Backyard Astronomer - Delta College Public Radio

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/

Look high in the northeast for a group of bright stars that resembles a big “W” sitting on its end. This is the constellation of Cassiopeia the Queen. Support this podcast: https://www.deltabroadcasting.org/donate/

At the beginning of the week of October 27, the moon displays a crescent shape low in the southwest after sunset. But each night, the moon will appear to slip a little further back or eastward among the stars. Support this podcast and others like it: https://www.deltabroadcasting.org/donate/

The media buzz is growing about what could be a bright comet gracing our skies this month. It’s called Comet Lemmon, for the observatory in Arizona that discovered it, and astronomers have been eagerly anticipating its approach for many weeks. Support this podcast and others like it: https://www.deltabroadcasting.org/donate/

Each year in late October, our planet crosses the orbit of Halley’s Comet, sweeping up millions of little bits of ice and dust to create the Orionid Meteor Shower. Support this podcast: https://www.deltabroadcasting.org/donate/

After the Full Hunter's Moon of October 7, the sunlit portion of the Moon will begin to shrink. This is because the Moon rises about thirty minutes later each night, putting it at a closer angle to the sun as it gradually passes into the morning sky. Support this podcast: https://www.deltabroadcasting.org/donate/

Friday, Oct. 3 is when the Delta College Planetarium in Bay City will celebrate this year’s International Observe the Moon Night.

This year, the September equinox arrives on the 22nd which marks the first day of fall for the northern hemisphere. For everyone north of the equator, the days will become shorter as we move into autumn.

The Summer Triangle is a useful guidepost to many constellations. A popular little pattern among stargazers is Delphinus the Dolphin.

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. The Summer Milky Way is brighter and wider than its winter counterpart because this is when we're looking more toward the center of our galaxy.

All this week, the phase of the moon grows larger and brighter as it advances from first quarter toward full. This is a good time to see the dark round plains called “maria,” and bright splashes of lighter material called “rays.”

By now you may have heard the buzz about an object entering our solar system from interstellar space. The newly discovered object 3I/ATLAS – found on July 1st – is likely the oldest comet we’ve ever seen.

From late August through September, Sagittarius the Archer will appear low in the south at evening twilight as a "teapot" shape of stars.

From late July to late August, the zodiacal constellation of Scorpius the Scorpion scrapes the southern horizon at the end of dusk.

About 90 minutes before sunrise, look low in the east-northeast for two brilliant stars above the horizon. But they're not stars at all. They're Venus and Jupiter!

This week is a good time to watch the dark round plains called “maria” become lit with sunlight in the eastern section of the moon.

Of all the things that move among the stars, earth orbiting satellites can be quite common to see. During the few hours after sunset or before sunrise, literally dozens of satellites can be seen as faint, slowly-moving dots.