Ep 1. Citizen Science

Exploring the vast expanse of the universe, Xploration Outer Space season 3 episode 1 delves into the intriguing concept of Citizen Science. This episode highlights the potential impact of ordinary citizens in advancing scientific research and understanding of our universe.

The show opens with a brief introduction to the history of citizen science and how it has revolutionized research in various scientific fields. It then moves on to explore how citizen science can be applied to space exploration, featuring interviews with scientists and experts in the field.

The host, Emily Calandrelli, explains how citizen scientists can help in identifying objects in space, tracking the movement of celestial bodies, and detecting changes in the environment. She speaks to a group of amateur astronomers who have been tracking the movements of Near-Earth asteroids, providing valuable data to NASA’s asteroid tracking program.

Next, the episode features the story of a group of high school students who worked with a team of professional astronomers to discover a new planetary system. The students were part of a citizen science program that allowed them to analyze data collected by NASA’s Kepler Space Telescope. This discovery led to the confirmation of a planetary system with two stars and three planets orbiting around them.

The episode also spotlights citizen science projects that involve studying the impact of space weather on Earth’s atmosphere, providing insights into how solar storms impact our planet. It features interviews with scientists who explain how amateur radio operators and enthusiasts have contributed to collecting data on space weather, leading to new discoveries about how the Earth’s atmosphere interacts with the solar wind.

Xploration Outer Space season 3 episode 1 also highlights the potential of citizen science in helping to map the surface of Mars. Calandrelli speaks to a team of Mars enthusiasts who have developed a program that allows anyone to analyze images of Mars taken by NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter. Through this program, citizen scientists can help identify interesting features and help the team identify landing sites for future missions to the red planet.

Overall, Xploration Outer Space’s third season premiere, Citizen Science, provides a powerful reminder of the incredible contributions ordinary people can make in advancing human knowledge and understanding of the universe. The episode highlights the potential for anyone, regardless of their background, to make a meaningful impact on scientific research through citizen science. It inspires viewers to explore the universe and to contribute to the fields of astronomy and space exploration.