Looking Up

Five minutes at the end of each week explores the big and the small questions in astronomy, cosmology, and space science. Hosted by Kechil Kirkham, no subject is too big or too small, and experts are regularly brought on board to illuminate and excite. Cape Town is the place to be for astronomy, with some of the largest telescopes in the world housed or being built not too far away. Looking Up takes advantage of the shoals of scientists and engineers working on the planet’s most advanced astronomy projects, who live and work right here in the Mother City. Kechil has recently acquired an MPhil in Space Studies at the University of Cape Town, and works in South Africa’s space industry on the Square Kilometre Array radio telescope.
Weekly English South Africa Places & Travel
430 Episodes
320 – 340

Looking Up - 05 October 2018

Local telescope MEERKAT to join the search for signs of extraterrestrial technology. Breakthrough Listen is a project run by SETI, the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence, and SARAO, the South African Radio Astronomy Observatory. Its work will be given a major boost by the powerful MEERKAT telescope. But will they find…
5 Oct 2018 5 min

Looking Up - 28 September 2018

The life of an astronomer: what do astronomers actually do all day, or all night? Listen to an interview with student Julia Healy, who is performing research (live, on Fine Music Radio!) for her PhD at the University of Cape Town and the University of Groningen in The Netherlands. This…
28 Sep 2018 4 min

Looking Up - 21 September 2018

Here it from the top: Kechil interviews the director of Astronomy at the Department of Science and Technology, Takalani Nemaungani. He describes something of his portfolio and what the Dept S&T does with its budget - which is phenomenal. This is a golden age for astronomy and South Africa is…
21 Sep 2018 4 min

Looking Up - 14 September 2018

From time to time star-gazers, astronomy enthusiasts and astrophotographers get together in a remote, dark place for a Star Party. These happen all over the world, including in South Africa. Kechil is joined here in Leeuwenboschfontein by John Richards with his telescope, describing the heavenly treasures that were briefly visible…
14 Sep 2018 5 min

Looking Up - 07 September 2018

Kechil visited the Royal Astronomical Society in London recently and spoke to Morgan Hollis about the organisation and its long history, plus its funding of an Astronomical Data exhibition in South Africa, to be developed here in Cape Town.
7 Sep 2018 4 min

Looking Up - 31 August 2018

Dr Daniel Cunnama is the Science Engagement officer at the South African Astronomical Observatory and here tells us about his role and aspirations to involve the public - that's YOU - in the wonders of astronomy.
31 Aug 2018 4 min

Looking Up - 24 August 2018

Cosmic numbers are astronomical. How do we deal with this big data? Professor Michelle Cluver talks about the Inter-University Institute for Data Intensive Astronomy and how it will tackle the big data problems right here in Cape Town.
24 Aug 2018 5 min

Looking Up - 10 August 2018

More astronomical mysteries: Astronomers have detected an intense and mysteriously low frequency radio signal coming from space.
10 Aug 2018 4 min

Looking Up - 27 July 2018

Total lunar eclipse tonight! To enjoy with the astronomy society come along to the Waterfront somewhere near the big wheel. This is the longest total lunar eclipse of the century so don't miss this spectacle. Also on tonight's broadcast the latest from Life on Mars. A lake has been found…
27 Jul 2018 5 min

Looking Up - 20 July 2018

Last Friday MEERKAT was inaugurated in the Northern Cape, to much pomp and ceremony, with many dignitaries present including the Deputy Prime Minister David Mabuza. It is the largest telescope in the world. This is an astonishing achievement for the country, as this is a South African project. The engineering…
20 Jul 2018 5 min

Looking Up - 13 July 2018

Today MEERKAT was inaugurated, the largest radio telescope of its type in the world by a long way. It is already producing ground-breaking, or sky-stretching, science. and is a tremendous achievement. This extraordinary instrument is entirely South African funded and built - the World Cup Trophy of science and engineering…
13 Jul 2018 5 min

Looking Up - 6 July 2018

Data from the Cassini mission to Saturn has been analysed and the building blocks for life have been detected. Find out more! Is there life beneath the icy surface of this planetoid?
6 Jul 2018 5 min

Looking Up - 29 June 2018

If your home is filthy, you are simply in tune with the universe. Astronomers have revealed that interstellar space is permeated with a fine mist of grease-like molecules. How much? Enough for 40 trillion trillion trillion packs of butter in our Milky Way alone. It seems to be true but…
29 Jun 2018 5 min

Looking Up - 22 June 2018

Black Holes! Supermassive black holes! Black holes gobbling up stars! Supermassive black holes gobbling up stars in colliding galaxies! It's rough out there. Here on Earth, we have survived another solstice, be thankful.
22 Jun 2018 5 min

Looking Up - 15 June 2018

The Mars rover Opportunity is in a bit of a pickle, resting out a mighty dust storm on the surface of the planet. It's been powered down to conserve battery power as it can't recharge with all that dust about. Recently two studies have inched further in detecting signs of…
15 Jun 2018 4 min

Looking Up - 08 June 2018

Where are all the aliens? Are they amongst us? Kechil explains Fermi's Paradox, listing all logical possibilities. Are we the dangerous ones who will obliterate life on other planets?
8 Jun 2018 5 min

Looking Up - 01 June 2018

Brent Miszalski, SALT Astronomer with the South African Astronomical Observatory here in Cape Town, has discovered the secrets behind the weird and wonderful shape of the Hourglass Nebula, which sits close to the Southern Cross. Find out why it is the way it is, and what binary star systems have…
1 Jun 2018 5 min

Looking Up - 25 May 2018

This past Sunday China launched a rocket which carried three satellites that are now en route to the Moon. Two of these satellites carry instruments co-developed here in Somerset West by Space Advisory Company, part of a complex and exciting science collaboration with the Dutch, Saudis and Chinese. Dr Francois…
25 May 2018 4 min
320 – 340