Backyard Astronomer - Delta College Public Radio

9/30/19 - Observe the Moon Night 30.09.2019 1:55 ↓

The Delta College Planetarium will join schools, museums, and planetariums around the globe to celebrate the Moon Friday, Oct 4.

9/23/19 - The Autumn Equinox 23.09.2019 1:55 ↓

This year, the September equinox arrives September 23, marking the first day of fall in the northern hemisphere.

9/16/19 - Orion in the Morning 16.09.2019 1:52 ↓

If you're up before sunrise, which is easier now that we're heading into fall, you can look for the return of Orion the Hunter.

9/9/19 - The Harvest Moon 11.09.2019 1:56 ↓

September's Full Moon is often called the Harvest Moon, and this year it occurs after midnight on September 14.

9/2/19 - The Milky Way 03.09.2019 1:56 ↓

Late summer is the best time to observe the Milky Way.

8/26/19 - Sagittarius the Archer 27.08.2019 1:54 ↓

If you're out on a clear dark evening in September, you can look low in the south for Sagittarius the Archer.

8/19/19 - Bright Planets in the South 19.08.2019 1:58 ↓

The early evening sky will fill with more stars this week and, among them, a pair of bright planets.

8/12/19 - The Sturgeon Moon 13.08.2019 1:55 ↓

The Algonquin People often referred to the August Full Moon as the Sturgeon Moon because the Lake Sturgeon were most often caught at this time of year.

8/5/19 - The Perseid Meteor Shower 05.08.2019 2:00 ↓

The Perseids are famous for their high number of meteors and also because they can display fireballs brighter than the planet Venus.

7/29/19 - The Aurora Borealis 29.07.2019 1:55 ↓

For many of us in the north country, the Northern Lights can be a beautiful addition to the night sky experience. But when can we expect to see them?

7/22/19 - The Summer Triangle 24.07.2019 1:55 ↓

July and August are a great time to use three bright stars to "star hop" to areas of interest.

7/15/19 - Saturn's Close Approach 15.07.2019 2:00 ↓

The planet Jupiter shines brightly in the south after dusk, but now the next gas giant planet is rising out of the southeast.

7/8/19 - The Moon Meets Jupiter 09.07.2019 1:58 ↓

The Moon grows steadily larger this week, greeting two planets in its journey among the stars.

7/1/19 - The Crescent Moon of Apollo 11 02.07.2019 2:00 ↓

Many movies depict the Moon as full when Apollo 11 landed, but if you want to see what the Moon really looked like during that epic moment, you'll have a chance this week.

6/24/19 - Vega Is Back 25.06.2019 2:00 ↓

About 90 minutes after sunset, look about halfway up the eastern sky for a beautifully bright blue-white star.

6/17/19 - Mars Meets Mercury 13.06.2019 2:00 ↓

The planets Mars and Mercury make a close approach to each other in the sky this week

6/10/19 - Jupiter at Close Approach 10.06.2019 2:00 ↓

The planet Jupiter makes its closest approach to Earth this month, and that means it will shine a little brighter than usual.

6/3/19 - Corona Borealis 03.06.2019 2:00 ↓

During the month of June, one of the most distinctive constellations is Corona Borealis, the Northern Crown, because it lies high in the sky early in the evening.

5/27/19 - Jupiter Returns 28.05.2019 2:00 ↓

The bright planet Jupiter is making its return into the evening sky this month.

5/20/19 - Corvus the Crow 20.05.2019 2:00 ↓

One distinctive little springtime constellation to look for is Corvus the Crow.

5/13/19 - Bright Stars in the West 15.05.2019 2:00 ↓

This period in May is a good time to see some bright stars close to the western horizon.

5/6/19 - The Waxing Crescent 07.05.2019 2:00 ↓

The waxing crescent and first quarter phases are a great time to see details on the Moon.

4/29/19 - Follow the Arc to Arcturus 29.04.2019 2:00 ↓

In spring, the Big Dipper climbs high into the north, making it an excellent guidepost in the sky.

4/22/19 - The Waning Moon 22.04.2019 2:00 ↓

The Moon is now making its way through the morning sky, slipping farther east relative to the stars each night.

4/15/19 - The Big Dipper 17.04.2019 2:00 ↓

One of the most recognizable groups of stars in the night sky isn't actually a constellation, but a part of the larger group Ursa Major.