomy:  This video podcast is a nice collection of astronomical events delivered in a variety of ways by Tony Darnell, sometimes as a newscast referring to webpages and other times as a more elaborate narrated film.  I recently watched the piece on free-floating planets and was fascinated with the tale of hundreds of billions such planets throughout the galaxy.  You can view it on YouTube or pull it down on iTunes. 

-- Spacevidcast: Unlike Deep Astronomy, this video podcast has a number of narrators telling stories about the space program.  For instance, I recommend the video podcast on the NASA art show in Washington, DC, which I discussed in my last blog entry.  You can view these programs on YouTube or pull it down on iTunes. 

-- NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory:  This video podcast is another great way to stay on top of emerging issues, such as the new Mars rover.  This computer-generated animation of the future rover mission gives you a good idea of the complexities involved on getting to the planet's surface.  I had visions of Wall-E dancing through my head as the rover went about conducting its analysis.  Again, the videos are available on YouTube and iTunes. 

NASA's Commissioned Art

It was news to me that NASA has been contracting for art since the 1960s, including works from artists such as Andy Warhol and Annie Leibovitz.  And now these works are on display in Washington, DC, at the Air and Space Museum in an exhibit called NASA/Art: 50 Years of Exploration.  NASA has been collecting this art since 1962 and now has more than 3,000 items.  And what does each artist get for their work?  About $2,500 nowadays and the chance to add to this great national collection.  Norman Rockwell's commission was $800 back in 1965 when he provided this oil painting Grissom and Young, portraying Gemini astronauts Gus Grissom and John Young preparing for their first mission.  Go here for more of these great works.

 Sunrise Suit-up by Martin Hoffman, 1988, mixed media. 

 

Gemini Launch Pad by James Wyeth, 1964, watercolor on paper.