Backyard Astronomer - Delta College Public Radio

Dec 08 2024 338 ep. 1 mins 42
Backyard Astronomer - Delta College Public Radio Podcast artwork

Mike Murray from the Delta College Planetarium takes a look at what's up in the night sky. Things are happening all the time in the backyard universe, and many of them don't require a telescope to see and enjoy.

  Science
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12/9/24 - The Lunar Seas

Dec 07 2024 2 mins  
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.

12/2/24 - Jupiter at Close Approach

Dec 02 2024 2 mins  
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.

11/25/24 - Buying a Telescope

Nov 23 2024 2 mins  
The holidays are one of the most popular times of year for buying a telescope. So, what's the best one to look for?

11/18/24 - Bright Stars in the East

Nov 18 2024 2 mins  
Two hours after sunset you can’t help but notice several bright stars low in the east and northeast. The brightest one isn’t a star at all, but the planet Jupiter!

11/11/24 - The Beaver Moon

Nov 09 2024 2 mins  
The phase of the moon grows this week. By November 15 it becomes full, rising a little north of east soon after sunset. The November Full Moon was called the Beaver Moon by many Native American tribes.

11/4/24 - Venus, Mercury, and the Moon

Nov 04 2024 2 mins  
This week offers an evening rendezvous of Venus and the crescent moon.

10/28/24 - Pleiades Star Cluster

Oct 28 2024 2 mins  
Look low to the east after dark and you should see a pretty little cluster of stars. Its shape might remind you of a miniature Little Dipper, but it’s actually the famous Pleiades Star Cluster.

10/22/24 - The Great Square of Pegasus

Oct 22 2024 2 mins  
Each season has a notable constellation or group of stars that can serve as a guidepost to that part of the sky. In summer it’s common to use the Summer Triangle and in autumn we have the Great Square of Pegasus.

10/14/24 - Waning Gibbous Moon

Oct 14 2024 2 mins  
The Moon will take on an oval shape this week as the visible portion starts to wane, or become smaller. This allows the Moon to be seen in the morning sky after sunrise.

10/7/24 - An October Comet

Oct 07 2024 2 mins  
The media buzz is growing about what could be a bright comet gracing our skies this month. It’s called Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS, or “A3” for short, and astronomers have been eagerly anticipating its approach for many weeks.