The unprecedented sensitivity of ALMA (the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array) has allowed the first detection of so-called 'complex organic molecules', or COMs, defined in astrochemistry as molecules with greater than five atoms. The detection and analysis of COM emission from planet-forming disks is vital for understanding the chemical archaeological record of our Solar System contained …

Understanding how galaxies evolve is one of the most active fields of modern astrophysics. Clive Tadhunter, Professor of Astrophysics at Sheffield University, joins us to explain how the supermassive black holes in the centres of galaxies play a key role in the transformation of galaxies over cosmic time, and discuss the likely fate of our own …

Anthony Jennings ventures o’er the divide from Manchester Astronomical Society where he sits as President, one of the oldest astronomical societies in the country.  His 3D images have appeared on NASA’s STEREO (Solar TErrestrial RElations Observatory) website. He has had photographs in Sky At Night and Astronomy Now magazines, and shown on Granada Television.  The Late Sir Patrick …

Jason McDonald joins us from Harrogate Astronomical Society and the UK Solar Imaging & Observations FB Group on the first day of the astronomical summer for an evening of all things Solar. Non-members: £3,  Members: society rate

All is not appears with that there Moon... to us it seems like a simple grey disk. Kevin Kilburn of Manchester Astronomy Society joins us to open our eyes and reveal the moon’s visual secrets in glorious technicolor.

Paul Money returns with another of his fascinating talks involving the escapades of early space exploration missions. In 1975 NASA launched an ambitious mission to search for life on the Red Planet. Consisting of two orbiters and two landers, most of the emphasis has concentrated on the landers but in this Pt 1 we look …

Dr Susan Cartwright, Senior Lecturer in Particle Physics and Astrophysics at Sheffield University, joins us to explore the topic of Exoplanets... looking at questions such as how do you we find and observe them, and what are the probabilities of finding habitable worlds? Non-members: £3  Members: society rate Image credit: IAU/L. Calçada

Astronomy is mostly a visual and non-experimental science. We can only look at what is out there but can't brings stars and galaxies into the lab. However we can build them inside computers and attempt to simulate them. In this talk, we will see how simulations can show us how the universe evolves and what we can do with …

As is traditional, quizmaster Soupy will present his annual Astronomical Christmas Quiz... with goodies to be won!