Awesome Astronomy – “The End of British Astronomy?”

Hosts: Paul & Dr Jeni
Date: February 1, 2026
Episode: #167

Overview

This episode, entitled “The End of British Astronomy?”, explores the implications of drastic budget cuts announced for UK astronomy, placing it in the context of global science funding, particularly with NASA’s contrasting fortunes. Paul and Jeni also share recent observations, notable celestial events (including a spectacular aurora), and dig deep into the upcoming Artemis II mission’s details and crew. The conversation weaves honest mental health check-ins with informed, passionate advocacy for the value of scientific exploration, blending humor and urgency in classic Awesome Astronomy style.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Host Updates and Recent Observing Experiences (00:00–13:39)

• Mental health check-in:

  • Jeni openly shares a mental health “wobble,” noting the impact of late January blues, gloomy weather, and social isolation.

    “I just think it’s important just to… be open and be like, sometimes we have little mental health wobbles and we do. It’s okay.” – Jeni [02:08]

  • Paul picks up the episode’s intro to support her and normalize these feelings.

• Recent Astronomy Outreach & Public Engagements:

  • Jeni’s talk at Regenerand Astronomical Society included an interactive session on the Drake Equation.

    “The Drake Equation...is a thought experiment thinking about the number of stars in the galaxy...what are the chances that life evolves and then what are the chances that the life become advanced?” – Jeni [03:04]

  • Radio segment trivia: both hosts discuss the thought experiment, “If I was in space and turned on a torch, how far would the light travel?”

    “The answer is forever. And then there's all sorts of fun things to think about…We always think space is a vacuum…there are gas particles and dust particles.” – Jeni [05:46]

  • Paul’s science fiction show and performing as Captain Kirk:

    “Me dressed as Captain Kirk doing me...with your shiny pants on.” [07:22]

• A Spectacular Aurora in the UK:

  • Paul describes the most vivid auroral display in three decades.

    “Literally I open the back door and without even adjusting my eyes I just went, bloody hell…utterly incredible.” – Paul [08:53]

  • Jeni, on missing the event due to rain, good-naturedly brags she’ll see the aurora in Norway soon.
  • Discussion about what causes such strong auroras (highly negative Bz, coronal holes, fast solar winds).

    “It was just amazing. And then…the clouds went, shows over, it was like da da da da da, and then the curtain came down.” – Paul [11:17]

2. The Crisis in UK Astronomy Funding (14:09–24:16)

• Reading and Reacting to the RAS Statement:

  • Jeni reads the press statement from the Royal Astronomical Society regarding 30% cuts in the budget for particle physics, astronomy, and nuclear physics by the STFC.

    “I urge the government to step in to stop what will be a catastrophe for science, deter young people from pursuing careers in discovery and innovation, and remove any notion of the UK becoming a science superpower.” – RAS President, quoted by Jeni [14:52]

• Analysis and Concerns:

  • Paul and Jeni lament a trend of British “managed decline” and retreat from science and global influence.

    “This government does not do science. It doesn't get science...when it comes to science, it's actually a bit of a vandal frankly.” – Paul [16:28 & 18:29]

  • Cuts described as “devastating,” with direct impact on foundational science and early-stage research—vital for breakthroughs elsewhere (such as AI and data science advances driven by astronomy projects).

    “Physics isn’t a luxury we can afford to throw away through confusion and cuts. Our nation’s growth and security depend upon technologies invented by physics and these in turn depend upon the physics skills, research, and infrastructure which are today under threat.” – IOP, quoted by Jeni [22:14]

• Concrete action suggested:

  • “Write to your local MP, because they need to be made aware of this. All of this is not set in stone.” – Jeni [24:16]

3. Contrast: NASA’s Funding Success (24:16–28:09)

• U.S. Funding Increases:

  • Good news from the U.S.: Congress rejects proposed NASA cuts, increasing the budget to $24.4 billion, saving missions like DAVINCI, VERITAS, New Horizons, Juno, OSIRIS-REX, and APEX.

    “Congress have completely rejected Trump’s cuts. Instead of $18.8 billion...they’ve...assigned $24.4 billion instead.” – Jeni [25:27]

• Impact:

  • This is the highest NASA budget (adjusted for inflation) since 1998, signaling strong institutional support and advocacy in the U.S.

    “Well done to all those Americans who wrote to their representatives...Congratulations on saving science in America for another year.” – Paul [27:40], Jeni [27:52]

4. Artemis II: Deep Dive into the Upcoming Lunar Mission (28:09–58:19)

• Excitement and Media Silence:

  • Both hosts comment on surprisingly low media coverage of the upcoming Artemis II mission, which will send humans around the Moon for the first time in over 50 years.

    “We’re about to launch some humans to go around the other side of the moon...but I’m a bit sort of...yeah, yeah.” – Paul [29:08]

• Mission Preparation and Timeline:

  • SLS Rocket with Orion capsule moved to the launch pad on January 17th, 2026.

  • Details on the “wet dress rehearsal”—a 49-hour final systems test involving a full load of 2.6 million liters of fuel.

    “Wet dress rehearsal, that is started two days before their kind of simulated launch time… run through all the processes that will have to be executed on launch day.” – Jeni [33:11]

  • Discussion on likelihood of delays (weather, technical issues, cold snap analogies to Challenger disaster, strong safety protocols).

