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Star Diary

Star Diary

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

BBC Sky at Night Magazine · Our Media

365 episodesEN

About

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

Latest Episodes

View all 365 episodes

Strange signals from the galactic centre

Apr 16, 202617 min

The Evening Star is back

Venus is slowly returning to the evening sky, marking the re-emergence of one of the best naked-eye objects. Find out what else is happening with the planets, the Moon, stars constellations and deep-sky objects in April 2026 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mar 29, 202629 min

Exploring the radio Universe

Radio astronomer Dr Emma Chapman reveals how radio waves enable scientists to explore the cosmos, from mapping Venus to searching for alien life and discovering the origins of the Universe. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mar 16, 202632 min

Spring stargazing is here

Find out which planets are best in the night sky in March 2026, plus key times to observe the Moon, stars and constellations. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mar 2, 202631 min

Revealing the secrets of Mercury

The European Space Agency's BepiColombo mission arrives at Mercury later this year. Planetary scientist Emma Bunce reveals the mysteries the mission could uncover. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Feb 9, 202630 min

Jupiter dominates the night sky in February 2026

Find out the best things to see in the sky this month, from the planets and constellations to deep-sky targets for your telescope. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jan 30, 202628 min

Listening to black holes colliding

Tessa Baker discusses newly-discovered cosmic collisions and how they’re helping her unlock the secrets of the Universe. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jan 12, 202623 min

New Year, new stargazing – January 2026

Pete Lawrence and Paul Abel reveal the best things to see in the night sky to kick off a new year of stargazing. Happy 2026 everyone! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jan 6, 202629 min

3D-mapping an alien world

Astronomer Anjali Piette reveals how she and colleagues created a 3D view of a scorching gas giant around a distant star. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dec 15, 202522 min

Christmas stargazing 2025

Pete Lawrence and Paul Abel reveal what you should be looking at in the December 2025 night sky, including the best planets, the Geminid meteor shower, Orion and top times to see the Moon. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Nov 28, 202526 min

Have scientists solved Webb’s ‘impossible’ black holes?

Astronomers say the James Webb Space Telescope has seen black holes at the dawn of time that shouldn't exist. But a new study may be able to explain what's going on. Astronomer Seb Hoenig reveals how a new look at the early Universe could show that JWST has got black holes all wrong. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Nov 14, 202520 min

See the Moon and planets under truly dark skies

As winter gets underway, we’re approaching the darkest time of year. Find out the best times to see the Moon and planets this month, including November’s supermoon. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Oct 31, 202531 min

Can a planet have a planet?

Astronomer Belinda Damian discusses her research into the giant, free-floating worlds that may one day be able to form their own planetary systems. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Oct 14, 202518 min

See gas giants Jupiter and Saturn at their best

Find out how to see the biggest planets in the Solar System while they’re big and bright, and find out what makes the Harvest Moon so special. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sep 29, 202531 min

Can YOU help astronomers find exploding stars?

Astronomer Tom Killestein reveals how the public can help him on his mission to find stellar explosions via the Kilonova Seekers project, and reveals its first major discovery. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sep 14, 202520 min

See the blood Moon rise

We reveal how to see the ‘blood Moon’ total lunar eclipse in September 2025, and explain the best dates and times to see the planets of the Solar System in the sky. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Aug 28, 202535 min

How the Rubin Observatory will study the Universe

The Vera C Rubin Observatory is set to be a game-changer in our understanding of key ideas such as the expansion of the Universe and the distribution of matter in distant galaxies. But how will it do all this? We spoke to astronomer Dani Leonard, who is working with the Rubin Observatory, to find out. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Aug 14, 202526 min

See Venus and Jupiter’s close approach

The best things to see in the night sky this month, including Venus and Jupiter’s close approach, Uranus’s meeting with the Pleiades, Saturn and Neptune’s nightly tango and the low-down full Moon. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jul 30, 202531 min

Will our Galaxy collide with its neighbour?

Astronomer Alis Deason reveals new research that shows how likely it is the Milky Way will collide with the Andromeda Galaxy. She discusses why galaxy mergers happen and, if our galaxy did collide with its neighbour, which would come out on top. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jul 10, 202516 min

Saturn and Venus are morning jewels

Pete Lawrence and Paul Abel reveal how to observe Saturn, Venus and the rest of the planets, the Moon's meeting with the Pleiades and Antares, the Southern Aquarid meteor shower and the best deep-sky objects. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jun 26, 202531 min
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