Planetary Radio

Series produced by Mat Kaplan

Series image

The Planetary Society's travel show that takes you to the final frontier, featuring commentary by Society CEO Bill Nye the Science Guy.

For over 20 years, we've been proud to bring Planetary Radio to our dedicated listeners. However, after careful consideration, we discontinued our traditional broadcast distribution on Aug. 2, 2023. We invite Radio stations to continue airing the extended podcast version of the show, along with any of our previous episodes. You can find the extensive archive of our broadcasts and our new podcast MP3s here: https://www.planetary.org/planetary-radio/radio-episodes-files For more information about Planetary Radio, visit our website at https://www.planetary.org/radio. For inquiries or support, contact Sarah Al-Ahmed, the host and producer of Planetary Radio, at planetaryradio@planetary.org. Thank you again for being an integral part of the Planetary Radio family. We look forward to continuing our cosmic journey together through the wonders of our podcast and beyond. Hide full description

For over 20 years, we've been proud to bring Planetary Radio to our dedicated listeners. However, after careful consideration, we discontinued our traditional broadcast distribution on Aug. 2, 2023. We invite Radio stations to continue airing the extended podcast version of the show, along with any of our previous episodes. You can find the extensive archive of our broadcasts and our new podcast MP3s here: https://www.planetary.org/planetary-radio/radio-episodes-files For more information about Planetary Radio, visit our website at https://www.planetary.org/radio. For inquiries or support, contact Sarah Al-Ahmed, the host and producer of Planetary Radio, at planetaryradio@planetary.org. Thank you again for being an integral part of the Planetary Radio family. We look forward to... Show full description


519 Pieces

Order by: Newest First | Oldest First
Caption: This beautiful image of Mars’ south pole was captured by the Mars Express orbiter in 2015.  Now there’s good evidence for liquid water 1.5 kilometers below it., Credit: ESA/DLR/FU Berlin/Bill Dunford
Our world was rocked by last week’s announcement of good radar evidence for a liquid water “lake” under the Red Planet’s south pole. Senior Edito...

Bought by KDNK, KSVR Studios: Skagit Valley Radio, KWMR, WMUU-LP, KRZA and more


  • Added: Jul 31, 2018
  • Length: 28:50
  • Purchases: 7
Caption: Asteroid Ryugu imaged by the Hayabusa2 spacecraft, Credit: JAXA
Japan’s Hayabusa2 is just 6 kilometers from asteroid Ryugu as it prepares to snatch samples of the space rock for return to Earth. Mission Project...

Bought by KMRE-LP Bellingham, Wash., KDNK, KWMR, KSVR Studios: Skagit Valley Radio, WMUU-LP and more


  • Added: Jul 25, 2018
  • Length: 28:50
  • Purchases: 8
Caption: A view of Oukaïmeden Observatory, with the Morocco Oukaïmeden Sky Survey (MOSS) dome in the foreground., Credit: Morocco Oukaïmeden Sky Survey
One of the Planetary Society’s 2018 Shoemaker Near-Earth Object grants has gone to the astronomers searching the sky from a mountaintop in the Nort...

Bought by KMRE-LP Bellingham, Wash., KDNK, KWMR, KSVR Studios: Skagit Valley Radio, KRZA and more


  • Added: Jul 18, 2018
  • Length: 28:50
  • Purchases: 8
Caption: ESA astronaut Alexander Gerst learns how to use a sextant in the ISS cupola., Credit: NASA
Sextants have helped sailors find their way across oceans for centuries. Now one is onboard the International Space Station so that astronauts can ...

Bought by KDNK, KMRE-LP Bellingham, Wash., KSVR Studios: Skagit Valley Radio, KWMR, KRZA and more


  • Added: Jul 11, 2018
  • Length: 28:50
  • Purchases: 8
Caption: This simulated perspective view shows Occator Crater, measuring 57 miles (92 kilometers) across and 2.5 miles (4 kilometers) deep, which contains the brightest area on Ceres. This region has been the subject of intense interest since Dawn's approach to th, Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/UCLA/MPS/DLR/IDA
Ceres is the queen of the asteroid belt. Her first Earthly visitor is nearing its last days in spectacular style. Dawn Mission Director and Chief...