    “If anything’s gonna delay Artemis 2, I think it’s going to be the weather.” – Jeni [39:17]

• Mission Objectives:

  • Primary goal: Human-validate SLS rocket and Orion capsule, especially the life support system not previously tested in space.

    “The point of Artemis 2 is to completely validate the SLS rocket and the Orion capsule for human use.” – Jeni [42:14]

  • Mission structure mirrors Apollo 13’s “free return trajectory”—Orion will swing far behind the Moon (7,500km), breaking the previous human distance records.

    “The analogy has been the moon will look like a basketball held at arm’s length to them.” – Jeni [47:28]

• The Crew:

  • Reid Wiseman (Commander): NASA veteran, 165 days in space.
  • Victor Glover (Pilot): Navy test pilot, Crew Dragon pilot, first person of color to leave low Earth orbit.
  • Christina Koch (Mission Specialist): Record-setting female astronaut—longest spaceflight by a woman (328 days), first all-female spacewalk, first woman to leave low Earth orbit.
  • Jeremy Hansen (Mission Specialist): Canadian rookie, first Canadian and first non-American astronaut past low Earth orbit.

    “He is a big lad, but he also has no space experience…what a first mission.” – Paul [52:13]

• International Collaboration & Cool Facts:

  • ESA (European Space Agency) service module powers the mission.

    “In the service module provided by ESA, there's 20 miles of wires and cables.” – Jeni [53:04]

  • Discussion about toilets in space:

    “The first toilet to go to the moon.” – Jeni [54:50]

5. Looking Beyond Artemis II: Apollo Comparisons, Artemis III, and Exploration Challenges (57:13–59:17)

• Heat shield issues led to gaps between Artemis I and II; Artemis III struggles without a reliable lunar lander—NASA seeking alternatives.

  “It was supposed to be Starship. It’s a bonkers plan…NASA’s finally admitted it.” – Jeni [57:29]

• Crew experience levels are vastly greater than Apollo era astronauts.

  “Christina Koch…literally has more space time than like, probably all the Apollo astronauts and like the entire Apollo program…” – Paul [54:08]

• Speculation and humor on future landings, timeline skepticism about SpaceX’s boldest claims.

  “SpaceX are still saying they're going to land a starship on the moon and on Mars this year.” – Paul [58:41]
  “I will eat a model of a starship if that thing goes to Mars.” – Jeni [59:00]

Notable Quotes

• On cuts to UK astronomy:
  “This is a country in decline, managed decline, because all people care about is, you know, a sort of balance sheet…It’s like people have given up.” – Paul [20:02]

• On the importance of basic research:
  “From that is what comes amazing technological advancements that can be applied elsewhere... advancements in data analysis have come because people wanted to look at the stars.” – Jeni [17:19]

• On the aurora spectacle:
  “It was just indescribable how amazing this aurora was. Just…utterly incredible.” – Paul [09:17]

• On Artemis II mission realities:
  “This is the first crewed flight of the Orion capsule and the SLS...They are not going to take any risks, especially post Starliner.” – Paul [41:20]

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Mental health/vulnerability and outreach: 00:00–03:58
• Drake Equation and educational outreach: 02:56–05:35
• Spectacular UK Aurora event: 08:02–13:39
• Reading the RAS press release and discussing UK funding crisis: 14:09–19:05
• Physics community response and systemic critique: 20:31–24:16
• NASA funding boost and mission-saving impacts: 24:16–28:09
• Artemis II deep dive and mission structure: 28:09–57:13
• Crew bios and selection logic: 48:13–55:13
• Mission comparisons, science trivia, and future speculation: 57:13–59:17
• ISS evacuation and media coverage gaps: 59:17–60:19
• Sky Guide and celestial events for February: 61:21–71:27

Memorable Moments

• Paul’s exuberant aurora sighting and Jeni’s dry envy.
• Sincerely sharing and normalizing mental health struggles.
• The tongue-in-cheek discussion on space toilets and astronaut bathroom routines.
• The game “Can you get Paul excited about Artemis?” and his inching toward enthusiasm.

Celestial & Observing Highlights

• Mercury visible in the evening sky from Feb 10–early March, with Venus, Mercury, and Saturn forming a triple pairing. [61:21]
• Double shadow transit on Jupiter (Feb 12th) [62:48]
• Multiple lunar occultations, crescent moon joining planetary groupings, and a rare annular solar eclipse (visible in Antarctica). [63:24–65:05]
• Featured deep-sky: Beehive Cluster (M44), King Cobra Cluster (M67), the UFO Galaxy (NGC 2683), globular NGC 2419 “the Intergalactic Wanderer.” [65:09–68:11]
• Moon Guide: What to look for on lunar days 7-9 (features like the “lunar X,” Apennine Mountains, Bay of Rainbows, and the famous Copernicus crater). [68:14–71:04]

Conclusion

This episode is a sweeping tour through personal, local, national, and global “frontiers”—from auroras over the UK to rockets on the launchpad at Cape Canaveral and the precarious future of British astronomy. Paul and Jeni balance accessible explanations, deeply felt advocacy, and plenty of humor to both inform and inspire, urging listeners to participate in saving science, savoring the skies, and engaging with awe.

To act: UK listeners are encouraged to write to MPs about funding cuts.
To watch: Keep an eye on Artemis II launch developments and February’s sky wonders!

Contact & Feedback:
Email: the show@awesomeastronomy.com
Twitter: @AwesomeAstroPod
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