The Moon Itself | Radiolab Podcast

From the Radiolab podcast: As the total solar eclipse approached, we set out to ask: who is the moon, really?

On Monday, April 8, 2024, for a large swath of North America, the sun disappeared in the middle of the day. Everywhere, people were talking about the total solar eclipse. What will it feel like when the sun goes away? What will the blocked-out sun look like? But all this talk of the sun got us thinking: wait, what about the moon? The only reason this whole solar eclipse thing is happening is because the moon is stepping in front of the sun. So in this episode, we stop treating the moon like a bit player in this epic cosmic event, and place it centerstage. We get to know the moon, itself — from birth, to middle age, to death.

This episode was reported by Molly Webster, Pat Walters, Becca Bressler, Alan Goffinski, Maria Paz Guttierez, Sarah Qari, Simon Adler and Alex Neason; and produced by Matt Kielty, Becca Bressler, Pat Walters, Maria Paz Guttierrez, Alan Goffinski and Simon Adler.

It was edited by Becca Bressler and Pat Walters. Fact-checked by Diane Kelly and Natalie A. Middleton. Original Music and sound design by Matt Kielty, Jeremy Bloom and Simon Adler. Mixing help from Arianne Wack.

Special thanks to Rebecca Boyle, Patrick Leverone and Daryl Pitts at the Maine Gem and Mineral Museum in Bethel, Maine; Renee Weber; Paul M. Sutter; Matt Siegler; Sarah Noble; and Chucky P.

Books:
Rebecca Boyle’s book, "Our Moon: How the Earth’s Celestial Companion Transformed the Planet, Guided Evolution and Made Us Who We Are" — https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/bo...

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Photo illustration by Jared Bartman
Video by W. Harry Fortuna