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Join Dean Regas, astronomer, author, and space expert on a journey through the stars! Guests from all over the globe bring their knowledge and passion about today’s latest scientific discoveries and advancements. From eclipses to supernovas, from rockets to rovers; there’s a whole universe to explore! Dean is the author of “How to Teach Grown-Ups About Pluto” and “100 Things to See in the Night Sky” and was the longtime host of PBS' Stargazers television program. Looking Up is a production of Cincinnati Public Radio.Subscribe:AppleSpotifyNPRiHeartRadioAmazonPocket CastsRSS FeedThemes and summary (AI-generated based on podcaster-provided show and episode descriptions):
➤ astronomy news and discoveries • NASA missions, astronauts, rockets and rovers • eclipses and skywatching phenomena • asteroids and sample return • Mars habitability and biosignatures • dark matter/energy and cosmology • astrophotography history • space exploration culture and outreachThis podcast explores astronomy and space science through conversations hosted by astronomer and author Dean Regas. Across the episodes, the show blends timely updates on major space missions with explanations of big-picture questions in astrophysics, often guided by researchers, astronauts, science communicators, and writers.
A recurring focus is how we investigate the solar system up close, including robotic exploration and sample-return science from asteroids, as well as ongoing questions about Mars—its watery history and the search for potential chemical signs of ancient life. Human spaceflight is another common theme, with discussion of what astronauts experience when viewing Earth from orbit and how everyday tasks like eating change in microgravity. The podcast also touches on the evolving landscape of space travel, including the role of private efforts alongside government programs.
The show regularly zooms out to tackle foundational ideas about the universe, such as the evidence for dark matter and dark energy and the debates around alternative explanations. It also looks at how astronomy is practiced and shared: the culture of large scientific meetings, strategies for making cosmic scales feel more approachable, and the historical shift toward photography as a tool for discovery. Observing the sky from Earth appears as well, through phenomena like eclipses and rare nighttime optical events, and through the practical and artistic sides of astrophotography.
Interwoven with the science are cultural and historical stories—how societies have imagined Mars and “Martians,” how earlier events shaped local communities, and how exploration legacies continue through new expeditions and documentaries.