Summary
In this episode of StarTalk, the hosts Neil deGrasse Tyson and Chuck Nice are joined by Jackie Faherty, an astrophysicist who specializes in studying brown dwarfs. The conversation covers a wide range of topics related to astronomy, including stars, planets, exoplanets, and the tools and techniques used to study them. They discuss the possibility of a star bigger than the sun in our solar system, the different types of stars such as luminous blue variables and wolf rayet stars, and the classification of objects between stars and planets, such as brown dwarfs and rogue worlds. They also touch on pop culture references and the importance of mission planning and exploration of nearby stars.
The hosts emphasize the importance of understanding the nature and composition of exoplanets, and Faherty explains how astronomers use direct imaging to study brown dwarfs. They also discuss the transit method, which involves observing a planet passing in front of its host star to determine its composition and atmosphere. Faherty suggests that studying brown dwarfs can provide a ground truth for detecting transiting planets, especially hot jupiters. The episode is sponsored by Storyblocks, a website that offers unlimited 4k royalty-free stock footage, audio, photo, and video templates for filmmakers. Overall, the conversation is light-hearted and informative, with interesting tidbits about stars and constellations.
