The Backyard Astronomer Podcast

T Coronae Borealis or "The Blaze Star" has been documented for centuries with a recurrent period of about 78 years between brightening as a nova. What does that mean?  Listen in this month as we talk about how the ancients began documenting stellar phenomena thousands of years ago, and how that information plays an integral role in our understanding of the universe today.   Follow us at facebook.c...

The Sombrero Galaxy is your backyard target this month.  Look for this edge-on galaxy yhroughout the spring. #astronomy #galaxy #telescope #constellations #science #STEM Follow us at facebook.com/BackyardAstronomerAZ Check out the NAZ Astro mission of STEM education at facebook.com/NAZAstro Support STEM education patreon.com/NAZAstro Our awesome sponsors: facebook.com/manzanitains    

Our Sun has spots? Sunspots, solar flares, and even CMEs are the highlights of this month's focus on the Sun and Solar Cycle.  Learn more about Coronal Mass Ejections and how they impact Earth. #CME #coronalmassejection #solarflare #solarcycle #sun #astronomy #eclipse Follow us at facebook.com/BackyardAstronomerAZ Check out the NAZ Astro mission of STEM education at facebook.com/NAZAstro Support S...

The Spring Equinox and waxing gibbous moon will lead you to a hive of activity this month! Follow us at facebook.com/BackyardAstronomerAZ Check out the NAZ Astro mission of STEM education at facebook.com/NAZAstro Support STEM education patreon.com/NAZAstro Our awesome sponsors: facebook.com/manzanitains

The Monoceros constellation and Rosette Nebula shine bright this month!   Follow us at facebook.com/BackyardAstronomerAZ Check out the NAZ Astro mission of STEM education at facebook.com/NAZAstro Support STEM education patreon.com/NAZAstro Our awesome sponsors: facebook.com/manzanitains

Our celestial neighbors waltz across the sky this month.  Let's talk about Mercury at Greatest Western Elongation, Saturn's rings, and Jupiter's Great Red Spot.   Follow us at facebook.com/BackyardAstronomerAZ Check out the NAZ Astro mission of STEM education at facebook.com/NAZAstro Support STEM education patreon.com/NAZAstro Our awesome sponsors: facebook.com/manzanitains

The Geminids meteor shower make a fantastic appearance this December, but why are they different than other meteor showers?  Tune in to learn all about meteor showers and the Geminids! Follow us at facebook.com/BackyardAstronomerAZ Check out the NAZ Astro mission of STEM education at facebook.com/NAZAstro Support STEM education patreon.com/NAZAstro Our awesome sponsors: facebook.com/manzanitains

The Orion Nebula was the first deep sky target of astrophotography in 1880 and we now know it hosts unique planets not (yet) seen any where else in space!  Check it out! Follow us at facebook.com/BackyardAstronomerAZ Check out the NAZ Astro mission of STEM education at facebook.com/NAZAstro Support STEM education patreon.com/NAZAstro Our awesome sponsors: facebook.com/prescottrockstars facebook.co...

In October an Annnular Eclipse will be visible to millions across the Western United States.  Learn the difference between a total and annualr eclipse, why they happen, and more in this month's episode. Follow us at facebook.com/BackyardAstronomerAZ Check out the NAZ Astro mission of STEM education at facebook.com/NAZAstro Support STEM education patreon.com/NAZAstro Our awesome sponsors: facebook....

Let's explore the Milky Way!  Star Clusters and Nebulae abound in this month's podcast. Follow us at facebook.com/BackyardAstronomerAZ Check out the NAZ Astro mission of STEM education at facebook.com/NAZAstro Support STEM education patreon.com/NAZAstro Our awesome sponsors: facebook.com/prescottrockstars facebook.com/manzanitains

I organized a group of amateur and professional astronomers, educators and students, and business leaders from around the Prescott, AZ area, which group won the IAU's NameExoWorlds2022 competition with their designations of Awohali and Noquisi in the Cherokee language for the exoplanet and its host star formerly known as Gliese 436/b.  Listen in for more on this amazing event and check out www.bac...

