Backyard Astronomer - Delta College Public Radio

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. 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/