Star Trails: A Weekly Astronomy Podcast

Join us this week as we journey through the celestial wonders awaiting stargazers from June 23rd to June 29th, 2024.From the waning phases of the Moon to the best times to spot Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, and Mercury, there's plenty to see. We also delve into the stories and features of the constellations Sagittarius, Cygnus, and Ophiuchus, highlighting the rich mythology and unique stars and nebulae within them.We'll also take a look back at the Mars Pathfinder mission, which landed back in 1997.For more episodes and resources for backyard astronomers, visit www.startrails.show. Share the wonder of the stars with friends and continue your cosmic journey with us. Clear skies and happy stargazing!Connect with us on Mastodon @star_trails.If you're enjoying the show, consider sharing it with a friend! Want to help? Buy us a coffee!Podcasting is better with RSS.com! If you're planning to start your own podcast, use our RSS.com affiliate link for a discount, and to help support Star Trails.

Join us on this week's episode of Star Trails as we explore the wonders of the night sky for the week of June 16-22. We'll start with the transition of the Moon from its Waxing Gibbous phase to the breathtaking Strawberry Moon, coinciding with the Summer Solstice. Discover the mythological stories and astronomical significance behind the lesser-known summer constellations Sagitta, Vulpecula, and Corona Borealis.We'll delve into the mysterious and imminent nova of T Coronae Borealis. Plus, learn about solstices and equinoxes in our Astronomy 101 segment.For more episodes and resources for backyard astronomers, visit www.startrails.show. Share the wonder of the stars with friends and continue your cosmic journey with us. Clear skies and happy stargazing!Connect with us on Mastodon @star_trails.If you're enjoying the show, consider sharing it with a friend! Want to help? Buy us a coffee!Podcasting is better with RSS.com! If you're planning to start your own podcast, use our RSS.com affiliate link for a discount, and to help support Star Trails.

Join us this week as we explore the night sky from June 9-15, 2024. Discover the celestial dance of the Moon with Regulus and Spica, and enjoy stunning views of Mars, Saturn, and Jupiter in the early morning sky. We'll delve into the lore of the late spring constellations Scorpius, Sagittarius, and Aquila, and revisit some classic stars and deep-sky objects.Plus, journey back to the birth of the universe as we discuss the Cosmic Microwave Background -- the afterglow of the Big Bang!Sky map for week starting June 9, 2024The Sound of the Big BandCosmic Microwave BackgroundFor more episodes and resources for backyard astronomers, visit www.startrails.show. Share the wonder of the stars with friends and continue your cosmic journey with us. Clear skies and happy stargazing!Connect with us on Mastodon @star_trails.If you're enjoying the show, consider sharing it with a friend! Want to help? Buy us a coffee!Podcasting is better with RSS.com! If you're planning to start your own podcast, use our RSS.com affiliate link for a discount, and to help support Star Trails.

Join us as we journey through the cosmos and uncover the celestial highlights for the week of June 2, 2024. A spectacular six-planet parade visible on the morning of June 3rd is the highlight for this week. Learn the best times and locations for viewing this rare planetary spectacle, as well as tips for spotting deep-sky objects like the Dumbbell Nebula and the Butterfly Cluster.In our Astronomy 101 segment, discover how to use a traditional star chart and save your night vision.For more episodes and resources for backyard astronomers, visit www.startrails.show. Share the wonder of the stars with friends and continue your cosmic journey with us. Clear skies and happy stargazing!Connect with us on Mastodon @star_trails.If you're enjoying the show, consider sharing it with a friend! Want to help? Buy us a coffee!Podcasting is better with RSS.com! If you're planning to start your own podcast, use our RSS.com affiliate link for a discount, and to help support Star Trails.

Join Drew as we journey through the cosmos and uncover the celestial highlights for the week of May 26th, 2024. We'll dive into the Moon's phases, the visibility of planets like Saturn and Mars, and explore stunning deep-sky objects such as the Sombrero Galaxy, and the Owl Nebula.Plus, don't miss our special segment on Voyager 2's historic encounter with Neptune on June 5, 1989, where we celebrate the spacecraft's remarkable contributions to our understanding of the outer planets.Connect with us on Mastodon @star_trails.For more episodes and resources for backyard astronomers, visit www.startrails.show. Share the wonder of the stars with friends and continue your cosmic journey with us. Clear skies and happy stargazing!If you're enjoying the show, consider sharing it with a friend! Want to help? Buy us a coffee!

