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

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?

What would a shooting star look like if it was coming straight towards you? © Getty Images

What would a shooting star look like if it was coming straight towards you?

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?

What is the largest object in the Universe?

What is the largest known celestial body?

If we were to look at the Universe as a whole, what state of matter would we say it’s in? © Getty Images

If we were to look at the Universe as a whole, what state of matter would we say it’s in?

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?

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?

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?