Planetary Astronomer Franck Marchis

Air Date: 05/07/2012
Run Time: 28:50

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Guests:

Franck Marchis, Planetary Astronomer, SETI Institute

Topics: asteroids, trojans and centaurs, planetary astronomy

Based now at the SETI Institute’s Carl Sagan Center, Franck Marchis recently visited the Planetary Society for a conversation with host Mat Kaplan. He uses several of Earth’s most powerful telescopes to study what he calls multiple asteroid systems. Emily Lakdawalla dons her 3D glasses for a spectacular view of a lunar crater. Bill Nye can’t seem to stay away from Washington DC! And that’s where Bruce Betts and Mat went for a very special What’s Up segment in the Smithsonian Institution’s National Air and Space Museum. They play a live version of the space trivia game, and they give listeners yet another chance to win.

Trivia Contest

This week's prize is a Planetary Radio T-shirt.

This week's question:
Who sat in the middle seat of the Apollo 11 Command Module at launch?

To submit your answer:
Send an email no later than Monday, May 7, at 2 pm Pacific time to planetaryradio@planetary.org containing:

Your answer
Your name
How to pronounce your name
Your mailing address
Your email address !
Your t-shirt size

Last week's question:
How many independent flights did shuttle Enterprise make? That is, tests for which it was separated from the carrier aircraft.

Answer:
Coming soon in next week's show!

Question from the week before:
What were the first types of amphibians in space, and what year did it or they launch?

Answer:
The first amphibians to reach Earth orbit were frogs, flown by the Soviet Union back in 1961.