Backyard Astronomer - Delta College Public Radio

Latest Episodes:

10/24/22 - Great Square of Pegasus Oct 24, 2022

Show notes

Each season has a notable constellation or group of stars that can serve as a guidepost to that part of the sky. In summer it’s common to use The Summer Triangle, but in autumn we have “The Great Square of Pegasus.”

10/17/22 - Orionid Meteor Shower Oct 17, 2022

Show notes

Each year in late October, our planet crosses the orbit of Halley’s Comet, sweeping up millions of little bits of ice and dust to create the Orionid Meteor Shower.

10/10/22 - The W of Cassiopeia Oct 10, 2022

Show notes

At twilight, look high in the northeast for a group of bright stars that resembles a big “W” sitting on its end. This is the constellation of Cassiopeia the Queen.

10/3/22 - Features of the Gibbous Moon Oct 03, 2022

Show notes

Even though the nights are cooling down, throw on that coat and grab your binoculars for a look at the Moon! This is a good time to see the dark round plains called “maria,” and bright splashes of lighter material called “rays.”

9/26/22 - International Observe the Moon Night Sep 26, 2022

Show notes

Delta College Planetarium in Bay City will celebrate this year’s International Observe the Moon Night Saturday, October 1. Sponsored by NASA, over 3000 sites around the world will be participating with special shows and telescope viewing!

9/19/22 - Jupiter in the East Sep 21, 2022

Show notes

The planet Jupiter makes its return into the evening sky shining like a brilliant beacon low in the east after dark!

9/12/22 - Delphinus the Dolphin Sep 12, 2022

Show notes

The Summer Triangle is a useful guidepost to many interesting deep sky objects, but it’s also a way to find other constellations nearby. For example, a popular little pattern among stargazers is Delphinus the Dolphin.

9/5/2022 - The Harvest Moon Sep 08, 2022

Show notes

The Harvest Moon takes place on September 10 this year. It's the Full Moon closest to the Autumn Equinox and is popular with farmers because they can continue harvesting by the light of the moon after sunset.

8/29/22 - Saturn at Close Approach Aug 29, 2022

Show notes

If you look low in the southeast sky after dark, you’ll see a moderately bright star that doesn’t twinkle as much as the other stars. This is the famous ringed planet Saturn, and it recently made its closest approach to Earth.

8/22/22 - Milky Way at its Best Aug 22, 2022

Show notes

Under a clear sky with no moon or light pollution, you should see it as a faint band of light that stretches overhead from roughly north to south. This band represents the plane of our Milky Way Galaxy, a huge spiral of some 200 billion stars.

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Backyard Astronomer – Delta College Public Radio

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected