Join amateur astronomers, Chris and Shane, as they share their experiences of observing the night sky.
…
continue reading
Powerful voices are rewriting climate reality—and getting away with it. At a conference in London, politicians, influencers and billionaires call Net Zero "a sinister goal," renewables "impossible," and climate action a "scam". They weren’t whispering in backrooms, they were building alliances across the West and beyond to kill global climate commitments and reshape public opinion. The Takeover pulls back the curtain on a rising movement that's weaponizing language, spreading misinformation, ...
…
continue reading
After almost a century of post-war prosperity and unrivaled American power, we've entered a new era, growing uncertainty and realignment as many of the world's nations now seek to challenge that dominance. And the race for American dominance in the development of artificial intelligence by just a tiny handful of tech billionaires has seemed to put us all on yet an even more perilous path. If the world is changing at a dizzying pace, the forces driving that change are markedly different than t ...
…
continue reading

1
#495 - Grasslands National Park Observing & Telescopes for Young People
1:02:09
1:02:09
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
1:02:09Chris and Shane discuss recent observing in Grasslands National Park as well as buying a telescope for young people.By Shane Ludtke & Chris Beckett
…
continue reading

1
#494 - Mid-summer Observing Reflections with Mike O’Brien
48:04
48:04
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
48:04Chris and Shane welcome Mike back to the show to talk about summertime observing.By Shane Ludtke & Chris Beckett
…
continue reading

1
#493 - The Observer’s Calendar August 2025
19:55
19:55
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
19:55Chris and Shane discuss interesting things to observe in August 2025. Show notes available at www.sasktel.comBy Shane Ludtke & Chris Beckett
…
continue reading

1
#492 - How to Get Over Your Fear of the Dark and General Astro Topics
43:48
43:48
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
43:48Chris and Shane discuss a bunch of Cloudynights forum topics.By Shane Ludtke & Chris Beckett
…
continue reading
Chris and Shane discuss multiple observing reports.By Shane Ludtke & Chris Beckett
…
continue reading
What do you do when you’re working on a big climate change project that could help the world reach the goals of the Paris Agreement, and the U.S. elects a president who wants to expand the fossil fuel industry Or when the world’s second-biggest carbon emitter guts environmental and climate programs? You ask yourself: Will there still be support for…
…
continue reading
The signing of the Paris Agreement in 2015 was a breakthrough in the fight against the climate crisis. Almost every country in the world signed on to the treaty and agreed to keep or reduce emissions to under 2 degrees Celsius, or better yet, 1.5 degrees Celsius. When environmental activist Tzeporah Berman read the agreement – a bit nerdy but someo…
…
continue reading
Chris and Shane discuss upgrades that new telescope owners can consider.By Shane Ludtke & Chris Beckett
…
continue reading
Today, we’re sharing something a little different on our feed. It’s part of an episode swap we’re doing with CANADALAND, and we think their episode When Politics Ruins Friendships fits right into what we explore here on The Takeover. You’ve heard us talk about how powerful voices are weaponizing language and misinformation to shape the climate conv…
…
continue reading
Chris and Shane discuss interesting things to observe in July 2025. Show notes available at www.actualastronomy.comBy Shane Ludtke & Chris Beckett
…
continue reading
Chris shares he recent astronomy adventures in Toronto.By Shane Ludtke & Chris Beckett
…
continue reading

1
#487 - Mini Solar Scope and Recent Observations
40:14
40:14
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
40:14Chris and Shane discuss using a mini Borg as a solar scope and share some observing reports.By Shane Ludtke & Chris Beckett
…
continue reading

1
#486 - Chiricahua Sky Village with Peter Monson
1:10:06
1:10:06
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
1:10:06Chris and Shane welcome Peter Monson to the show to talk about the Chiricahua Sky Village in Arizona.By Shane Ludtke & Chris Beckett
…
continue reading
Chris and Shane talk about interesting things to observe in June 2025. Show notes are available at www.actualastronomy.comBy Shane Ludtke & Chris Beckett
…
continue reading
Chris and Shane talk about their experiences at star parties.By Shane Ludtke & Chris Beckett
…
continue reading

1
#483 - Affordable Wide-Field with Brian Ventrudo
58:42
58:42
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
58:42Chris and Shane welcome Brian Ventrudo back to the show to talk about affordable wide-field observing options.By Shane Ludtke & Chris Beckett
…
continue reading
Chris and Shane talk about options to organize astronomy gear.By Shane Ludtke & Chris Beckett
…
continue reading
Chris and Shane share their April observing reports.By Shane Ludtke & Chris Beckett
…
continue reading

1
#480 - The Observer’s Calendar for May 2025
28:07
28:07
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
28:07Chris and Shane discuss interesting things to observe in May 2025. Show notes available on www.actualastronomy.comBy Shane Ludtke & Chris Beckett
…
continue reading
We take our exploration of right-wing politics to Ottawa, where the Canada Strong and Free Network conference brings together key players in the Conservative movement. Our goal: to compare this event with the ARC conference in London, U.K., and see how each reflects the state of right-wing thought today. With a federal election underway, I wasn’t s…
…
continue reading

1
#479 - Comet C2025F2 SWAN and Listener Email
52:03
52:03
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
52:03Chris and Shane talk about an unexpected bright comet and also read some listener emails.By Shane Ludtke & Chris Beckett
…
continue reading
Donald Trump made it clear during the presidential campaign that his administration planned a Drill, Baby Drill approach to energy. He said he would reduce regulations and cancel policies to fight climate change put in place by the Biden administration. It was only a week after he was elected that President Trump announced he wanted fracking execut…
…
continue reading
On Day two of the Alliance for Responsible Citizenship conference in London, U.K. in February of 2025, a speaker broke the rules and criticized President Trump and Ellon Musk. The conference hosted by Canadian Jordan Peterson and a British Baroness was a gathering of right-wing power brokers brainstorming about how to take control of western democr…
…
continue reading

1
#478 - Favourite Equipment by Elimination
55:08
55:08
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
55:08Chris and Shane each share their choices if they had to pick one telescope, three eyepieces, two accessories, and one star chart from their current collections.By Shane Ludtke & Chris Beckett
…
continue reading
Jordan Peterson is a co-founder of The Alliance for Responsible Citizenship – ARC. Episode two of The Takeover examines his career from a psychology professor at the University of Toronto to wildly successful author and guru for dissatisfied young men and now leader of a global movement to create a right-wing world. This movement is called ARC - th…
…
continue reading
Canada’s National Observer teamed up with DeSmog, an online investigative that describes itself as an antidote to science denial and misinformation, on The Takeover project. We went to the Alliance for Responsible Citizenship conference in London, a right-wing networking event organized by former U of T professor Jordan Peterson. We observed how sp…
…
continue reading

1
#477 - Observer’s Calendar for April 2025
28:06
28:06
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
28:06Chris and Shane discuss interesting things to observe in April 2025. Show notes available on www.actualastronomy.comBy Shane Ludtke & Chris Beckett
…
continue reading
Chris and Shane discuss gear and listener emails.By Shane Ludtke & Chris Beckett
…
continue reading
Sandy Garossino and Vina Nadjibulla discuss the new world order that is being imposed on the world by the United States. There can be little doubt now that the curtain is falling on the post-World War II American-led rules-based order. The international trade, military and government agreements that have secured an unprecedented era of growth and p…
…
continue reading

1
#475 - A History of Planetary Motion with Dave Chapman
1:02:31
1:02:31
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
1:02:31Chris and Shane welcome Dave Chapman back to the show. Dave shares the history of how humans began to understand planetary motion.By Shane Ludtke & Chris Beckett
…
continue reading

1
#474 - Skies Over the Southern Ocean with Michael Wright
1:04:48
1:04:48
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
1:04:48Chris and Shane welcome Michael Wright back to the show to hear about the observing he was able to do in the Southern Hemisphere.By Shane Ludtke & Chris Beckett
…
continue reading
Chris and Shane read a listener observing report that is an excellent guide to objects in Canis Major. Show notes available on www.actualastronomy.comBy Shane Ludtke & Chris Beckett
…
continue reading

1
#472 - The Observer’s Calendar for March 2025
51:45
51:45
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
51:45Chris and Shane discuss interesting things to observe in March 2025. Show notes available at www.actualastronomy.comBy Shane Ludtke & Chris Beckett
…
continue reading
Chris and Shane talk about some ways to observe during the winter when it’s too cold to bring optics outside.By Shane Ludtke & Chris Beckett
…
continue reading
Chris and Shane welcome Craig back to the show to talk about the amazing gear he received from his brother.By Shane Ludtke & Chris Beckett
…
continue reading

1
#469 - Non-Astronomy Things We Do While Observing
32:29
32:29
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
32:29Chris and Shane talk about the things they do while astronomy that have nothing to do with astronomy.By Shane Ludtke & Chris Beckett
…
continue reading

1
#468 - Observer’s Calendar for February 2025
38:56
38:56
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
38:56Chris and Shane discuss interesting things to observe in February 2025.By Shane Ludtke & Chris Beckett
…
continue reading

1
#467 - Eyepiece Updates and Contact Red Polymer Advice
44:15
44:15
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
44:15Chris shares his eyepiece plans for the 7” TMB refractor and the guys continue the conversation on cleaning eyepieces.By Shane Ludtke & Chris Beckett
…
continue reading

1
#466 - Listener Emails and Christmas Gifts
45:57
45:57
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
45:57Chris and Shane share listener emails.By Shane Ludtke & Chris Beckett
…
continue reading
Chris shares his first light report with the 7” TMB refractor. Shane joined Chris for second light with the 7” and the guys talk about the views.By Shane Ludtke & Chris Beckett
…
continue reading

1
#464 - Observing Lists and Eyepiece Cleaning
53:12
53:12
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
53:12Chris and Shane talk about some of the non-observing astronomy things they do when they can’t observe.By Shane Ludtke & Chris Beckett
…
continue reading

1
#463 - Observer’s Calendar for January 2025
37:24
37:24
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
37:24Chris and Shane discuss interesting things to observe in January 2025. Show notes are available at www.actualastronomy.comBy Shane Ludtke & Chris Beckett
…
continue reading
Chris and Shane welcome welcome Alister Ling back to the show to talk about atmospheric dispersion correctors (ADC).By Shane Ludtke & Chris Beckett
…
continue reading
Chris and Shane share some obstacles that stop them from observing and what they do to mitigate.By Shane Ludtke & Chris Beckett
…
continue reading

1
#460 - Lost Astronomy Gear and Listener Emails
45:47
45:47
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
45:47Some astro gear is lost in transit and a bunch of listener emails to go through.By Shane Ludtke & Chris Beckett
…
continue reading

1
Beyond the Headlines: The India Canada Diplomatic Storm
39:56
39:56
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
39:56On this week’s Mortal Giants Sandy Garossino and Vina Nadjibulla discuss the deteriorating relationship between Canada and India which became pubic after Prime Minister Trudeau in September 2023 accused India of involvement in the killing of a Canadian Sikh leader in B.C. The Indian government called the accusation ‘absurd’. Then both governments e…
…
continue reading
Chris and Shane talk about gear on their wish lists and what they plan to do over winter.By Shane Ludtke & Chris Beckett
…
continue reading

1
Strange Bedfellows: Russia, North Korea and the War in Ukraine
24:10
24:10
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
24:10On this week’s Mortal Giants Sandy Garossino and Vina Nadjibulla discuss the deteriorating relationship between Canada and India which became pubic after Prime Minister Trudeau in September 2023 accused India of involvement in the killing of a Canadian Sikh leader in B.C. The Indian government called the accusation ‘absurd’. Then both governments e…
…
continue reading

1
#458 - Observer’s Calendar for December 2024
41:00
41:00
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
41:00Chris and Shane talk about interesting things to observe in December 2024. Show notes available on www.actualastronomy.comBy Shane Ludtke & Chris Beckett
…
continue reading
Sandy Garossino and Vina Nadjibulla are having conversations about the fragility of power in the 21st century. And that became even truer after the U.S. election that will return Donald Trump to the presidency in January 2025. Episode six is aptly titled, Trump and the Post-American World. Sandy and Vina talk about which world powers will lose and …
…
continue reading