Backyard Astronomer - Delta College Public Radio

Also called the “sister spiral” to our own Milky Way Galaxy, Andromeda is the most distant object you can see in the entire night sky without a telescope. Support this podcast: https://www.deltapublicmedia.org/donate/

When the moon appears full, round, and bright, it might inspire us to wonder just how big it really is. Support this podcast: https://www.deltapublicmedia.org/donate/

This is a good time to see the moon's dark round plains called “maria,” and bright splashes of lighter material called “rays.” Support this podcast: https://www.deltapublicmedia.org/donate/

Even at 800 million miles away, Saturn’s great size will continue to provide great views through autumn and early winter. Support this podcast: https://www.deltapublicmedia.org/donate/

With the moon out of the early evening sky, now is a good time to see the constellation of Draco the Dragon. It also happens to be the peak time for the Draconid Meteor Shower! Support this podcast: https://www.deltapublicmedia.org/donate/

When evening twilight ends, look high in the northeast for a group of bright stars that resembles a big “W” sitting on its end. Support this podcast: https://www.deltapublicmedia.org/donate/

Arcturus serves as a bright beacon across multiple seasons, appearing in the east in spring, high overhead in summer, and low in the west in September. Support this podcast: https://www.deltapublicmedia.org/donate/

When the moon looks like a thin crescent, there’s a feature to look for called Earthshine. Support this podcast: https://www.deltapublicmedia.org/donate/

Away from city lights and bright moonlight, this is the time of year to see the faint band of the Milky Way stretching right over the top of the sky. Support this podcast: https://www.deltapublicmedia.org/donate/

To the Algonquin People, the August Full Moon was called the Sturgeon Moon, because the sturgeon of the Great Lakes were best harvested during this time. Support this podcast: https://www.deltapublicmedia.org/donate/

This is a good time to watch the dark round plains called “maria” become lit with sunlight in the eastern section of the moon. Support this podcast: https://www.deltapublicmedia.org/donate/

Conditions this year will be nearly ideal for watching the annual Perseid meteor shower when it reaches peak activity on the nights of August 12 and 13. Support this podcast: https://www.deltapublicmedia.org/donate/

For all you early risers, there’s a feast of morning planets to enjoy with Saturn, Mars, and even Mercury making appearances. Support this podcast: https://www.deltapublicmedia.org/donate/

Why do people see faces in the Moon? And what actually causes these lunar features? Support this podcast: https://www.deltapublicmedia.org/donate/

Often called a half moon, the first quarter moon is a great time to look for some prominent features on the lunar surface. Support this podcast: https://www.deltapublicmedia.org/donate/

After dusk, look about a third of the way up the eastern sky for a moderately bright star. It’s flanked by two fainter stars above and below it. This is Altair, the brightest star in the constellation of Aquila the Eagle. Support this podcast: https://www.deltapublicmedia.org/donate/

Now that summer has arrived, the famous “Summer Triangle” of stars has returned to guide us around the evening sky. Support this podcast: https://www.deltapublicmedia.org/donate/

As twilight ends around 10:30 pm, look low in the southeast for a bright reddish star. This is Antares, the Heart of the Scorpion. Support this podcast: https://www.deltapublicmedia.org/donate/

Have you noticed, especially when you're riding in a car, that the moon seems to follow you? Why is this? Support this podcast: https://www.deltapublicmedia.org/donate/

During the month of June, about 90 minutes after sunset, look high in the east for a faint semi-circular pattern of stars. This is Corona Borealis, the Northern Crown. Support this podcast: https://www.deltapublicmedia.org/donate/

Are there any green stars? Astronomers say no, but observers insist that the brightest star in the constellation Libra the Scales, does look green. Support this podcast: https://www.deltapublicmedia.org/donate/

Look low in the northwest near the end of evening twilight and you should see two exceptionally bright "stars." On closer inspection, they're actually the planets Venus and Jupiter! Support this podcast: https://www.deltapublicmedia.org/donate/

The moon will get brighter this week as the sunlit shape grows from gibbous to full. On May 31 we'll see the second full moon in the calendar month, something known as a Blue Moon. Support this podcast: https://www.deltapublicmedia.org/donate/

Observe the night sky long enough and you’re bound to see something strange that’s hard to identify, but that doesn’t automatically mean it’s an alien spaceship. Support this podcast: https://www.deltapublicmedia.org/donate/

At the end of evening twilight, look about halfway up the northeast sky for a bright bluish star. This is Vega, the second brightest star in the summer sky. Support this podcast: https://www.deltapublicmedia.org/donate/