Scorpions and Rabbits dance in the sky this month. Learn the when/where/why of these constellations at https://backyardastronomeraz.wordpress.com/ and facebook.com/backyardastroaz   Follow us at facebook.com/BackyardAstronomerAZ Check out the NAZ Astro mission of STEM education at facebook.com/NAZAstro Our awesome sponsors: facebook.com/prescottrockstars facebook.com/manzanitains

Two planets join the Beehive Cluster in June, while two others are born from it.  Learn more in this month's episode! Follow us at facebook.com/BackyardAstronomerAZ Check out the NAZ Astro mission of STEM education at facebook.com/NAZAstro Support STEM education patreon.com/NAZAstro Our awesome sponsors: facebook.com/prescottrockstars facebook.com/manzanitains

Spring has sprung, and brings with it the emerging flora and fauna of the night sky.  Check out constellations, clusters, galaxies and more in this month's episode. Follow us at facebook.com/BackyardAstronomerAZ   Check out the NAZ Astro mission of STEM education at facebook.com/NAZAstro Support STEM education patreon.com/NAZAstro   Our awesome sponsors: facebook.com/prescottrockstars facebook.com...

Taurus the Bull hosts the planet Mars this month, as well as many other star clusters and nebulae.  Check it out this month! Follow us at https://www.facebook.com/BackyardAstronomerAZ https://www.facebook.com/NAZAstro Support local STEM education! https://www.patreon.com/NAZAstro Our awesome sponsors! https://www.facebook.com/prescottrockstars https://www.facebook.com/manzanitains  

Comet C/2022 E3 (ZTF) is making its close approach to Earth tonight, so bust out your binoculars or telescope and look to the sky! Follow us at https://www.facebook.com/BackyardAstronomerAZ   https://www.facebook.com/NAZAstro   Support local STEM education! https://www.patreon.com/NAZAstro   Our awesome sponsors! https://www.facebook.com/prescottrockstars https://www.facebook.com/manzanitains http...

Comet C/2022 E3(ZTF) has dominated the news recently, but today an even closer object will fly by Earth at just 2200 miles.  Asteroid 2023BU was discovered on 1/21/2023 by a Backyard Astronomer in Crimea. #amateurastronomy #citizenscience #comet #asteroid #space #astronomy #telescope

On 5 Dec. 2022, scientists for the first time successfully produced a fusion reaction with more energy generated than that put in.  This month we talk about the Big Bang, the birth of stars, and why fusion matters. Follow us at facebook.com/BackyardAstronomerAZ Check out the NAZ Astro mission of STEM education at facebook.com/NAZAstro Support STEM education patreon.com/NAZAstro Our awesome sponsor...

Constellations have tales of striking similarity, despite the cultures that named them being displaced by thousands of years and thousands of miles.  The indigenous people across North America were no exception, and many still continue to provide a rich history.  Learn more about Native American cultures - including astronomy - at the Museum of Indigenous People at 147 N Arizona Ave. in Prescott,...

Manuel Lucero and Joshua Ballze from the Museum of Indigenous People join me this month to talk about their work - in and out of the museum - to bring awareness to Native American cultures, history, art, language, and even indigenous astronomy, culminating in the presentation of names for the IAUs ExoWorlds 2022 competition. Visit the Museum of Indigenous People at 147 N. Arizona Ave in Prescott,...

How long does it take to communicate across space, and who might be listening?  GJ 436b may be listing from 33 light years distant, but their planet needs a new name!  Follow the Backyard Astronomer, NAZ Astro, the Jim and Linda Lee Planetarium, and the Museum of Indigenous People as we come together for a project like no other.   https://www.museumofindigenouspeople.org/ https://prescott.erau.edu...

Born in 1943 West Virginia, Homer Hickam, Jr. was a barely a teenager when the Soviet space program launched Sputnik 1, and subsequently launched Homer into a lifelong relationship with space.  The 1999 movie "October Sky" is roughly based on his memoir, but we had the opportunity to sit down with Homer to learn the real stories behind the Big Creek Missile Agency of Coalwood, WV, and the amazing...

October 4th, 1957 ushered in the Space Age with the successful launch and orbit of Sputnik 1.   Follow us at facebook.com/BackyardAstronomerAZ Check out the NAZ Astro mission of STEM education at facebook.com/NAZAstro Support STEM education patreon.com/NAZAstro Our awesome sponsors: facebook.com/prescottrockstars facebook.com/manzanitains

A special interview with SR-71 pilot Pat Bledsoe.  Re-edited Audio. Follow facebook.com/BackyardAstronomerAZ facebook.com/NAZAstro Support STEM patreon.com/NAZAstro facebook.com/prescottrockstars facebook.com/manzanitains

A special interview with SR-71 pilot Pat Bledsoe. Follow facebook.com/BackyardAstronomerAZ facebook.com/NAZAstro Support STEM patreon.com/NAZAstro facebook.com/prescottrockstars facebook.com/manzanitains