Dr Alastair Gunn

Alastair is a radio astronomer at the Jodrell Bank Centre for Astrophysics at the University of Manchester.

Recent articles by Dr Alastair Gunn

What would happen if the Earth became tidally locked to the Sun? © Getty Images

What would happen if the Earth became tidally locked to the Sun?

If you had a strong enough magnet, could you pull something magnetic out of a black hole? © Getty Images

If you had a strong enough magnet, could you pull something magnetic out of a black hole?

Why is the Moon sometimes visible during the day? © Getty Images

Everyday science

Why is the Moon sometimes visible during the day?

How far do we travel through space every day? © Getty Images

How far do we travel through space every day?

Do objects in the Universe moving towards us show a blue shift? © Getty Images

Do objects in the Universe moving towards us show a blue shift?

Does the Moon look ‘upside down’ in the southern hemisphere? © Dan Bright

Everyday science

Does the Moon look ‘upside down’ in the southern hemisphere?

On average, how many planets are in orbit around each star? © Getty Images

On average, how many planets are in orbit around each star?

Could we live on airships in the atmosphere of Venus? © Dan Bright

Could we live on airships in the atmosphere of Venus?

Do black holes collapse? © Getty Images

Do black holes collapse?

Are black holes always found at the centre of galaxies? © Getty Images

Quick Q&A: What happens to the light that’s been sucked into a black hole?

Could ‘dark matter’ just be dead stars and planets floating in the depths of space? © Getty Images

Could ‘dark matter’ just be dead stars and planets floating in the depths of space?

How many extrasolar planets do we know about? © Getty Images

How far would we need to travel to leave our Galaxy?

How would our Solar System be different if Jupiter had been big enough to be a star? © NASA

How would our Solar System be different if Jupiter had been big enough to be a star?

Could we launch plastic into space to reduce pollution on Earth? © Getty Images

Everyday science

Could we launch plastic into space to reduce pollution on Earth?

Is space a perfect vacuum? © Getty Images

Is space a perfect vacuum?