BBC Sky at Night Magazine

Star Diary

Science EN ↓ 370 episodes

The astronomy podcast from the makers of BBC Sky at Night Magazine.

Author

BBC Sky at Night Magazine

Category

Science

Podcast website

www.skyatnightmagazine.com

Latest episode

Jun 25, 2026

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Episodes

Star Diary: What’s in the night sky, 31 October to 6 November2022 30.10.2022

In this week's stargazing guide: catch Saturn, Vesta and the Moon together, watch out for Jupiter on Bonfire Night. Transcript Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Star Diary: What’s in the night sky, 24 to 30 October 2022 27.10.2022

A partial solar eclipse and a Mars going into retrograde in this weekly stargazing guide. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Piecing together the history of the Universe 23.10.2022

How much do astronomers know about the evolution of the cosmos? Prof Nial Tanvir from the University of Leicester talks about the early Universe, the formation of the first stars and galaxies, redshift and gamma-ray bursts. This podcast was recorded at the International Astronomy Show 2022. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcast...

Webb Telescope and the secrets of the Solar System 20.10.2022

We spoke to University of Leicester planetary scientist Prof Leigh Fletcher about the James Webb Space Telescope, why it observes in infrared, what it has revealed about the planets of the Solar System so far, and what's yet to come. This podcast was recorded at the International Astronomy Show 2022. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Vis...

Star Diary: What’s in the night sky, 17 to 23 October 2022 16.10.2022

The Orionids meteor shower peaks this week, and Mercury passes by the binary star Porrima in our weekly stargazing guide. Transcript Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Star Diary: What’s in the night sky, 10 to 16 October 2022 09.10.2022

Watch out for Mars and the Pleiades as the Moon passes by as we run down this week's stargazing highlights. Transcript Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Star Diary: What’s in the night sky, 3 to 9 October 2022 02.10.2022

In this week's stargazing guide, we take a look at the Moon's southern pole and catch asteroid Pallas as it glides past Sirius. Transcript Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Interview: A Brief History of Black Holes 28.09.2022

What is a black hole? Are they really black? Are they really holes? How much do we actually know about them? Astrophysicist and YouTuber Dr Becky Smethurst reveals how black holes went from theoretical mysteries to objects we can photograph. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Star Diary: What’s in the night sky, 26 September to 2 October 2022 25.09.2022

Jupiter makes its closest approach to Earth of the year this week as we take a look at Jupiter's opposition and more in this episode of Star Diary. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Interview: NASA's plan to crash a spacecraft into an asteroid 23.09.2022

Could humanity deflect the path of a civilisation-destroying asteroid? That's what NASA's DART mission hopes to find out by crashing into an asteroid. Ahead of the impact on 26th September at 11:14pm UTC, we spoke with the mission's co-ordination team lead Nancy Chabot about the mission. Transcript Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit...

Star Diary: What’s in the night sky, 19 to 25 September 2022 18.09.2022

As the autumn equinox arrives, the crescent Moon gives a great opportunity to see Earthshine. Transcript Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Star Diary: What’s in the night sky, 12 to 18 September 2022 11.09.2022

The occultation of Uranus by the Moon making the planet vanish is just one of this week's stargazing highlights. Transcript Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Star Diary: What’s in the night sky, 5 to 11 September, 2022 04.09.2022

Jupiter and Neptune meet up with minor world 3 Juno, which is in opposition as we run through this week's stargazing highlights. Transcript Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Star Diary: What’s in the night sky, 29 August to 4 September 28.08.2022

Mars makes its way past the Pleiades and the Hyades, while Mercury hugs the horizon as we take a look at what's in the sky this week. Transcript Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Interview: How JWST observes the Universe 26.08.2022

Instrument scientist Dr Pamela Klaassen reveals the science behind how JWST studies the cosmos, what its images show us, and the secrets it might uncover. We also discuss the Square Kilometre Array Organisation and how this brand new ground-based observatory will work in tandem with the Webb Telescope to unlock the secrets of the Universe. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more informatio...

Interview: How JWST will observe exoplanets 22.08.2022

Astrophysicist Dr Hannah Wakeford from the University of Bristol reveals how JWST will unlock the secrets of planets orbiting stars beyond our Solar System. Watch the full video via the BBC Sky at Night Magazine YouTube channel. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Star Diary: What’s in the night sky, 22 to 28 August 2022 21.08.2022

This week is a great opportunity to take a look at Orion, or hunt out the asteroids Pallas and Vesta. Transcript Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Star Diary: What’s in the night sky, 15 to 21 August 2022 14.08.2022

Mars meets the Pleiades, Venus approaches the Beehive in this week's stargazing diary. Transcript Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Interview: Observing the Solar System in x-ray 10.08.2022

Astrophysicist William Dunn reveals how x-rays can reveal the secrets of the outer planets and their moons. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Star Diary: What’s in the night sky, 8 to 14 August 07.08.2022

The Perseid meteor shower and Saturn at opposition are both stargazing highlight this week. Transcript. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Star Diary: What’s in the night sky, 1st to 7th August 31.07.2022

Comet Wilson-Harrington is still on show for stargazers this week, while Venus brushes up against the stars in this week's night sky. Transcript Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Bluedot 2022 | Why study asteroids? 29.07.2022

This episode we spoke to planetary scientist and spacerocks expert Dr Sarah Crowther about the science of asteroids. What can asteroids tell us about the early Solar System? Why do we send spacecraft to return asteroid samples to Earth? What do scientists like her do when they get their hands on a sample from the asteroid belt? This podcast was recorded at the Bluedot Festival 2022, Jodrell Bank O...

Bluedot 2022 | A new era for human spaceflight? 28.07.2022

We spoke the the UK Space Agency's Libby Jackson about what the future holds for crewed space exploration. Are we overdue a UK astronaut? Can we expect future collaborations between space agencies? What's it really like working in Mission Control? And what can we expect from upcoming missions to the Moon and Mars? This podcast was recorded at the Bluedot Festival 2022, Jodrell Bank Observatory, UK...

Bluedot 2022 | What is space weather? 27.07.2022

We sat down with Jim Wild, Professor of Space Physics at Lancaster University, to find out about space weather and the Sun's far-reaching influence on the planets of the Solar System. How will solar activity will affect missions to the Moon and Mars? Did the Apollo astronauts have a lucky escape? And does Hollywood ever get it right? This podcast was recorded at the Bluedot Festival 2022, Jodrell...

Star Diary: What’s in the night sky, 25 to 31 July 24.07.2022

Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune continue their planetary parade, while a comet, 107P Wilson Harrington, also makes an appearance as we tell you all the best things for stargazers to see this week. Transcript Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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