7 times Radio 2 was out of this world
20 March 2018
Kim Wilde tells Michael about her UFO sighting!
Kim Wilde explains the inspiration behind her new album title 'Here Come The Aliens'
Kim Wilde paid the Radio 2 studios a visit over the weekend to tell Michael Ball all about her new album, Here Come The Aliens.
Explaining the inspiration behind the album title, Kim said: "Back in 2009 I was in my garden and, I kid you not, I saw something that I’m convinced was an alien; a UFO in the sky!"
All the talk of aliens had us reflecting on the many times we've looked skywards and tackled the topic of space. From Dara Ó Briain delivering mind-boggling facts, to talking to Tim Peake live from space - here are some of our favourite moments...
1. Astronomer Tom Kerss explains why the Super Blue Blood Moon is so rare
Astronomer Tom on why the Super Blue Blood Moon is SO special!
Royal Observatory's Tom Kerss on the rare lunar event and BBC One's Wonders of The Moon.
You might remember that in January of this year we experienced a Super Blue Blood Moon and, to mark the occasion, we invited the Royal Observatory's Tom Kerss in to tell us exactly what that entailed.
As well as enlightening us on the rarity of this eclipse (the last one occurred in 1866) and the significance of the lunar trifecta at play, Tom also explained the origins of the phrase "once in a blue moon." Suffice to say, we learned a lot!
2. Dara Ó Briain gives us food for thought with some mind-bending space facts
When Dara and Chris go head to head with space facts...
Dara O'Briain shares his fun space facts from his new book Beyond The Sky.
Prepare to have your mind blown... Space is a matter of miles away: 62, to be precise! The point at which the Earth's atmosphere becomes what we know as outer space is referred to as the Kármán line and, in a car, it would take you under an hour to get there.
But this jaw-dropping fact is a mere drop in the ocean compared to some of the ones that Dara comes armed with. Find out for yourself by listening to the clip above! They're guaranteed to generate some impressed chatter at your next dinner party.
3. Space expert Libby Jackson tells us about the forgotten women of science and space exploration
Libby Jackson: "I emailed NASA for some work shadowing, I never expected them to say yes!"
Space expert Libby Jackson talks to Steve about her new book 'A Galaxy of her Own'.
We're all familiar with Neil Armstrong, Yuri Gagarin and Tim Peake but what about the women who have been instrumental in our bid to explore space?
Libby Jackson is the Human Spaceflight and Microgravity Programme Manager at the UK Space Agency (quite a job title!) and is, unsurprisingly, a bit of an expert on all things space. She paid Steve a visit to talk about her latest work, A Galaxy of Her Own: a book which tells the stories of 50 inspirational women who pioneered space exploration, paved the way for today's space workers and progressed our understanding of the universe.
4. Astronaut Mike Massimino talks to Dermot O'Leary about space walks and shuttle missions
Astronaut Mike Massimino joins Dermot
Dermot is joined by astronaut Mike Massimino.
We can't quite wrap our mind around what it would be like to go on a 12-day shuttle mission but talking to Mike Massimino certainly helped!
Mike is a former NASA astronaut, current professor of mechanical engineering and author of Spaceman: An Astronaut's Unlikely Journey to Unlock the Secrets of the Universe. He chatted to Dermot about being turned down by NASA three times, passing his claustrophobia test with flying colours and carrying out his first space walk.
5. Chris Evans has a chinwag with Tim Peake live from space
"It feels normal until I look out of the window"
Major Tim Peake speaks to Chris live from Space!
There was a little bit of delay as Chris spoke to Tim Peake but that's what you get when you broadcast live from space!
"Yesterday was fifty days in space," Tim told Chris back in February 2016. "Still so much that I want to see and do up here but we’ve had a great time. We’re having a blast out here!”
Naturally Chris used the opportunity to grill Tim on some much-pondered listener questions: What does space smell like? How well do you sleep in space? Can you nap? Do you have Sundays off in space? Do you ever wake up and forget you’re in space? How much fun is it being weightless? Can you have a cup of coffee in space? Tim had all the answers for us!
6. BBC Science correspondent Jonathan Amos tackles the topic of the Space X launch
What's the scientific point to Elon Musk's Falcon Heavy rocket?
BBC Science correspondent Jonathan Amos on the Space X launch from Florida
Earlier this year, Elon Musk launched his newest rocket, the Falcon Heavy, into space. What exactly is the Falcon Heavy, you ask? BBC Science correspondent Jonathan Amos explained to Chris what the launch meant for the future of speedy travel (soon enough, perhaps we'll be able to pop to Sydney for lunch!) and what other projects Elon has in the works...
7. Brian Cox on the legacy of the late Professor Stephen Hawking
Brian Cox on the late Professor Stephen Hawking: "He was undoubtedly one of the greatest scientists of all time"
Professor Brian Cox calls Chris from Iceland to share his memories of Stephen Hawking.
We owe a great deal of our understanding of the cosmos to none other than Stephen Hawking. The theoretical physicist, cosmologist, author and professor shaped our knowledge of the Big Bang, space-time, quantum gravity and black holes, as well as innumerable other things.
Chris spoke to Brian Cox about Stephen's lasting impact and how his legacy as one of the world's greatest physicists will live on.
