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
Planetary Radio Live Defends Planet Earth!
From: Mat Kaplan
Series: Planetary Radio
Caption: Mat Kaplan and his Planetary Radio Live panel at the Planetary Defense Conference public event. From left to right: Mat, Nancy Chabot, Gerhard Drolshagen, Kelly Fast, Rüdiger Jehn, and Carrie Nugent, Credit: Antonio Peronace for The Planetary Society
Leaders of the global effort to avoid a catastrophic Near Earth Object impact gathered at the 2019 Planetary Defense Conference. On the evening of ...

Bought by KDNK, KBUT Crested Butte, Colo., KWMR, WMUU-LP, WXAV 88.3FM Chicago and more


  • Added: May 07, 2019
  • Length: 28:50
  • Purchases: 7
The Skies of Super-Earths and Mini-Neptunes
From: Mat Kaplan
Series: Planetary Radio
Caption: Artist’s impression of a recently discovered super-Earth that orbits the nearby star GJ 1214. Discovered with the European Southern Observatory’s 3.6-meter telescope at La Silla, GJ 1214b is the second super- Earth exoplanet for which astronomers have det, Credit: ESO / L. Calcada
There appear to be more mini-Neptunes (also known as Super Earths) across our galaxy than any other type of planet. Hannah Wakeford wants to learn...

Bought by KDNK, KBUT Crested Butte, Colo., KWMR, WMUU-LP, KRZA and more


  • Added: Apr 30, 2019
  • Length: 28:50
  • Purchases: 6
Lucy in the Sky With Asteroids
From: Mat Kaplan
Series: Planetary Radio
Caption: Artist concept of the Lucy spacecraft during one of its Trojan asteroid flybys., Credit: NASA
A rare alignment of planets and other objects will enable the solar-powered Lucy spacecraft to examine seven asteroids, six of which are among the ...

Bought by KDNK, WRGY, KBUT Crested Butte, Colo., KWMR, WMUU-LP and more


  • Added: Apr 23, 2019
  • Length: 28:50
  • Purchases: 8
The Triumph of a Failed Moon Landing
From: Mat Kaplan
Series: Planetary Radio
Caption: SpaceIL's Beresheet takes a selfie as it passes over the far side of the Moon., Credit: SpaceIL
The Beresheet lunar lander failed in the last few kilometers of its descent to the Moon. Two days later we learned that its team would try again. D...

Bought by KIYU-FM, KDNK, KBUT Crested Butte, Colo., KWMR, KRZA and more


  • Added: Apr 16, 2019
  • Length: 28:50
  • Purchases: 7
Celebrating Yuri’s Night with Legendary Astronaut Story Musgrave
From: Mat Kaplan
Series: Planetary Radio
Caption: 2018 Yuri's Night Los Angeles, Credit: Yuri's Night
The Los Angeles celebration of Yuri’s Night came six days early this year. It attracted hundreds of space party animals, along with record-breaking...

Bought by KDNK, KBUT Crested Butte, Colo., KWMR, KRZA, WMUU-LP and more


  • Added: Apr 10, 2019
  • Length: 28:50
  • Purchases: 7
Ice Worlds, Landing on the Moon and Blasting an Asteroid
From: Mat Kaplan
Series: Planetary Radio
Caption: Neptune, as seen during the brief Voyager 2 flyby in 1989, Credit: NASA/JPL
When will we return to Uranus and Neptune? Planetary scientist Amy Simon explains why a mission to the so-called ice giants is a high priority as s...

Bought by KDNK, KBUT Crested Butte, Colo., KWMR, WXAV 88.3FM Chicago, WMUU-LP and more


  • Added: Apr 02, 2019
  • Length: 28:50
  • Purchases: 7
In the Lab with Planetary Scientist Sarah Hörst
From: Mat Kaplan
Series: Planetary Radio
Caption: Sarah Hörst demonstrates the glove box in her Johns Hopkins University planetary science lab., Credit: Mat Kaplan
A conversation with Johns Hopkins University planetary scientist Sarah Hörst is capped by a tour of her fascinating lab. That’s where Sarah and her...

