• 125
    collected

IRrelevant Astronomy

Season 1 2008 - 2015
TV-G

  • 2008-01-15T05:00:00Z on YouTube
  • 10m
  • 4h 40m (28 episodes)
  • United States
  • Documentary
IRrelevant Astronomy is a video podcast feed produced by NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope. Unlike many other podcasts, it is set up more like a television network, with multiple series and stand-alone videos released on this single "channel." To date, the content included on the feed has all incorporated animation in some manner, and generally tends to be comedic. The "IR" in the title stands for "infrared", meaning the title actually refers to "infrared-relevant astronomy."

28 episodes

Series Premiere

2008-01-15T05:00:00Z

1x01 Skinfrared #1

Series Premiere

1x01 Skinfrared #1

  • 2008-01-15T05:00:00Z10m

What is infrared light? The Skinfrared series contrasts the world around us in both visible and infrared light, giving the viewer a perspective on how infrared observatories like the Spitzer Space Telescope view the Universe.

1x02 Spaceship Spitzer: Enemy Mine

  • 2008-01-17T05:00:00Z10m

While in battle around the supermassive black hole at the center of the galaxy, Dr. Michelle teaches IR-1 the science behind these giant singularities.

1x03 Skinfrared #2: Water and Ice

  • 2008-02-08T05:00:00Z10m

Viewing liquids in extreme temperatures in both visible and infrared light, this episode of the Skinfrared series gives viewers a perspective on how infrared observatories like the Spitzer Space Telescope view the Universe.

1x04 Robot Astronomy Talk Show: Asteroids

  • 2008-03-04T05:00:00Z10m

Will an asteroid strike the Earth and wipe out all life as we know it? IR-2 and his robotic crew make random phone calls to find out.

Astronomers have discovered huge amounts of water around baby stars; IR-2 and his crew plan to make use of it.

Are tiny diamonds really common in the Universe? Join the intrepid Mountie Martin as he endeavors to find out, while on the trail of the sinister Sammy the Smuggler!

Where do stars come from? IR-2 analyzes recent Spitzer imagery to find out, while an imposing Ratings-bot oversees the broadcast.

While the robots are away, a sad and lonely man calls in with a beautiful image of the Omega Centauri globular cluster.

IR-2 and his crew learn about PAHs, which may be the building blocks of all life in the Universe, and decide to put them to good use.

2008-08-25T04:00:00Z

1x10 Psych Out

1x10 Psych Out

  • 2008-08-25T04:00:00Z10m

Does the Helix Nebula look like a human eye? Why do we think we see well-known objects in nebulous images from space? An astronomer and his therapist clash over the issue in this comedic but educational animated short.

IR-2 opens diplomatic relations with the Earth, as a first step toward ruling over all humans on the planet.

1x12 Spaceship Spitzer: The Slowlian Web

  • 2008-11-25T05:00:00Z10m

During a tense face-off with a sinister (but extremely slow-moving) alien race, Dr. Michelle shows IR-1 how scientists can determine what extrasolar planets are made of, even when the planets are too far away to see.

1x13 M51 & Gizmo: Half-Baked Plan

  • 2009-01-23T05:00:00Z10m

Hoping for his birthday to come around sooner, innocent alien M51 moves the Earth into a closer, faster orbit around the sun, and learns an important lesson about life in the Universe.

While trapped in an interdimensional portal between two brown dwarfs, IR-2 and the robots encounter their evil twins from an alternate universe.

George Takei, Mark Hamill, and Ed Wasser provide voices as IR-2 and the robot crew take a look at the Great Attractor, a massive hidden object that is pulling in every nearby galaxy in the local Universe (including our own).

1x16 Part Two: The Warm Mission

  • 2009-06-22T04:00:00Z10m

In this spoof of old TV action shows, Sean Astin, Osa Wallander, and Betty White search for a way to help the Spitzer Space Telescope after it runs out of coolant.

Linda Hamilton attempts to foil the robots' plans of Universal conquest; meanwhile, Dean Stockwell explains the concept of "looking back in time" at objects in space, and how it helps astronomers understand how the Universe has evolved. Starring Ed Wasser as the voice of IR-2.

Felicia Day explains some of the science behind galactic "collisions," including the upcoming collision between the galaxy Andromeda and our own galaxy, in this mock behind-the-scenes look at the making of an educational video. Sean Astin also stars.

1x19 Spitzer Space Telescope: The Musical

  • 2010-03-09T05:00:00Z10m

A singing NASA supervisor uses song to explain about NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope, and how infrared astronomy differs from visible-light telescopes like Hubble.

Amy Okuda flies to Saturn to observe a new giant ring around the planet: the largest ring ever discovered in our Solar System, but one that was only recently revealed through infrared observations by NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope in 2009. While there, she and Irwin (voiced by Wil Wheaton) encounter an old enemy, and must defeat their sinister plot. Ed Wasser also stars.

1x21 Behind the Scenes: Dead Stars

  • 2010-08-10T04:00:00Z10m

Actor Sean Astin is hired by a bullying educational film Director and her Flunky #2 sidekick to explain about the life and death of stars. But when things go wrong on the set, actor Sandeep Parikh is hired to replace Sean... only to have things take a bizarre twist.

Robot IR-2 (Ed Wasser) meets The Physician (Wil Wheaton), an intergalactic buttinsky in a small blue box spaceship. Together, they work to escape "The Destroyer of Worlds," a binary star system that is destroying its inner planets. With Brigitte Dale.

2011-02-16T05:00:00Z

1x23 Astronomy Anemone

1x23 Astronomy Anemone

  • 2011-02-16T05:00:00Z10m

Veronica Belmont co-hosts a space-themed talk show with Astronomy Anemone, a carnivorous man-eating sea polyp. WARNING: contains scenes of cartoon violence and scientific jargon.

2011-03-16T04:00:00Z

1x24 Big Bang: The Musical

1x24 Big Bang: The Musical

  • 2011-03-16T04:00:00Z10m

Did you know radiation from the Big Bang can be seen on any analogue television set? In this mini-musical, a young couple (Brigitte Dale, Marc Helou) discuss the real science behind this, while arguing over what to watch on TV. Original song written & performed by Danny Tieger.

Cameron Diaz teaches Robot IR-2 (Ed Wasser) how astronomers can measure the mass of asteroids from tremendous distances.

Specifically, it describes the formula "F=ma" and how it can be used in conjunction with measurements of the "Yarkovsky Effect," a force that can push around asteroids & other objects in space.

Deep inside an astronomer's head, a parasite (voiced by Alan Tudyk) taps into his brain to learn about...science! Specifically, about why astronauts appear weightless in space. Wil Wheaton co-stars.

1x27 NOTGLaDOS: Fusion vs. Fission

  • 2014-02-12T05:00:00Z10m

When a science-mad A.I. system (voiced by GLaDOS actress Ellen McLain) is installed at NASA, two hapless computer technicians learn the process behind nuclear fusion in the Sun, and how it differs from fission.

How does NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope use engineering to stay cold in space? To find out, a student (Danny Pudi) exchanges letters with a NASA engineer (Robert Picardo) via a helpful talking postage stamp (Richard Horvitz).

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