Ian Griffin
Mercury transit to be visible from New Zealand in November
New Zealanders will be able to see the rare transit of Mercury an astronomer on Captain Cook's first voyage to Aotearoa observed 250 years ago in a little under two weeks.
The transit will happen on… Audio
Solar eclipse in the Pitcairns
There's something about solar eclipses. They capture imaginations all over the world and are absolute cat nip for astronomers. Audio
Drawn to see a total solar eclipse on a remote Pitcairn island
Otago Museum staff are taking a trip to a small atoll in the Pitcairn Island group, in the hopes of seeing a total solar eclipse and to cement the museums unique connections with the remote island.
… Audio
SpaceX chain of 60 satellites visible from NZ this morning
At the end of last week we brought on one of regular early risers Dr Ian Griffin, who told us about Elon Musk's Starlink satellites. Well, they may well be visible in New Zealand's sky this… Audio
Who's Up at 5am? Astronomer Dr Ian Griffin
One of our regular early morning risers is astronomer Ian Griffin. Elon Musk - who's Space X company has caused some controversy by launching 60 highly-reflective communication satellites into orbit… Audio
Who's Up at 5am? Dr Ian Griffin
Even though we are just about to finish up for the day it's still dark outside and there's lots to see in the night sky, Dr Ian Griffin, director of the Otago Museum talks about what you can see. Audio
Light pollution concerns over proposed LED lights for Dunedin
Some of Dunedin's amber sodium streetlights are to be replaced by a new generation of LED bulbs. These provide excellent lighting but many residents are lamenting they won't be able to appreciate the… Audio
Insight lander touches down on Mars
The InSight lander touched down on the surface of Mars just before nine o'clock this morning - the culmination of a US$1 billion international effort. Otago Museum director Dr Ian Griffin joins us to… Audio
There's water on Mars so how about food?
Mars has been in the news quite a bit recently, last week it was revealed scientists had discovered an underground lake on the planet. So what are the possibilities here, could food be grown there… Audio
Astronomer Ian Griffin - getting close to Mars
Astronomer, planet-discoverer and Otago Museum director Dr Ian Griffin joins us to talk all things Mars. Audio
From Matauranga to Infinity at Dunedin's new science centre
A complete $2.5 million rebuild of Otago Museum's interactive science centre has for the first time melded Ngai Tahu's Maori world view with traditional science. Video, Audio
Jupiter pictures from Juno
NASA's probe Juno has been sent to orbit Jupiter to find out about the fifth planet's origin and evolution. The probe has sent back stunning pictures. Audio, Gallery
Spacecraft's grand finale
One of NASA's 20 year old spacecrafts is scheduled to have a fiery end to it's mission later tonight. After two decades in space The Cassini will tonight be guided into Saturn's atmosphere where it… Audio, Gallery
A stunning sight: Aurora Australis seen from Auckland to Otago
Otago University astronomer Ian Griffin says Aurora hunters are being treated to an unusually intense and widespread display of the Southern Lights, and it's not over yet. Audio
Aurora Australis puts on a show
Astronomer Ian Griffin says the first commercial flight for people hoping to see the southern lights, Aurora Australis, was literally a spectacular success. Audio, Gallery
Is Pluto a Planet again?
The debate is raging again... is Pluto a planet or not... and does it really matter? The annual Lunar and Planetary Science Conference is being held in Houston. And we believe it's a hot topic of… Audio
NASA to send probe to potential earth impactor asteroid
Bennu is 500 metres wide, which means it is an object cabable of causing a global catastrophy and in 2135 it will pass between the earth and the moon. Audio
Meteor or space junk? South Island skies lit up by bright light
Are you still puzzling over what exploded over the southern skies last night? We get the answers from astronomer Ian Griffin from the Museum of Otago. Audio
Masterpieces with Dunedin Astronomer, Ian Griffin
Astronomer Dr Ian Griffin is the Director of Otago Museum in Dunedin. He is the former CEO of Science Oxford and the former head of public outreach at NASA's Space Telescope Science Institute. He… Video, Audio, Gallery
Asteroid swings by Earth
Planet Earth may have just had a close shave with an asteroid. Audio