Q&A With Universe Today’s Astronomer Fraser Cain

Video Q&A: Fraser Cain (Universe Today)

Special thanks to Universe Today founder Fraser Cain for this fascinating video Q&A. All questions were provided by members of Physics Forums. The full question list appears below the video.

Questions (timestamps)

1. 0:25 — You cover a large range of topics with your articles on Universe Today. How do you do research for all the different topics?
2. 1:45 — Which astronomical event in the next years do you look forward to the most?
3. 3:00 — Which event in spaceflight in the next years do you look forward to the most?
4. 4:40 — When (if at all) do you expect a first manned mission to Mars?
5. 6:00 — Would you like to visit Asteroid 158092 Frasercain?
6. 7:30 — How do astronomers deal with galaxies and “stuff” photo-bombing the isolated small distant object?
7. 9:10 — Could we nudge the orbit of an asteroid a bit so its orbit overlapped Earth and Mars on a regular basis (maybe every so many years) and we could sneak in behind the asteroid and use it as radiation protection for our trip to Mars?
8. 11:10 — Does your experience give you any sense of how long it might be before we get answers to the big questions such as what is dark energy, what is dark matter, what is the relationship between SMBHs and galactic formation, or is it more likely that these are so tough that it’s just impossible to say how long it might be before some kind of breakthrough occurs on each?
9. 13:00 — Why would anyone want to live on Mars when Antarctica is so warm and inviting?
10. 14:25 — What’s the biggest “stopper” to living in space for extended periods that remains unresolved? Anything promising going on toward resolution of that issue?
11. 18:05 — In your opinion, what is the best balance of science, adventure, and futurism to stress and promote such that advancement and investment in space technology can continue in the most significant way?
12. 20:05 — What do you think Fast Radio Bursts are from?
13. 21:25 — Is it conceivable that we could develop telescopes able to resolve the basic geological features of an exoplanet?
14. 23:30 — How do people justify the approach we have taken towards Moon and Mars missions, which deviates from the excellent plan of von Braun?
15. 25:25 — What things can amateur astronomers do to help in current astronomical research beyond comet tracking and general observation?
16. 27:00 — What advice would you give to young people who aspire to be scientists, especially astronomers?
17. 29:00 — Are there any serious efforts of getting rid of space debris?
18. 31:50 — According to research, early faint galaxies proved crucial to understanding the cosmic phenomenon of re-ionization. What is the status of this endeavor as of now and what is expected for the near future?
19. 33:40 — What are the engineering problems and odds facing terraforming Mars?
20. 36:55 — What are your thoughts on the upcoming generation of new telescopes and other instruments and what impact they may have?

Read the next interview with astronomer Pamela Gay.