The Discussion: The ongoing saga of Jeni’s PhD thesis and a couple of listener emails.

The News: Rounding up the space exploration news we have:

• More destruction to the giant Arecibo radio telescope
• Keeping in touch with our intergalactic emissaries
• More information from the Rosettta mission.
• A new exoplanet characterising spacecraft gets the go ahead form ESA
• NASA’s Mars sample return mission plans
• China picks its Mars landing zone for February’s arrival
• Lockheed propose a new space launch facility in Scotland

Main news story: Congratulations to OSIRIS-REx at asteroid Bennu.

The Electromagnetic Spectrum: The gamma ray end of the spectrum. How these telescopes were developed and became ever more powerful.

Christmas gift ideas: We replace the Q&A section this episode as the holidays are getting closer and we thought you might appreciate some suggestions for the young, new or amateur astronomer in your life.