Bought by KDNK, KBUT Crested Butte, Colo., KWMR, KRZA, WXAV 88.3FM Chicago and more


  • Added: Mar 27, 2019
  • Length: 28:50
  • Purchases: 7
Bill Nye and Planetary Radio Live at Extreme STEA2M
From: Mat Kaplan
Series: Planetary Radio
Caption: • The Amoeba People on the Planetary Society stage at the March 16, 2019 Fairplex Extreme STEA2M Festival, at the start of Planetary Radio Live., Credit: Mat Kaplan
Planetary Radio Live goes on stage at the first ever Fairplex Extreme STEAM Festival in Pomona, California. Host Mat Kaplan and Planetary Society C...

Bought by C89.5 - KNHC Seattle, KDNK, KBUT Crested Butte, Colo., KWMR, KRZA and more


  • Added: Mar 20, 2019
  • Length: 28:50
  • Purchases: 8
Boosters, Breakthroughs and Budgets: Canada and the US Look Toward Space
From: Mat Kaplan
Series: Planetary Radio
Caption: The sun sets behind the U.S. Capitol Building as Planetary Society members wrap up their work advocating for space. The 2019 Day of Action saw 100 members from 25 states visit offices throughout Congress in support of space science and exploration., Credit: Antonio Peronace for The Planetary Society
The last few days have seen developments that will shape the space exploration plans of Canada and the USA. The Planetary Society’s Kate Howells is...

Bought by KIYU-FM, KDNK, WYAP, KBUT Crested Butte, Colo., KWMR and more


  • Added: Mar 13, 2019
  • Length: 28:50
  • Purchases: 10
China on the Final Frontier
From: Mat Kaplan
Series: Planetary Radio
Caption: An image of the Chang'e-4 lander from the Yutu-2 rover, during the mission's first lunar day., Credit: CLEP/CNSA
With missions like Chang’e 4 on the far side of the Moon, China has firmly established itself as a leader in space exploration. Space journalist An...

Bought by KIYU-FM, KDNK, KBUT Crested Butte, Colo., KWMR, KRZA and more


  • Added: Mar 06, 2019
  • Length: 28:50
  • Purchases: 8
An Israeli Lander Launches Toward the Moon
From: Mat Kaplan
Series: Planetary Radio
Caption: SpaceIL’s Beresheet lunar lander, Credit: SpaceIL
Non-profit SpaceIL’s Beresheet is on its way to the Moon. Only China, the Soviet Union and the United States have safely landed there before. Host...

Bought by KIYU-FM, KDNK, KBUT Crested Butte, Colo., WXAV 88.3FM Chicago, KWMR and more


  • Added: Feb 28, 2019
  • Length: 28:50
  • Purchases: 8
A Fond Farewell to Spirit and Opportunity
From: Mat Kaplan
Series: Planetary Radio
Caption: With a model of NASA's Opportunity rover behind him, John Callas, project manager of the Spirit and Opportunity Mars rovers, speaks about the rovers' achievements at the agency's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California. Deputy Project Scientist , Credit: NASA/JPL-CaltechMars Exploration Rover - Opportunity
The Mars Exploration Rover mission was declared complete on February 13, 2019. On the very next day, MER Project Manager John Callas and Deputy Pr...

Bought by KIYU-FM, KCNP, KDNK, KBUT Crested Butte, Colo., KWMR and more


  • Added: Feb 19, 2019
  • Length: 28:50
  • Purchases: 11
Watching the Births of Solar Systems
From: Mat Kaplan
Series: Planetary Radio
Caption: One of the twenty disks that comprise ALMA's highest resolution survey of nearby protoplanetary disks. This image shows the millimeter-wavelength light emitted by the dust in the disk, giving astronomers a clearer understanding of the similarities and di, Credit: ALMA (ESO/NAOJ/NRAO), S. Andrews et al.; NRAO/AUI/NSF, S. Dagnello
Radio telescopes are delivering stunning images that, in some cases, current optical telescopes can’t equal. Witness the 20 beautiful protoplanetar...

Bought by KIYU-FM, Spokane Public Radio, KDNK, C89.5 - KNHC Seattle, KBUT Crested Butte, Colo. and more


  • Added: Feb 13, 2019
  • Length: 28:50
  • Purchases: 11
The DART Mission: Learning How to Swat Dangerous Asteroids
From: Mat Kaplan
Series: Planetary Radio
Caption: The DART spacecraft approaches Didymos A and B., Credit: NASA/JHUAPL
Why did the dinosaurs die? Because they didn’t have a space program! The upcoming DART mission will test our best thinking about how we may someday...

