This week on That Tech Pod, we look up. We're joined by Dr. Franck Marchis, CEO and co-founder of SkyMapper, co-founder of Unistellar, Director of Citizen Science at the SETI Institute, and one of the world's leading planetary astronomers. From discovering triple-asteroid systems to helping build the next generation of citizen science, Franck has spent his career making space exploration more accessible to everyone.
In this episode, we dive into the search for extraterrestrial intelligence, what astronomers actually do at SETI, and whether AI is changing the way we explore the universe. Franck shares his thoughts on whether intelligent alien life is likely to exist, what would happen if humanity received a credible signal from another civilization, and whether we're more likely to find microbes in our own solar system before discovering an advanced civilization light-years away. We also discuss how astronomy is no longer reserved for professional observatories. Thanks to advances in smart telescopes, AI, and global collaboration, everyday enthusiasts can now make meaningful contributions to scientific discovery. Franck explains how SkyMapper is building a worldwide network of connected telescopes and all-sky cameras designed to continuously monitor the skies and create trusted, verifiable observations for researchers and citizen scientists alike.
Finally, we explore SkySphere, SkyMapper's new intelligent all-sky camera that captures a continuous 180-degree view of the sky using on-device AI to detect meteors, satellites, drones, aircraft, and other phenomena in real time. We talk about how the project could reshape both amateur astronomy and scientific research, and how listeners can get involved through its successful Kickstarter campaign.
Learn more about SkyMapper and check out the SkySphere Kickstarter. You can also learn more about Franck’s work with the SETI Institute.
Dr. Franck Marchis is the CEO and co-founder of SkyMapper, co-founder of Unistellar, and the Director of Citizen Science at the SETI Institute. A planetary astronomer by training, his research spans exoplanets, asteroid systems, and high-resolution imaging. He is widely known for co-discovering multiple triple-asteroid systems and for pioneering technologies and programs that bring astronomical discovery to the public. Through his efforts at SkyMapper and his work at SETI, Franck is helping build a global community of citizen scientists empowered to explore and understand the universe.