Spring is when the Big Dipper climbs high into the north, making it an excellent guidepost in the sky. Support this podcast: https://www.deltapublicmedia.org/donate/

With the warmer nights of spring, a great outdoor activity is to do some binocular viewing. And now is a good time to use them on the moon! Support this podcast: https://www.deltapublicmedia.org/donate/

After three months of what people call the meteor drought, the annual Lyrid meteor shower comes to a peak this week. Support this podcast: https://www.deltapublicmedia.org/donate/

Spring is the time of year when the Big Dipper climbs higher into the northern sky. But the Big Dipper is not itself a constellation. It’s only part of a much larger group called Ursa Major, the Great Bear. And it makes for an excellent guidepost to the North Star and Little Dipper. Support this podcast: https://www.deltapublicmedia.org/donate/

After more than a year, the planet Venus finally makes its way back into the evening skies, but you’ll have to look low in the west during dusk to see it. Support this podcast: https://www.deltapublicmedia.org/donate/

As the phase of the moon grows steadily from first quarter to full, it’s a good opportunity to explore the contrasts of light and dark on its surface. Support this podcast: https://www.deltapublicmedia.org/donate/

No matter the time of year, under a clear dark sky you can expect to see four or five little streaks of light each hour. Sometimes called shooting stars or falling stars, these are meteors that burn up in our atmosphere. Support this podcast: https://www.deltapublicmedia.org/donate/

This year, the March equinox arrives on the 20th which marks the first day of spring for the northern hemisphere. Support this podcast: https://www.deltapublicmedia.org/donate/

It’s often said that the best conditions for stargazing are under dark skies with minimal light pollution. But in this modern age of excessive LED lighting, it can be hard to find such places. Support this podcast: https://www.deltapublicmedia.org/donate/

Before Saturn disappears in the sun’s glare altogether, you’ll have a rare chance to see it meet up with the brighter planet Venus, a close pass known as a conjunction.

The March full moon is known as the “Sap Moon” because March marks the tapping of the maple trees. It also coincides with a total lunar eclipse. Support this podcast: https://www.deltapublicmedia.org/donate/

Under a clear dark sky, this is the best time of year to look for a lesser known constellation called Lepus the Hare. Support this podcast: https://www.deltapublicmedia.org/donate/

What’s the brightest star in the entire nighttime sky? It’s called Sirius – seriously. Support this podcast: https://www.deltapublicmedia.org/donate/

As the moon wanes and rises later each night, the early evening skies are dark again, allowing us to see the faint deep sky marvels of the winter sky. The Great Orion Nebula is perfectly positioned to view this month. Support this podcast: https://www.deltapublicmedia.org/donate/

As the Gibbous Moon grows larger, you can see new details coming into view as the day-night line progresses across the lunar surface each night. Support this podcast: https://www.deltapublicmedia.org/donate/

Betelgeuse, a star in Orion the Hunter, will eventually collapse into a supernova, which would bright enough to see in the daylight for weeks or even months. Support this podcast: https://www.deltapublicmedia.org/donate/

Low in the east, soon after dark, you’ll find a star so bright that it looks like a fiery beacon in the sky. It’s actually the planet Jupiter, and it’s making its closest approach to Earth this week. Support this podcast: https://www.deltapublicmedia.org/donate/

Ushering in the new year is one of the best-known winter constellations, Orion the Hunter. Support this podcast: https://www.deltapublicmedia.org/donate/

Soon after dark, look about halfway up the southern sky for a moderately bright star that doesn’t twinkle. This is the planet Saturn, and it’s in the best position for observing through a telescope. Support this podcast: https://www.deltapublicmedia.org/donate/

The week of December 22 offers a perfect opportunity to follow the waxing crescent moon and the emergence of several impact basins. Support this podcast: https://www.deltapublicmedia.org/donate/

Soon after dark, look for a bright yellowish star in the northeast. Capella is the 6th brightest star in the sky and sometimes called The Goat Star. Support this podcast: https://www.deltapublicmedia.org/donate/

One of the best meteor showers of the year is already active and comes to a peak on the evening of December 13 and 14. Support this podcast: https://www.deltapublicmedia.org/donate/

The holidays are one of the most popular times of year for buying a telescope. So, what's the best one to look for? Support this podcast: https://www.deltapublicmedia.org/donate/

Look low to the east after dark and you should see a cluster of stars known as the Pleiades, or The Seven Sisters. Support this podcast: https://www.deltapublicmedia.org/donate/

Cool, dry, autumn air and a moonless night mean it’s the best time of the year to look for the Great Andromeda Galaxy. Support this podcast: https://www.deltapublicmedia.org/donate/