
Alastair Gunn
Astronomer
Dr Alastair Gunn is a radio astronomer at the Jodrell Bank Centre for Astrophysics at the University of Manchester.
Recent articles by Alastair Gunn

These are the 5 fastest things in the Universe, according to science
Way faster than a speeding bullet, these are the quickest things in the cosmos.

How galaxies move apart at an increasing rate, carried by the expansion of the Universe
If the Universe is expanding, does that mean all galaxies will be torn apart?

We asked an astronomer the biggest, trickiest questions about the Universe. These are his answers
We asked a radio astronomer to address some of the biggest unanswered questions about space and the Universe.

Big bang?! This is what would happen if you fired a gun in space
Is it possible to fire a gun in space? What would happen if you did?

How many galaxies are there in the universe?
Do astronomers know how many galaxies exist? How many can we see in the observable Universe?

What is the temperature of space?
A guide to cosmic thermodynamics and the extreme temperatures of the Universe.

10 of the biggest conspiracy theories in space and astronomy, and how to defeat them
From flat Earth to UFOs and 'fake' Moonlandings

How big is the Universe? This is what astronomers think the size of the cosmos is, and how they worked it out
How big is the Universe, and does it have a shape? Or is it merely infinite?

Are most of the stars we see already dead?
UK astrophysicist Alastair Gunn tackles a common myth in space science

If the Universe is filled with stars, why is the night sky dark?

No, time isn't the same everywhere. Just ask Einstein and his 'speeding train' thought experiment

No, the Sun isn't on fire, or burning. Here's what's really going on.
Not a burning question: it’s constant nuclear fusion that creates the Sun’s heat and light.

What do stars look like up close?
What does a star really look like, and how do astronomers know?
