Backyard Astronomer - Delta College Public Radio

Latest Episodes:

1/25/21 - January Full Moon Names Jan 25, 2021

Show notes

This year, the January Full Moon occurs on the 28th. Look for it to rise slightly north of east soon after sunset. There are many different names for the January Full Moon, especially by the Native Americans.

1/18/21 - The Waxing Moon Jan 18, 2021

Show notes

The week of January 18 offers a perfect opportunity to follow what’s called “the waxing moon.” It's also a good time to look for the Sea of Tranquility, where the Apollo 11 astronauts landed in 1969.

1/11/21 - Mars, Uranus & the Moon Jan 13, 2021

Show notes

This is a good week to start looking for the close approach of Mars and Uranus in the sky.

1/4/20 - The Eye of the Bull Jan 05, 2021

Show notes

The orange star Aldebaran – the fiery eye of Taurus the Bull – is a great target for the January sky.

12/28/20 - Pollux and Castor Dec 28, 2020

Show notes

The heads of Gemini the Twins, Pollux and Castor, lie low in the east-northeast after dusk at the end of December. They will start higher in east as we get into January.

12/21/20 - The Christmas Sky Dec 23, 2020

Show notes

This year, the week of December 21st offers a variety of celestial happenings to help celebrate the season.

12/14/20 - The Great Jupiter-Saturn Conjunction Dec 15, 2020

Show notes

If you look low in the southwest at dusk, you can’t help but notice two bright stars that appear close to one other. These are actually the planets Jupiter and Saturn, and they’ll get so close on December 21 that it’ll seem like they're touching.

12/7/20 - Geminid Meteor Shower Dec 10, 2020

Show notes

The peak of the Geminid Meteor Shower is Dec 13-14 and there is no moon to interfere this year!

11/30/20 - The Waning Gibbous Dec 02, 2020

Show notes

We call the next two weeks the period of the “waning moon,” as its illumination decreases from our vantage point on Earth.

11/23/20 - The Beaver Moon Nov 25, 2020

Show notes

The Algonquin People called the November Full Moon the "Beaver Moon" but it had many other names as well.