Audio Guide to the Galaxy

Join hosts Leon and Sharna as they guide you through the May night sky. There's plenty of action in the sky this month with four visible planets, two full moons, an ISS flyby and a stand out constellation.Happy stargazing!

Join hosts Leon and Sharna as they guide you through the March night sky.This month boasts a very exciting night sky, including but not limited to, two visible planets and a starry ship with a flying fish to go along with it! And of course, we can't forget a spectacular total lunar eclipse, AKA the blood moon - ooooo, spooky.Plus, an update on the first manned mission to the moon in 54 years ...Happy stargazing!

Join host Sharna - on her own this episode! - as she guides you through the night sky for January.This month there are a bunch of fun constellations to try and spot but keep your eyes peeled because some are fainter than others. On the other hand, Jupiter is a planet for the people this month! It is shining so bright you don't even need a telescope to see it.Happy stargazing!

Join Leon and guest host Alyshia, as they explore the Boorloo night sky this November.Grab your M&M's and settle in because this month's sky contains multitudes - the Milky Way, Mercury, Mars and meteors will all be visible in the western sky!Not too far away from these you can use a telescope to find a telescope! The constellation Telescopium is visible, but it's a faint one so make sure you have your eyes peeled.

Leon is joined by guest, & producer Morgan while Beth is away. What's in the sky?Total Lunar Eclipse + Blood Moon - 7th SeptemberEquinox - where the days will be getting longer. Planets:Saturn's Rings (best viewed 21st September) Constellations: The Southern BirdsPhoenixGrus the CraneTucana the ToucanPavo the Peacock For more stargazing stuff check out Leon's monthly blog - "The Sky Tonight"https://www.scitech.org.au/explore/the-sky-tonight/

July is peak galaxy appreciation month, and the Milky Way is putting on a show. This episode, we’re grabbing our stargazing snacks and heading outside to soak in that big, hazy river of light across the sky.Whether you're deep in the bush or just squinting past your neighbour’s porch light, we’ll help you spot it. We'll also help you find the Southern Cross and introduce you to the dark emu hiding in plain sight. Spoiler: it’s not made of stars but the dark bits between them.Also, on this week’s tour of the cosmos:July 4th is when Earth is furthest from the Sun. No, that’s not why it’s coldVenus and Jupiter are up early and looking gorgeousSagittarius is pointing straight at the centre of the galaxy. We call it the big messy spaghettiThe Vera Rubin Observatory has a camera the size of a small car and a mission to map the entire night sky. Every three days. For ten years. It cost a billion bucks and it’s going to change astronomy foreverVera Rubin helped prove dark matter exists. She deserved a Nobel Prize and didn’t get one. We’re still salty about itThere are over 130 million bits of space junk out there bigger than a centimetre. Who’s watching all that? We are. Kind ofNeed more sky stuff?scitech.org.autheskytonight

Join Beth and Leon for your monthly stargazing guide as they explore the Borloo night sky this May. With the arrival of cooler nights and the end of Bunuru, it’s the perfect time to head outside on Star Wars Day (May the 4th!) for some celestial viewing. Spot the bright first quarter Moon alongside rusty-red Mars, both shining in the north. Below them, Gemini’s twin stars Castor and Pollux frame a spectacular 7:13pm flyover of the International Space Station, zipping through the gap like a real-life starship.Further up, look for the hilarious “dog” constellation Canis Minor (made up of… just two stars), then continue turning right to find Leo the Lion, with its upside-down question mark mane and mythological ties to Hercules’ very first labour. Peek further into Leo’s rear to find the Leo Triplet three faraway galaxies, including one affectionately dubbed the Hamburger Galaxy.Early risers are in for a treat, too. On May 5th, the Eta Aquarids meteor shower will peak before dawn. Head out around 5am to face east and catch up to 30 meteors per hour, streaking from the Aquarius constellation. Venus blazes low on the horizon as the new Morning Star, while Saturn hovers above marking a beautiful pairing with the meteor display.May the 4th be with you—and don’t forget to wave at the ISS!

Join Leon and Beth for your monthly stargazing guide as they explore the Borloo night sky this March. As Bunuru lingers, the warm nights offer perfect conditions for spotting Mars and Jupiter shining brightly in the north. Meanwhile, Saturn, Venus, and Mercury remain hidden in the Sun’s glare but will start to emerge late in the month, with even better views coming in April. Look high in the southern sky to spot the Argo Navis constellation, and in the west, keep an eye out for the lesser-known Lepus—the celestial hare—hopping beneath Orion’s feet. Plus, learn about the March equinox and how the Earth's wobble has shifted the night sky over time!

This month, the night sky puts on an incredible show with Mars at opposition, Gemini rising in the north, and a spectacular planetary parade across the evening sky. Look out for Venus, Saturn, Jupiter, Mars, and even Uranus and Neptune (with a telescope), all neatly aligned along the ecliptic plane.Don't miss the Moon joining the parade between January 2nd and 15th, and make sure to catch Mars at its best on January 16th. Plus, explore the mythological story of Gemini, the twin brothers Castor and Pollux, and their cosmic adventures immortalized in the stars.January 2025 is the perfect time to gaze at the red planet, marvel at celestial clusters like Messier 35, and trace the solar system’s ecliptic path across the summer night sky.

Tune in to your monthly stargazing companion with Leon and Beth as they explore what's visible in the Borloo night sky this November. Catch Venus dazzling in the western sky after sunset, with elusive Mercury making a brief appearance below. Don't miss the special alignment on November 4th featuring Venus, Mercury, Antares, and the moon. Jupiter rises in the east, offering perfect viewing practice for telescope enthusiasts. Early birds can catch the Leonids meteor shower around November 18th, with meteors appearing every 5-10 minutes before sunrise. Plus, journey to the southern sky to find Mensa, the table constellation, and learn about the nearby Magellanic Clouds - dwarf galaxies visible from the southern hemisphere. Local listeners won't want to miss Astrofest at Curtin Stadium on November 9th, featuring telescopes, astronomers, and family-friendly activities.

Leon and Beth take you through what you’ll find in the night sky in the month of September, 2024.They discuss how to spot Saturn in opposition, identify Venus as the evening star, and locate the Southern Birds constellations. They also explain the significance of the equinox and the upcoming supermoon.Leon shares his tips on using apps to find faint constellations and sneaks in a fun fact about the moon’s orbit.To find out more about the WA night sky, search for “the sky tonight” on scitech.org.au.

Beth Maskall & Leon Smith discuss what on in the sky in JulyIncluded in this episode: Planets: Mercury & Saturn, Constellations: Corvus, Stars: The Even Star.Produced by: Michael Gatt