Manx Sky at Night

In the fist part of the programme, Astronomer Howard Parkin looks at what we can see - weather permitting - in our Manx skies during the coming month of August.  It's the end of the noctilucent cloud season - it's also the end of the period of no official night time - so some darkness returns - which is good news for stargazers! Howard talks also about planetary activity - Opposition...

Astronomer Howard Parkin explains what  we might see in the sky during the month of July - despite the fact that summertime means it's really too light to see the stars clearly.  But Venus is rising higher each night, and you might catch sight of Mercury!  And exactly what are Noctilucent Clouds? This month's music break is the Blue Danube waltz - but what connects a Strauss...

Astronomer Howard Parkin takes his regular monthly look at the Manx skies.  As night skies in June are very light, viewing opportunities are fewer - but when the skies are clear,  the Plough is our guide to finding the spring stars, including Leo and Virgo. Venus is now visible and rising higher each night. This month's big news story  is the eclipse on 10th June - but DO NOT AT...

The Lyrid Meteor Showers; Planets on show in May; the truth about supermoons - and more - as Howard Parkin looks at what we can see (weather permitting) if we go stargazing in the dark skies over our Island during the month of May. Howard’s music choice this month is the Star Wars theme … remembering that May the 4th is Star Wars Day (yes - Howard really DID say that!!) After the musi...

Astronomer Howard Parkin looks ahead to the dark skies of April, and explains what we can expect to see whenever we have good visibility over the Isle of Man in the coming weeks.  And once again there are updates on all the latest space projects, and some new stories too.   Music this week is April Come She Will by Simon and Garfunkel

Astronomer Howard Parkin guides us through the spectacular sights we'll see (weather permitting!) in the dark skies over the Isle of Man during March - and we catch up with all the latest space stories - with activities on Mars making headline news this month!

This month's programme falls during our Island circuit-breaker lockdown, so astronomer Howard Parkin cannot be in the Manx Radio studio as usual.  Instead, he's in his garden in Onchan, gazing at the skies.  Sadly there's too much cloud cover, making 'live' stargazing too difficult - but Howard has plenty of information about what we can see during the month of Februa...

In our dark skies, THAT conjunction - between Jupiter and Saturn - is still visible (weather permitting) in the evenings between 5pm and 6pm .....both are joined by Mercury and the Moon around January 9th, before each go behind the Sun, on the 29th and 24th respectively .....Venus is still visible in the mornings ...and the Quadrantid Meteor Shower peaks on the 3rd/4th January - often overlooked,...

Astronomer Howard Parkin explains what to look for in the dark skies over our Island during the month of December.   Highlights include the Great Conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn on 21 December and possibly the best meteor shower of the year - the Geminid, which should be visible around the 12th or 13th December, weather permitting.   And in the world of space exploration, Howard discus...

Astronomer Howard Parkin looks into the wonderful dark skies over our Island and describes what we might see, in clear night-time conditions,  in the coming weeks.   He also looks back over 20 years of the International Space Station, and has all the latest news on the various expeditions in space already. The music break this month is VENUS by Barry Manilow

With the longer autumn nights, come even better opportunities to enjoy our dark Manx skies! Astronomer Howard Parkin explains what to look for during October, and he also has news about the latest developments in space exploration - including the possibility of life on Venus, and another moon landing planned for 2025

With the sun setting earlier and rising later, we're getting longer hours of darkness - which is good news for stargazers!   Howard talks about the autumn equinox, viewing the Andromeda Galaxy and the Milky Way. September is also a great month for catching sight of the planets - Jupiter and Saturn will be dominating the sky soon, but  Howard also explains when and where we can see Ma...

In this edition of the Manx Sky At Night , astronomer Howard Parkin looks at the skies over the Island and explains how to find all the planets -  Saturn, Jupiter, Mars and Venus - which will all be on display if we get some clear nights during the month of August.   The Perseid Metor Shower will also be another feature in the coming weeks. The music break this week is - very appropriate...

Howard Parkin is back in the studio, explaining which stars and planets we can look forward to seeing in our wonderful Manx dark skies during the month of July - including those beautiful ice-blue noctilucent (night-shining)  clouds.   After a song from Fifth Dimension (no - it's not Good Morning, Starshine!) Howard takes a look at the world of space exploration - reflecting on the s...

Once again, our resident Astronomer Howard Parkin starts this month's programme with some stargazing 'live' from his garden in Onchan. Howard explains what (given the right weather conditions!) we can look out for in our wonderful dark skies during the month of June. This month's music track is Cilla Black with Across The Universe - a very appropriate choice, as, in the second part of the programm...

In order to maintain social distancing, Howard can't be in the Manx Radio studios for this month's edition of the Manx Sky at Night, so instead he's recorded a programme at his home in Onchan! First he takes us into the garden to do some actual stargazing - listen to this podcast outdoors at about 10pm on a clear night, using your smartphone or tablet, and Howard will guide you round the night ski...

Howard Parkin was due to be off-Island for the last Sunday in March, so prior to his departure we recorded a programme in which Howard explains all we can see in our beautiful Manx dark skies, as we move from winter into early Spring. But Howard's time abroad was cut short by the worsening Coronavirus pandemic and he returned to the Island much sooner than planned - but had to immediately self-iso...

Astronomer Howard Parkin explains what to look for in the Manx skies in the coming weeks - Venus still dominating the western sky; the Moon passing through Hyades; great conjunction of Jupiter, Mars and the Moon in the morning sky around March 18th, with Saturn in the same area; and with the constellations starting to set in the West, can Spring be far away? This month's song is Urban Spaceman fro...

In the January edition of MANX SKY AT NIGHT, astronomer Howard Parkin tells us what we can expect to see in our dark skies during the coming weeks, including sighting the International Space Station, and spotting Venus as it dominates the evening skies. Is Betelgeuse really fading ? And if so, what does this mean for stargazers? Howard also gives an idea of some conjunctions we can look out for la...

Howard Parkin studies the skies and his charts, and uses his astronomer's skills to tell us what we can look for in the January Manx skies. Plus there's the usual update on activities and initiatives in space exploration. AND - whilst we're still in the Christmas season - if you're interested in the 'star' which the Wise Men followed to find the infant Jesus, do be sure to listen to the PRAISE POD...

Once again Howard Parkin is enjoying the dark Manx skies of autumn - looking forward to the Geminid Meteors in early December, and the chance to get a good look to Venus (clouds permitting!) In this month's space news, could the discovery of unexpected amounts of oxygen on Mars mean that there has once been some form of life on the planet? It's also the anniversary of the Apollo 12 space mission -...

Autumn in the perfect season for star gazing and planet watching - Howard Parkin tells us where to look, and what we might see. Plus there's news of the latest activity in space, and a super-hero is remembered - with a bit of 'seasonal' music from one of Howard's favourite bands!

Starry skies and adventures in space - Howard Parkin has stories and information to help us enjoy even more of our natural world - and there's a bit of music too!

Howard Parkin is loving the darker nights - perfect for star gazing and planet-spotting! In this month's edition, Howard looks at the vital importance of the planets, and tells a few of the legends attached to some of them. September will be a good month to look at the Moon - Howard has the best dates and times - and he teaches us a few more lunar terms! As usual there's a space update - the Inter...