Bought by KMRE-LP Bellingham, Wash., KSVR Studios: Skagit Valley Radio, KWMR, KNVC Carson City Community Radio, KRZA and more


  • Added: Jul 03, 2018
  • Length: 28:50
  • Purchases: 7
Caption: Artist’s concept of asteroid passing Earth, Credit: ESA / P.Carril
The dinosaurs regret their lack of a space program. 200 million years later, humans are gearing up to defend themselves from a species-ending rock...

Bought by KMRE-LP Bellingham, Wash., KWMR, WMUU-LP, WXAV 88.3FM Chicago, KRZA and more


  • Added: Jun 27, 2018
  • Length: 28:50
  • Purchases: 7
Caption: Kathryn Sullivan receives the National Space Society’s Space Pioneer Award, Credit: National Space Society
Freeman Dyson wasn’t the only space star at the ISDC. Mat talks with former astronaut and NOAA Administrator Kathryn Sullivan and leaders of the C...

Bought by KCSB-FM, KDNK, KMRE-LP Bellingham, Wash., KWMR, KNVC Carson City Community Radio and more


  • Added: Jun 20, 2018
  • Length: 28:50
  • Purchases: 9
Caption: Freeman Dyson speaks at the 2018 International Space Development Conference after receiving the National Space Society’s Heinlein Award., Credit: National Space Society
There’s so much more to Freeman Dyson than the Dyson Sphere. The mathematician, scientist and author is one of the greatest and most original mind...

Bought by KDNK, KMRE-LP Bellingham, Wash., KNVC Carson City Community Radio, KWMR, WXAV 88.3FM Chicago and more


  • Added: Jun 13, 2018
  • Length: 28:50
  • Purchases: 8
Caption: Masten Space Systems’ Xodiac in flight with PlanetVac as one of its feet, Credit: Bruce Betts
Join Mat Kaplan in California’s Mojave Desert for special coverage of not one but two rocket flights and a real world test of PlanetVac, the innova...

Bought by KDNK, KNVC Carson City Community Radio, KWMR, WXAV 88.3FM Chicago, WMUU-LP and more


  • Added: Jun 05, 2018
  • Length: 28:50
  • Purchases: 7
Caption: Mat Kaplan and National Air & Space Museum Director Ellen Stofan, Credit: Mat Kaplan
Planetary geologist Ellen Stofan has just become Director of the most popular museum in the United States. The NASM protects and shares the greate...

Bought by KDNK, KWMR, KMRE-LP Bellingham, Wash., KSVR Studios: Skagit Valley Radio, WMUU-LP and more


  • Added: May 29, 2018
  • Length: 28:50
  • Purchases: 6
Caption: New Horizons PI Alan Stern, Planetary Radio host Mat Kaplan and astrobiologist/science communicator David Grinspoon , Credit: Alan Stern
The New Horizons mission was a triumph, revealing Pluto as an utterly unique and beautiful world. The entire, surprisingly dramatic tale has now b...

Bought by KDNK, KMRE-LP Bellingham, Wash., KWMR, KRZA, WMUU-LP and more


  • Added: May 23, 2018
  • Length: 28:50
  • Purchases: 7
Caption: “Why Mars?” closing panel at the 2018 Humans to Mars Summit.  (l. to r.) Mat Kaplan, Saralyn Mark, Jeff Bingham, Jim Garvin, Keri Kukral, Janey Ivey, Nicholas Agnew, “Astronaut Abby,” Artemis Westenberg, Credit: ©CherylNemazie.com
The great adventure awaits! Mat Kaplan hosts an entertaining panel discussion at the 2018 Humans to Mars Summit in Washington DC. Eight guests pro...

