Astronomy

Chris Lintott is an astrophysics professor from the University of Oxford and presenter of The Sky at Night TV programme. He is in New Zealand to talk about, galaxy evolution, the discovery of new… Audio

Leto Xavier is a Canterbury raised, Wellington based painter and multi-media artist. He has used his paintings to express his passion for physics and astronomy, as well as his struggles relating to… Audio, Gallery

Senior astronomer and Director of the Center for SETI Research at the SETI Institute, Mountain View, California. Seth Shostak is coming to New Zealand as a guest speaker at the Aoraki Mackenzie… Audio

Former Mt John University Observatory superintendent Alan Gilmore raises our gaze to the celestial bodies for a predicted decline in solar activity and the occultation analysis of Pluto. Audio

Astronommers have discovered a Jupiter-like planet, that could give clues to how our solar system was formed. It's known as 51 Eridani b, it's 100 light years away and is believed to be a young, 20… Audio

New Zealand's Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve is the southern hemisphere's first dark sky reserve, and the world's biggest. Steve Butler is from the Royal Astronomical Society of NZ… Audio

Dr Chris Smith on how your gut microbes could be affecting your mood. Also the discovery of the earliest evidence yet of Earth's magnetic field, found in some 4.4 billion year old Australian rock. Audio

Nasa's Kepler mission has discovered an earthlike planet scientists say could host alien life. Audio

Dr Michele Bannister is a New Zealander and an astronomer based in Canada. She's fascinated by NASA's New Horizons' Pluto mission and those stunning images of the outer reaches of our solar system. Audio, Gallery

As NASA's Curiosity rover discovers liquid water on Mars, astrophysicist Duncan Steel discusses what that might mean for life on Mars. Audio

Astronomers in the south of New Zealand have seen a rare astronomical event - an occultation of Pluto - giving them their best look yet at the tiny planet. Audio

Former Mt John University Observatory superintendent Alan Gilmore raises our gaze to the bodies floating in space... (the rocket edition). The New Horizons spacecraft passes by Pluto on July 14 2015… Audio

Will we see it... or will we not? Teams of astronomers are scattered throughout the country, in the hope of catching a rare glimpse of Pluto. We know little about it, and tomorrow morning, we may only… Audio

Astronomers from around the world are heading to the McKenzie Country to witness the moment when Pluto passes in front of a star. Audio

If you're down south, there's a good chance we may catch an aurora tonight and what a treat it would be. Dr Ian Griffin, is an astronomer and is currently the director at Otago Museum. Audio, Gallery

University of Canterbury physicist Jenni Adams explains how high-energy neutrinos could help track the origins of cosmic rays. Video, Audio