Episode Details

The Discussion: Jeni's returns from her South African research using the Infrared Survey Facility telescope, Paul calls time on the Principia Mission and we go through a couple of readers emails to discuss Caroline Herschel, the Woomera Test Range and Australian space funding.

The News: Rounding up the space and astronomy news this month we have:

• Is there any evidence for other universes in the Cosmic Microwave Background Radiation?
• An update on Tabby's Star (It's NOT an alien megastructure).
• Are we already creating our own defence against Coronal Mass Ejections by chance?
• A run through NASA's 2018 budget proposal

The Interview: This month we speak to former test pilot and astronaut - and one of only 6 remaining people to have walked on the moon - General Charlie Duke.

Practical Astronomy: The Hat of Woo takes a rest this month as we introduce an occasional look into areas of interest to the practical amateur astronomer with topics requested by you. This month we take a look at an essential piece of kit suggested by Sean Smith from Dublin: eyepieces.