Bought by KDNK, KWMR, KRZA, WMUU-LP, KSVR Studios: Skagit Valley Radio and more


  • Added: May 15, 2018
  • Length: 28:50
  • Purchases: 8
Caption: Artist concept of NEOWISE spacecraft in Earth orbit, Credit: NASA/JPL
After taking over 10 million images of more than 30,000 solar system objects, the NEOWISE mission is finally in its last months. Principal Investi...

Bought by KDNK, KNVC Carson City Community Radio, KWMR, WXAV 88.3FM Chicago, KRZA and more


  • Added: May 08, 2018
  • Length: 28:50
  • Purchases: 8
Caption: InSight PI Bruce Banerdt in the cleanroom with the Planetary Society's Emily Lakdawalla and the spacecraft., Credit: The Planetary Society
No mission to Mars has done what InSight will do. The lander’s spectacularly sensitive instruments will use the Red Planet’s heat and marsquakes t...

Bought by KDNK, KRZA, KNVC Carson City Community Radio, KWMR, WXAV 88.3FM Chicago and more


  • Added: May 02, 2018
  • Length: 28:50
  • Purchases: 8
Caption: The cover of Emily Lakdawalla's new and fascinating book about Curiosity, the Mars Science Laboratory rover, Credit: Springer Praxis
Join us for an utterly fascinating live conversation with Emily Lakdawalla about her brand new book, The Design and Engineering of Curiosity: How t...

Bought by KDNK, KNVC Carson City Community Radio, KWMR, WXAV 88.3FM Chicago, KMRE-LP Bellingham, Wash. and more


  • Added: Apr 24, 2018
  • Length: 28:50
  • Purchases: 8
Caption: Yuri’s Night founder Loretta Whitesides presents an award to Anousheh Ansari, Credit: Mat Kaplan
Host Mat Kaplan once again attends the worldwide party for space. Join him at the Los Angeles celebration under Space Shuttle Endeavour. You’ll h...

Bought by KDNK, KSVR Studios: Skagit Valley Radio, KNVC Carson City Community Radio, KWMR, WXAV 88.3FM Chicago and more


  • Added: Apr 18, 2018
  • Length: 28:50
  • Purchases: 8
Caption: Artist concept of the planets circling the star known as Trappist-1, Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech
We have begun to understand the composition of worlds that are hundreds of trillions of kilometers from Earth. Astronomer Nikole Lewis is co-leader...

Bought by KDNK, KNVC Carson City Community Radio, KWMR, KSVR Studios: Skagit Valley Radio, WXAV 88.3FM Chicago and more


  • Added: Apr 10, 2018
  • Length: 28:50
  • Purchases: 8
Caption: Author and futurist David Brin, Credit: Cheryl Brigham
The multi-award winning science fiction author, futurist and speaker returns to Planetary Radio for a wide-ranging conversation about robots and hu...

Bought by KDNK, KNVC Carson City Community Radio, KSVR Studios: Skagit Valley Radio, KWMR, WXAV 88.3FM Chicago and more


  • Added: Apr 04, 2018
  • Length: 28:50
  • Purchases: 8
Caption: Artist concept of the Tiangong-1 space station, Credit: CMSA
By the time you hear this week’s episode, China’s Tiangong-1 may have spectacularly re-entered our planet’s atmosphere, raining metal on an unpredi...

Bought by KDNK, KNVC Carson City Community Radio, KSVR Studios: Skagit Valley Radio, KWMR, WMUU-LP and more


  • Added: Mar 28, 2018
  • Length: 28:50
  • Purchases: 8
Caption: Physicist Stephen Hawking enjoys zero gravity during a flight aboard a modified Boeing 727 aircraft owned by Zero Gravity Corp. (Zero G), Credit: Jim Campbell/Aero-News Network
He is known for his breakthrough physics and popularizing of science, but Dr. Hawking also wanted to fly in space. Erik Viirre led the medical team...

Bought by KDNK, KNVC Carson City Community Radio, KSVR Studios: Skagit Valley Radio, KWMR, WXAV 88.3FM Chicago and more


  • Added: Mar 21, 2018
  • Length: 28:50
  • Purchases: 8