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Ask an Astronomer

NASA / SSC-IPAC

Real NASA astronomers answer questions about the exciting science of astronomy.

Episodes

20 of 29 episodes

Where Is the Center of the Universe? (Ask an Astronomer)

Dr. Varoujan Gorjian explains the mind-boggling expansion of the Universe.

Aug 26, 2009

W-5 Star-Forming Region (What Is It?)

Visit the W-5 star-forming region with 'Ask an Astronomer'!

Feb 5, 2009

Why Is the Sky Blue? (Ask an Astronomer)

In this 'Ask an Astronomer' episode, Dr. Carolyn Brinkworth fills us in on what the color of the sky has to do with finding life on distant...

Dec 22, 2008

What's Between the Stars? (Ask an Astronomer)

In this 'Ask an Astronomer' episode, Dr. Michelle Thaller explains how there can be an interstellar medium in a vacuum.

Oct 23, 2008

Spitzer Turns Five (Ask an Astronomer Special)

This 'Ask an Astronomer' special looks at some of the biggest discoveries from NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope over the last five years.

Aug 25, 2008

What Will Happen to the Earth When the Sun Dies?

Our Sun won't last forever. Dr. Carolyn Brinkworth explains the ramifications for our home planet in this 'Ask an Astronomer' video.

Jul 1, 2008

"Can a planet have two suns?" (Ask an Astronomer)

Dr. Carolyn Brinkworth addresses a famous science fiction scenario in this 'Ask an Astronomer' video.

May 8, 2008

"Can a galaxy die?" (Ask an Astronomer)

Dr. Varoujan Gorjian gives us the answer to this 'Ask an Astronomer' question.

Apr 10, 2008

"Why aren't there any green stars?" (Ask an Astronomer)

Dr. Michelle Thaller answers this question for 'Ask an Astronomer.'

Mar 13, 2008

"How do you discover an asteroid?" (Ask an Astronomer)

Dr. Bidushi Bhattacharya helps us understand how astronomers find these tiny space rocks.

Feb 13, 2008

Infrared: More Than Your Eyes Can See

Dr. Michelle Thaller explains infrared light in this older video, produced by NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope (then known as the Space Infrar...

Dec 18, 2007

M51 and Gizmo in "Half-Baked Plan"

In this animated 'Ask an Astronomer' special, innocent alien M51 moves the Earth into a closer orbit around the sun, and learns an important...

Nov 5, 2007

"What happens when galaxies collide?" (Ask an Astronomer)

Dr. Varoujan Gorjian takes us inside galactic collisions in this 'Ask an Astronomer' video.

Sep 14, 2007

"What is the nearest galaxy to the Milky Way?" (Ask Astron.)

Dr. Michelle Thaller explains that the answer isn't as simple as you might think!

Jul 27, 2007

"Why isn't Pluto a planet anymore?" (Ask an Astronomer)

Dr. Robert Hurt explains why Pluto got... well... plutoed.

Feb 12, 2007

"How can we see a black hole?" (Ask an Astronomer)

If no light escapes from a black hole, how can we detect them? 'Ask an Astronomer' explains.

Aug 24, 2006

"What is a redshift?" (Ask an Astronomer)

'Ask an Astronomer' uses an astronomer, a flying saucer, and a cow to help explain this difficult astronomical concept in simple terms.

May 24, 2006

"Do the stars really move?" (Ask an Astronomer)

The answer to this 'Ask an Astronomer' question may surprise you!

Dec 9, 2005

"Why do we see spiral arms in some galaxies?" (Ask an Astronomer)

'Ask an Astronomer' explains the morphology of one of the most common types of galaxy.

Oct 25, 2005

"Why doesn't the moon fall down?" (Ask an Astronomer)

This 'Ask an Astronomer' episode explains how orbits work.

Oct 14, 2005