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Dr. Valerie Rapson

  • Vox Pop
    Astronomy 4/18/24
    The total solar eclipse has come and gone! Bob Berman and Dr. Valerie Rapson join us to share their thoughts on the event and take your calls. Ray Graf hosts.
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    Vox Pop
    Astronomy 3/28/24
    It's the last astronomy Vox Pop before the solar eclipse! Bob Berman and Dr. Valerie Rapson will offer last minute eclipse watching tips and answer your questions. Ray Graf hosts.
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    Vox Pop
    Astronomy 2/29/24
    We talk astronomy with Bob Berman and Dr. Valerie Rapson. Call at show time with your questions. 800-348-2551. Ray Graf hosts.
  • Scientists are getting their first look with NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope’s powerful resolution at how the formation of young stars influences the evolution of nearby galaxies. The spiral arms of NGC 7496, one of a total of 19 galaxies targeted for study by the Physics at High Angular resolution in Nearby Galaxies (PHANGS) collaboration, are filled with cavernous bubbles and shells overlapping one another in this image from Webb’s Mid-Infrared Instrument (MIRI). These filaments and hollow cavities are evidence of young stars releasing energy and, in some cases, blowing out the gas and dust of the interstellar medium surrounding them. Until Webb’s high resolution at infrared wavelengths came along, stars at the earliest point of the lifecycle in nearby galaxies like NGC 7496 remained obscured by gas and dust. Webb’s specific wavelength coverage allows for the detection of complex organic molecules called polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, which play a critical role in the formation of stars and planets. In Webb’s MIRI image, these are mostly found within the main dust lanes in the spiral arms. In their analysis of the new data from Webb, scientists were able to identify nearly 60 new, embedded cluster candidates in NGC 7496. These newly identified clusters could be among the youngest stars in the entire galaxy. At the center of NGC 7496, a barred spiral galaxy, is an active galactic nucleus (AGN). AGN is another way to refer to an active supermassive black hole that is emitting jets and winds. This glows quite brightly at the center of the Webb image. Additionally, Webb’s extreme sensitivity also picks up various background galaxies, which appear green or red in some instances. NGC 7496 lies over 24 million light-years away from Earth in the constellation Grus.
    Vox Pop
    Astronomy 3/23/23
    We talk astronomy with Bob Berman and Dr. Valerie Rapson. Call with your questions. 800-348-2551. Ray Graf hosts.
  • This infrared image from NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope shows the Helix nebula, a cosmic starlet often photographed by amateur astronomers for its vivid colors and eerie resemblance to a giant eye.
    Vox Pop
    Astronomy 2/23/23
    We talk astronomy with Bob Berman and Dr. Valerie Rapson. Call with your questions. 800-348-2551. Ray Graf hosts.
  • Image of the Cosmic Cliffs, a region at the edge of a gigantic, gaseous cavity within NGC 3324, captured by Webb’s Near-Infrared Camera (NIRCam).This image shows invisible near-infrared wavelengths of light that have been translated into visible-light colors. Webb’s NIRCam was built by a team at the University of Arizona and Lockheed Martin’s Advanced Technology Center.
    Vox Pop
    Astronomy 1/26/23
    Today we talk astronomy with Dr. Valerie Rapson, Assistant Professor of Physics and Astronomy at SUNY Oneonta. WAMC's Ray Graf hosts.
  • Tiny galaxy HIPASS J1131–31 peeks out from behind the glare of star TYC 7215-199-1, a Milky Way star positioned between Hubble and the galaxy.
    Vox Pop
    Astronomy 12/29/22
    Today we talk astronomy with Bob Berman and Dr. Valerie Rapson. Call with your questions. 800-348-2551. Ray Graf hosts.
  • An image of Halley's Comet, taken on May 29, 1910
    Vox Pop
    Astronomy 11/22/22
    Today we talk astronomy with Bob Berman and Dr. Valerie Rapson. Call with your questions. 800-348-2551. Ray Graf hosts.
  • Photo of total lunar eclipse, taken on the evening of May 15, 2022 at SUNY Binghamton
    Vox Pop
    Astronomy 10/20/22
    Today we talk astronomy with Dr. Valerie Rapson. Call with your questions. 800-348-2551. Ray Graf hosts.
  • Moreau Lake State Park - Milky Way
    Vox Pop
    Astronomy With Dr. Valerie Rapson 3/3/21
    Today we talk astronomy with Doctor Valerie Rapson, Assistant Professor of Physics and Astronomy at SUNY Oneonta. WAMC's Ray Graf hosts! Doctor Valerie…
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