Sky Watch by Geoff Burt

Astronomical twilight overlaps in the Petersphere this time of year so there's no true night and with the Summer Solstice taking place on June 20th we will bask in more than sixteen and a half hours of daylight! We find out about the 13th sign of zodiac in this month's Sky Watch and how to view noctilucent clouds too. With the sun currently nearing the height of its 11-year activity cycle we're fa...

Welcome to Shine Sky Watch, a monthly summary of night sky events for stargazers in and around Petersfield. This time of year, nights in the Petersphere are distinctly shorter than the days and, officially, night only lasts for about 2 hours. May is the best time to find the second largest constellation in the sky. Find out about Virgo the Maiden and Spica, the brightest star in Virgo, whose light...

Spring has sprung in the Petersphere and all around is a profusion of radiant blooms and blossoms. The nights are distinctly shorter for stargazing, but at least the skies are clearer and the temperature comfortable! This month Sky Watch takes a look at the Sun, the planets Jupiter and the celestial sign of Spring in the Petersphere, the constellation of Leo the Lion. April is also the ideal time...

Welcome to the first anniversary of 'Sky Watch'! This March, Sky Watch celebrates one year on air; a complete orbit of the Sun of some 940 million kilometres! March has always been an important month. Here in the 'Petersphere', we escape the cold gloomy clutches of Winter and welcome the onset of Spring. The Spring Equinox is the first of two occasions every year when all parts of our planet get a...

"Thirty days hath September, April, June, and November; all the rest have thirty-one, Excepting February alone, and that has twenty-eight days clear, And twenty-nine in each leap year." February has always been a bit of an oddity. Why is it shorter than all the other months; and why does it sometimes have a leap day as it does now in 2024? Listen to the latest Sky Watch to find out why and more......

Happy new year and welcome to Sky Watch as we begin another new orbit of the Sun! January is probably the best time to observe the constellation of mighty Taurus the Bull, well-placed due south around mid-evening throughout the month. Find out how to find Taurus as well as which planets you can view in January as local astronomical expert and amateur astronomer Geoff Burt takes you on a tour of ou...

The Winter Solstice, otherwise known as the Shortest Day, occurs on December the 22nd. On that day, the 'Petersphere' will receive barely eight hours of daylight. From there the days start getting longer again and the festive season will be upon us, leading to a famous seasonal stargazing story. Yes, everyone's heard of the Christmas Star, but there's a mystery about it that's never been solved......

A monthly guide to our dark skies by Geoff Burt. Written by Petersphere resident, astronomical expert and amateur astronomer Geoff Burt, every month Shine Radio presents a Sky Watch of our unique dark skies. Let Shine Radio open up the wonder of Petersfield's night skies for magical star-gazing from your doorstep, in Sky Watch. November Find out what the furthest thing you can see in space with th...

Autumn has arrived in the Petersphere - don't forget that the clocks go back at the end of the month - and although summer has slipped away and winter approaches, it means we're entering into the new observing season!  Look out for the lunar eclipse on October 28th when the Hunter Moon will slowly glide through the outer region of Earth's shadow and turn red, it will also look suitably spooky for...

Make the most of our unique dark skies with Shine Radio Sky Watch is a monthly guide to night sky events for stargazers in and around Petersfield. This month, with the Autumn Equinox, we prepare for a new observing season.  September's final Supermoon will take place toward the end of the month and the Morning Star puts on a dazzling display.  Tune in to find out more. Sky Watch is written by loca...

Written by Petersphere resident, astronomical expert and amateur astronomer Geoff Burt, every month Shine Radio presents a Sky Watch of our unique dark skies. Let Shine Radio open up the wonder of Petersfield's night skies for magical star-gazing from your doorstep, in Sky Watch. Our nearest neighbour in space has something special in store this August; there will be two full moons this month - an...

Make the most of our unique dark skies with Shine Radio Sky Watch is a monthly guide to night sky events for stargazers in and around Petersfield. This month we explain what you can look for in August, including a rare Blue Moon. I think we know a song about that! Sky Watch is written by local resident and astronomical expert Geoff Burt and read  from under the dark skies of Langrish by Claire Ven...

Welcome to 'Shine Sky Watch', a monthly summary of night sky events for stargazers in and around Petersfield. July; and it's holiday season in the 'Petersphere'! People are heading to the beaches, either here in the UK or overseas. Did you know there's an astronomical link to the tides? With July's Full Moon occurring on the 3rd, this is the first in a sequence of four 'Supermoons' and during the...

The much-anticipated ‘new’ Annie Jones restaurant has just opened on Lavant Street and Claire and Joff bring you all the news in this week’s P pod from owner Dom Humphries, Andy the Chef - and Annie Jones, herself, tells the story of how the original restaurant began. There's also a trip to Merritts Meadow and a look to the night sky with Sky Watch. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy informat...

Welcome to Shine Radio's Sky Watch, a monthly summary of night sky events for stargazers in and around Petersfield. The Summer Solstice occurs on the 21st of June and there's a mysterious local connection. Listen to this month’s Sky Watch to find out what it is and why we need to travel way back in time. Make the most of our unique dark skies with Shine Radio written by Petersphere resident and as...

Welcome to Shine Radio Sky Watch, a monthly summary of night sky events for stargazers in and around Petersfield. Our town and surrounding area has the distinction of being located in the South Downs National Park which is designated an International Dark Sky Reserve. That means we don't have far to go to enjoy the wonders of the night sky and there's always something of interest coming up every m...

Written by Petersphere resident, astronomical expert and amateur astronomer Geoff Burt, every month Shine Radio presents a Sky Watch to help us make the most of our unique dark skies. As we move into Spring, learn how the moon determines the date of Easter, how you can spot Leo, which planets are visible through April and why this month means you might spot some meteors. Let Sky Watch open up the...

Written by Petersphere resident, astronomical expert and amateur astronomer Geoff Burt, every month Shine Radio will present a Sky Watch of our unique dark skies. March welcomes the transition from Winter to Spring in the Northern Hemisphere and the Moon will reach Full phase on the 6th.  Known as the 'Lenten Moon' it will be the last one before the Spring Equinox.  March is also the last opportun...