Join us in this week's episode where the night sky comes alive with celestial wonders from May 19th to the 25th. Highlights include the Full Flower Moon, alongside some familiar constellations. The planets are lining up for a parade, and notable deep sky objects like the Whirlpool Galaxy and the Ring Nebula offer both novice and seasoned astronomers a feast for the eyes.We also takes a moment to recount the historical 1919 solar eclipse expedition by Sir Arthur Eddington, which confirmed Einstein's theory of general relativity and reshaped our understanding of the universe.For more episodes and resources for backyard astronomers, visit www.startrails.show. Share the wonder of the stars with friends and continue your cosmic journey with us. Clear skies and happy stargazing!If you're enjoying the show, consider sharing it with a friend! Want to help? Buy us a coffee!

Step into the stars with Drew as we journey through the night skies from May 12-18, 2024. From dynamic lunar phases to the intriguing disappearance of Saturn's rings, there's no shortage of cosmic phenomena to behold in the spring skies over North America.With last week's geomagnetic storms, observers across the world are reporting seeing auroras much farther south than expected. Go out and see them if you can!In addition to celestial sightings, Drew delves into the rich tapestry of celestial lore, connecting ancient myths to the constellations that grace our skies. Plus, in our Astronomy 101 segment, we shed light on the three main types of telescopes and their suitability for various celestial pursuits.For more episodes and resources for backyard astronomers, visit www.startrails.show. Share the wonder of the stars with friends and continue your cosmic journey with us. Clear skies and happy stargazing!If you're enjoying the show, consider sharing it with a friend! Want to help? Buy us a coffee!

Be on the lookout for the Northern Lights!NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center has been closely watching the sun after a flurry of solar activity that began on May 8th. This activity could result in geomagnetic storms on Earth. In this special episode, we'll unravel the science behind these storms and their effects on our planet.NOAA Report on G4 stormVideo of solar ejectionFor more episodes and resources for backyard astronomers, visit www.startrails.show. Share the wonder of the stars with friends and continue your cosmic journey with us. Clear skies and happy stargazing!If you're enjoying the show, consider sharing it with a friend! Want to help? Buy us a coffee!

Join us as we delve into the celestial events for the week of May 5th. An incredible meteor shower peaks this week under dark skies, thanks to a New Moon. Planetary observations are scant this week, but plenty of opportunities abound for viewing deep sky objects, such as the Hercules Cluster, thanks to this week's darker conditions.Also, we take a quick detour through a cosmic void, and later, look at some new research that suggests evidence for the mysterious Planet Nine!For more episodes and resources for backyard astronomers, visit www.startrails.show. Share the wonder of the stars with friends and continue your cosmic journey with us. Clear skies and happy stargazing!If you're enjoying the show, consider sharing it with a friend! Want to help? Buy us a coffee!

Tune in this week with Drew on Star Trails as we embark on a celestial safari from April 28 to May 4. Uncover the dynamic changes of the moon, catch early sightings of Jupiter at sunset, and meet the morning stars, Saturn and Mars. We'll guide you through spotting elusive planets like Uranus and Neptune with your binoculars and delve deep into the cosmos to the Virgo Cluster.Plus, we pay homage to the legendary Hubble Space Telescope, celebrating over three decades of astronomical breakthroughs.For more episodes and resources for backyard astronomers, visit www.startrails.show. Share the wonder of the stars with friends and continue your cosmic journey with us. Clear skies and happy stargazing!If you're enjoying the show, consider sharing it with a friend! Want to help? Buy us a coffee!

Join us on this week's episode of Star Trails, where we dive into the celestial events lighting up the night from April 21-27, 2024. While a bright full Moon may create difficult conditions for dim objects, Mars and Saturn will keep us company in the morning, while the Lyrid Meteor Shower peaks mid-week.Plus, we explain the celestial coordinate system of right ascension and declination, and how you might use these coordinates to find objects in the night sky.For more episodes and resources for backyard astronomers, visit www.startrails.show. Share the wonder of the stars with friends and continue your cosmic journey with us. Clear skies and happy stargazing!If you're enjoying the show, consider sharing it with a friend! Want to help? Buy us a coffee!

Join us as we delve into the celestial events for the week of April 14th. Early morning planets, a slender Moon, and a meteor shower are our targets for this week. Additionally, we celebrate Earth Day by turning our gaze from the heavens to the Earth's own shadow and the Belt of Venus, witnessing the delicate interplay of light and atmosphere that paints the twilight sky. We also take a look at dark matter and dark energy: Two interconnected mysteries of cosmology.For more episodes and resources for backyard astronomers, visit www.startrails.show. Share the wonder of the stars with friends and continue your cosmic journey with us. Clear skies and happy stargazing!If you're enjoying the show, consider sharing it with a friend! Want to help? Buy us a coffee!

