Sky Watch by Geoff Burt

We're back into the holiday season in the 'Petersphere', and this month Sky Watch is going to get ambitious! Usually, you’re encouraged to observe a handful of stars in a particular constellation that happens to be well-placed in the evenings above our town. This month however, our main observing target consists of  billions of stars! Discover what you can see in the Petersphere night s...

Discover what the recent NASA Artemis II astronauts saw on their epic adventure and how it compares to what you can see of the Moon from the 'Petersphere'. And we reveal what a noctilucent cloud is and how you can see their ethereal beauty during June and July. Written by Petersphere resident, astronomical expert and amateur astronomer Geoff Burt, and voiced by Claire Vennis, every month Shine Rad...

When we get two Full Moons in the same calendar month, as we will on the 1st and 31st this month, the second is called a Blue Moon. Discover why this happens and when you can see both moons this month, and more in May's Sky Watch. Written by Petersphere resident, astronomical expert and amateur astronomer Geoff Burt, and voiced by Claire Vennis, every month Shine Radio presents a Sky Watch of our...

The movable celebration of Easter is on Sunday the 5th of April this year. According to ecclesiastical tradition, Easter Day falls on the Sunday after the first Full Moon after the Spring Equinox. The Equinox was on the 20th of March, after which the Moon reaches Full phase on Thursday the 2nd of April. Thus, Easter Sunday is on the 5th, a full fortnight earlier than last year! Discover what you c...

Welcome to our 3rd anniversary ‘Sky Watch’ episode! We’re incredibly fortunate to be within one of the best stargazing areas in this part of the planet! The south of England boasts a number of areas that are ideal for stargazing. The 'Petersphere' is more or less in the midst of this astronomically blessed region. Our town is inside a Dark Sky Reserve inside a National Park. Not...

Ladies and gentlemen, please take your partners for the planetary waltz! The heavens may look tranquil, yet everything is in constant motion. The Earth revolves around the Sun, the Solar System revolves around the Milky Way, which in turn revolves around the Local Group of galaxies, and so on. Discover more in this month's Sky Watch. Written by Petersphere resident, astronomical expert and amateur...

Hello, Happy New Stargazing Year, and welcome to 'Sky Watch' for January! Along with 2025, the first quarter of the 21st century has gone. Where does all that time go? Take a deep breath when you realise we're now nearer to 2050 than we've come from 2001! So, speaking of time passing, have you ever wondered what the oldest planet in our Solar System is? Discover this and more in Sky Watch. Written...

During December, the first eclipse occurs during the evening of the 3rd and the evening of the 4th sees the third in a sequence of 3 ‘Supermoons’. Traditionally known as the ‘Moon before Yule,’ this will be the last Full Moon of the year. Discover more in Sky Watch, every month on Shine Radio. Written by Petersphere resident, astronomical expert and amateur astronomer Geoff...

This month, look to the Petersphere skies to see the lovely Pleiades star cluster, the most famous in the whole night sky. Known in folklore as the ‘Seven Sisters,’ the Pleiades were of great significance to ancient civilisations and prehistoric cultures across the world. The Pleiades are part of the constellation of Taurus the Bull, ideally placed for observation from the Petersphere...

October in the ‘Petersphere’ is the ideal time of year to see one of the most famous creatures in the celestial menagerie, Pegasus the Winged Horse!  This month we'll also see the first in a sequence of three 'Supermoons' - be sure to look up on October 7th. And brilliant giant planet Jupiter rises by midnight and is visible throughout the pre-dawn hours. If you're out and about e...

This month is crammed with cool observations but first, let's start with a stargazing riddle! When is a planet  not a planet? And looking to the skies, our nearest neighbour in space, the Moon, has a treat in store on the 7th! That evening, there's a total lunar eclipse and the Moon will rise in Earth's shadow as seen from the Petersphere. Listen to this month's Sky Watch and discover the won...

August is a great month for stargazing in the ‘Petersphere’! We’re still in Summer, yet the nights have drawn out enough to allow properly dark skies between twilights. Temperatures are comfy overnight, unlike the chill of Winter, and we have a superb shooting star display coming up! And this month we ponder an often-asked question as to whether there’s a philosophical or e...

