Chris and Edward kick off the last episode of the 2010s by hinting at a busy future in space and astronomy.
This episode of Pythagorean Astronomy reflects on major astronomy developments of 2019 and anticipates future projects. Hosts Chris North and Edward Gomez, astronomers from Cardiff University, provide an expert review of the year's significant milestones. They frame the discussion around key discoveries and upcoming missions shaping the field.
The hosts highlight the 2019 Nobel Prize in Physics awarded to Michel Mayor and Didier Queloz for discovering the first exoplanet orbiting a sun-like star, 51 Pegasi. They note the current confirmed exoplanet count exceeds 4,000, largely due to NASA's Kepler spacecraft. Kepler's successor, the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS), is now surveying brighter stars across the entire sky. The conversation acknowledges the technical challenges such missions can face, referencing problems encountered by Kepler. The hosts also discuss the decade's progress in gravitational wave astronomy following the first detection in 2015. They mention the Event Horizon Telescope's achievement in capturing the first image of a black hole's shadow in 2019. Looking ahead, they anticipate the launch of the James Webb Space Telescope and the ESA's PLATO exoplanet mission.
A surprising insight is that the first exoplanet discovery around a sun-like star occurred when host Edward Gomez was an undergraduate. The hosts explain that TESS's strategy involves very long observing runs to mitigate potential technical issues. They emphasize that the 1995 exoplanet discovery was merely the "tip of the iceberg" for the field. The discussion reveals how gravitational wave observatories have transitioned from a first detection to routine operation. The image of the black hole shadow is presented as a major technical triumph for radio astronomy. The hosts express clear anticipation for the new capabilities the James Webb Space Telescope will provide.
The tone is conversational and educational, blending personal recollection with expert commentary. The style is an informal yet informative dialogue between two professional colleagues.
Listeners interested in a concise review of recent astronomical breakthroughs and near-future missions would enjoy this episode. Those seeking deep, technical analysis of a single topic might find the broad overview too general.
