A Conversation with Kyoto Prize Recipient James Gunn

Planetary Radio: Space Exploration, Astronomy and Science

The Planetary Society

Science, Technology

4.8 • 1.4K Ratings

🗓️ 28 April 2021

⏱️ 80 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

There is no Nobel prize for astronomy, so the Kyoto Prize for Astronomy and Astrophysics may be the highest international recognition an astronomer can receive. Princeton University professor of astronomy Jim Gunn is the most recent recipient. Jim recently joined Mat Kaplan for a deep conversation about the wonder and beauty of deep space, about the Sloan Digital Sky Survey that Jim co-created and led, and much more. Is there an asteroid with Mat Kaplan’s name on it? That question is at the heart of the new space trivia contest from Bruce Betts. Discover more at https://www.planetary.org/planetary-radio/james-gunn-sdss

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Transcript

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0:00.0	A memorable conversation with Kyoto Prize recipient James Gunn, this week on Planetary Radio.
0:08.2	Welcome, I'm at Kaplan of the Planetary Society with more of a human adventure across our
0:17.2	solar system and beyond.
0:19.6	The Sloan Digital Sky Survey opened up the universe as never before.
0:25.0	Jim Gunn helped conceive and create it and then led the international effort for many years.
0:31.1	But that's far from all he has accomplished.
0:33.6	He and a colleague also led development of the wide field and planetary camera that helped
0:39.3	enable the Hubble Space Telescope to take us so much farther across the cosmos.
0:44.6	Jimn richly deserved the Inamori Foundation's Kyoto Prize for Astronomy and Astrophysics,
0:51.2	which may be the closest thing to a Nobel Prize for Astronomy.
0:55.4	A colleague called him the happiest person she'd ever met.
0:58.7	I think you'll enjoy my wonderful in-depth conversation with him today.
1:03.6	Asteroid Kaplan, say it ain't so.
1:06.6	Bruce Betts will not reveal all when he joins us for what's up, but he'll have lots of other great revelations to share.
1:14.3	The Biannual Planetary Defense Conference is underway, and I've got an invitation for you.
1:20.2	The Planetary Society will host the PDC's only public event on Thursday, April 28th at 8 a.m. Pacific 11 a.m. Eastern and 3 p.m. UTC.
1:31.9	We're calling it Earthlings vs. Asteroids. What's the score?
1:36.5	I'll be joined by six international experts on how humanity is working to save our planet from the fate of the dinosaurs.
1:44.4	It's free, and I hope you'll join us.
1:46.5	You'll be able to watch at planetary.org slash live on the Planetary Society's Facebook page or on our YouTube channel.
1:55.0	The recording will be available on demand right after the live show.
1:59.6	A quick look at the downlink begins with the ongoing Triumph of Ingenuity, the Mars helicopter.
	...

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