The 'Petersphere' is back in the holiday season, it's the height of Summer and seems as though the Earth is as close to the Sun as it can get, but it's not! Find out why in this month's Sky Watch. Written by Petersphere resident, astronomical expert and amateur astronomer Geoff Burt, and voiced by Claire Vennis, every month Shine Radio presents a Sky Watch of our unique dark skies. Let Shine Radio...

Summer officially arrives this month and June is famous for the Summer Solstice, the longest day of the year when the 'Petersphere' receives over 16 hours of daylight!  This June however, Sky Watch is focussing on the Moon rather than the Sun. Listen to this month's Sky Watch to discover more. Written by Petersphere resident, astronomical expert and amateur astronomer Geoff Burt, and voiced b...

By May the 'Petersphere' skies don't get dark until mid-evening. The darkest part of the sky is overhead and is ideal for observations as we head into Summer. Along with what to observe this month, Sky Watch also brings more essential tips to make the most of your observations!  Written by Petersphere resident, astronomical expert and amateur astronomer Geoff Burt, and voiced by Claire Vennis...

The 'Petersphere' is part of an International Dark Sky Reserve inside a National Park, so our location couldn't be much better for stargazing! The question is, how do you make the most of your observations? Listen to this month's Sky Watch to find out how. You'll also discover how the stars help decide when Easter falls. Written by Petersphere resident, astronomical expert and amateur astronomer G...

Sky Watch has been airing monthly on Shine Radio for two years already, and this is our 25th episode!  We might be focussed on the wonders of space, yet we can't ignore the passage of time. Speaking of which, how do you fancy a spot of time travel? Find out how and discover the celestial wonder, about 600 light years distant, of the lovely Beehive Cluster. Written by Petersphere resident, ast...

"Oh, be a fine girl, kiss me!", or, if you prefer, "Oh, be a fine guy , kiss me!" That may sound like a Valentine's message, but for us stargazers it's a handy mnemonic. Find out why in February's Sky Watch and take a tour of the 'Winter Hexagon' asterism. Written by Petersphere resident, astronomical expert and amateur astronomer Geoff Burt, and voiced by Claire Vennis, every month Shine Radio pr...

Hello, Happy New Year, and welcome to 'Sky Watch' for January! We're accustomed to embarking on a new voyage around our local star every January, but it hasn't always been that way. Based on ecclesiastical tradition, the ‘Petersphere’ year began on the 25th of March for centuries, right up until 1752, before finally changing to the 1st of January! The Winter night sky offers some of the best obser...

With another orbit of the Sun nearly complete, we reach the Winter Solstice on the 21st of the month. The shortest day, the longest night, yet with the promise that Spring and Summer are on their way. Meanwhile, when we get some high pressure at this time of year, the skies can be crystal clear if a little chilly. So, keep a weather eye out and, whenever we get one of those glorious transparent Wi...

Can you name a famous event that happened during the reign of King James the First? There is one event that everyone has heard of, and it happened in November. "Remember, remember, the 5th of November, gunpowder, treason, and plot!"  So why is Sky Watch concerned with the Gunpowder Plot? Thereby hangs a tale of 17th century intrigue with a connection to this show! Every month Shine Radio presents...

Autumn's rich colour palette of reds, oranges, yellows and golds is at its best in the Petersphere during October.  There's never a better time of year to appreciate our location among the South Downs, plus the new stargazing season is properly under way now so here's what's in store for this month. Discover what you can see in the Petersphere's dark skies this month with Sky Watch. Written by Geo...

Summer has passed in the 'Petersphere', but the consolation is that the new stargazing season begins! Look out for the Harvest Moon on the 17th/18th, a few days before the Autumn Equinox on the 22nd. This will be the second in a sequence of 4 Supermoons this year. This month also sees a partial lunar eclipse when the Moon glides through the Earth's outer shadow. It's an exciting time for stargazin...

It's shooting star season in the Petersphere and from mid-July until the third week of August you can view the best meteor shower of the year.  Also later in the month, look out for the first Supermoon, in a sequence of 4 this year. This Supermoon will also be a seasonal Blue Moon, which occurs every 2-3 years. Find out what a Blue Moon is, when to view it and why a reclining garden chair could be...

Discover how to view the Moon inside a teapot with the Milky Way looking like the steam coming out of the spout in this month's Sky Watch. The month of July brings the second half of Noctilucent Cloud season and there's the chance of more Northern Lights sightings too. Tune in to Sky Watch to open up the wonder of Petersfield's night skies for magical star-gazing from your doorstep in Sky Watch.  ...