Bought by KIYU-FM, C89.5 - KNHC Seattle, KBFG-LP, KDNK, KBUT Crested Butte, Colo. and more


  • Added: Feb 05, 2019
  • Length: 28:50
  • Purchases: 10
Where Do We Come From? The Origin of Life
From: Mat Kaplan
Series: Planetary Radio
Caption: CALCIUM CARBONATE SPIRE IN THE LOST CITY HYDROTHERMAL FIELD, Credit: IFE / URI-IAO / UW / Lost City Science Party / NOAA / OAR / OER
Astrobiology is the discipline that explores the origin of life in the universe, and whether life exists anywhere other than Earth. It’s an increas...

Bought by KIYU-FM, KDNK, C89.5 - KNHC Seattle, KBUT Crested Butte, Colo., KWMR and more


  • Added: Jan 29, 2019
  • Length: 28:50
  • Purchases: 10
Asteroid Bennu’s Visitor From Earth
From: Mat Kaplan
Series: Planetary Radio
Caption: This mosaic image of asteroid Bennu is composed of 12 PolyCam images collected on Dec. 2 by the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft from a range of 15 miles (24 km). The image was obtained at a 50° phase angle between the spacecraft, asteroid and the Sun, and in it, Be, Credit: NASA/Goddard/University of Arizona
Spacecraft OSIRIS REx is now orbiting a 260-meter asteroid named Bennu. Principal investigator Dante Lauretta returns to tell us what has already ...

Bought by KDNK, KWMR, KRZA, WMUU-LP, KNVC Carson City Community Radio and more


  • Added: Jan 22, 2019
  • Length: 28:50
  • Purchases: 6
Flying the Skies of Saturn’s Moon Titan
From: Mat Kaplan
Series: Planetary Radio
Caption: Dragonfly soars above Saturn's moon Titan on its way to a new science site in this artist's impression., Credit: JHUAPL
Imagine soaring over what may be the solar system’s most Earth-like world, if you ignore the chill. If funded, the nuclear electric-powered Dragonf...

Bought by KDNK, KWMR, C89.5 - KNHC Seattle, KRZA, WMUU-LP and more


  • Added: Jan 15, 2019
  • Length: 28:50
  • Purchases: 8
New Horizons Flyby: Join the Celebration!
From: Mat Kaplan
Series: Planetary Radio
Caption: Millions around the world watched as the New Horizons spacecraft encounters the most distant object ever visited., Credit: Mat Kaplan
Join us at the Applied Physics Lab in Maryland for the New Horizons encounter with the most distant object ever visited. You’ll meet mission leader...

Bought by KDNK, KBUT Crested Butte, Colo., KWMR, WMUU-LP, KRZA and more


  • Added: Jan 09, 2019
  • Length: 28:50
  • Purchases: 8
A Mission to Earth: OSIRIS-REx
From: Mat Kaplan
Series: Planetary Radio
Caption: Artist concept of the OSIRIS REx spacecraft passing Earth on its way to asteroid Bennu., Credit: NASA/GSFC/UA
Why do so many spacecraft that are headed across our solar system turn their instruments back to Earth during flybys? OSIRIS-REx was no exception....

Bought by KDNK, KNVC Carson City Community Radio, KWMR, KRZA, WMUU-LP and more


  • Added: Jan 01, 2019
  • Length: 28:50
  • Purchases: 6
Countdown to Ultima: Alan Stern and New Horizons
From: Mat Kaplan
Series: Planetary Radio
Caption: Kuiper Belt object 2014 MU69, target for the New Horizons flyby, is seen here in an artist's concept., Credit: NASA/SwRI
The New Horizons spacecraft will reach faraway Kuiper Belt object 2014 MU69 in the first minutes of 2019. Will the body informally known as Ultima...

Bought by KDNK, KVSC, KWMR, KRZA, WMUU-LP and more


  • Added: Dec 26, 2018
  • Length: 28:50
  • Purchases: 7

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