Join us this week as we embark on a celestial journey starting April 7. This week is filled with astronomical phenomena, including a total solar eclipse, planetary conjunctions, and the New Moon ensures dark skies for observations.Plus, we take a look at the life cycle of stars, and a significant moment in space exploration.Sky map for week starting April 7, 2024For more episodes and resources for backyard astronomers, visit www.startrails.show. Share the wonder of the stars with friends and continue your cosmic journey with us. Clear skies and happy stargazing!If you're enjoying the show, consider sharing it with a friend! Want to help? Buy us a coffee!

Join us this week as we embark on a celestial journey starting March 31. Host Drew guides you through a week of astronomical wonders, from the waning crescent to the waxing crescent moon, setting the stage for prime stargazing opportunities. The Moon has a close encounter with Mars and Saturn, and the breathtaking spectacle of the upcoming total solar eclipse is only a week away.Plus, don't miss our Astronomy 101 segment, where we unravel the phenomena of solar and lunar eclipses.Sky map for week starting March 31, 2024For more episodes and resources for backyard astronomers, visit www.startrails.show. Share the wonder of the stars with friends and continue your cosmic journey with us. Clear skies and happy stargazing!If you're enjoying the show, consider sharing it with a friend! Want to help? Buy us a coffee!

Join us this week on a celestial journey through the night sky for the week starting March 24, 2024.Mercury reaches its Greatest Eastern Elongation on March 24, We'll then dive into the subtle beauty of a deep penumbral lunar eclipse occurring in the early hours of March 25, and we offer up a guide on how to spot Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks.Also, we look back at a major development in astronomy in the 1700s -- the discovery of the planet Uranus.Sky map for week starting March 24, 2024For more episodes and resources for backyard astronomers, visit www.startrails.show. Share the wonder of the stars with friends and continue your cosmic journey with us. Clear skies and happy stargazing!If you're enjoying the show, consider sharing it with a friend! Want to help? Buy us a coffee!

Join us in this episode as we navigate the night sky for the week starting March 17, 2024.As the week of March 17th, 2024, unfolds, we stand on the cusp of the spring equinox, a time of balance between day and night, and a herald for the celestial wonders of the new season. Look for Mercury at dusk as it heads toward elongation; Jupiter continues to dazzle and catch the Zodiacal Light.Plus, we offer up a quick guide to buying your first pair of binoculars!Sky map for week starting March 17, 2024The Astronomical League's Binocular Messier Observation ProgramDrew's new binoculars (Oberwerk 11x70)For more episodes and resources for backyard astronomers, visit www.startrails.show. Share the wonder of the stars with friends and continue your cosmic journey with us. Clear skies and happy stargazing!If you're enjoying the show, consider sharing it with a friend! Want to help? Buy us a coffee!

Join us in this episode as we navigate the night sky for the week starting March 10, 2024.Get ready for a stargazer's feast featuring the New Moon's dark canvas, brilliant planets, and spring's constellation parade. Don't miss the Jupiter-Moon conjunction on March 13. Plus, we discuss the ecliptic plane and its role in the celestial dance.

This week on "Star Trails," join us for a celestial adventure starting March 3rd, 2024. We highlight the annual Messier Marathon, a unique challenge for amateur astronomers to spot all 110 Messier objects in one night, with this year's prime viewing on March 9th due to the new moon's dark skies.How to Run the Messier Marathon (spacetourismguide.com)Explore the changing night sky as host Drew guides you through the transition from winter to spring constellations, the spectacular lineup of planets like Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn, and deep sky wonders such as the Great Orion Nebula and the Leo Triplet of galaxies. Keep an eye out for Comet PanSTARRS (C/2021 S3) and reflect on the monumental impact of Galileo's "Starry Messenger" on modern astronomy.For more episodes and resources for backyard astronomers, visit www.startrails.show. Share the wonder of the stars with friends and continue your cosmic journey with us. Clear skies and happy stargazing!If you're enjoying the show, consider sharing it with a friend! Want to help? Buy us a coffee!

This episode of "Star Trails" takes listeners on an astronomical tour of the night sky for the week starting February 25, 2024.Host Drew invites stargazers to celebrate the month's end with a sky full of celestial highlights. As we transition into the cusp of spring, the Snow Moon begins to wane. Jupiter dazzles, and Comet C/2021 S3 (PanSTARRS) dances on the morning horizon.

This episode of "Star Trails" takes listeners on an astronomical tour of the night sky for the week starting February 18, 2024.Host Drew guides you through a celestial showcase beginning with Venus and Mars in the pre-dawn sky. As the night unfolds, the rising of Leo, heralds the approach of spring. The Snow Moon arrives at week's end.

This episode of "Star Trails" takes listeners on an astronomical tour of the night sky for the week starting February 11, 2024.Drew highlights some of the night sky's most romantic sights, including the return of Venus and Mars. The First Quarter Moon makes an appearance on February 16, and the Andromeda Galaxy dazzles.

This episode of "Star Trails" takes listeners on an astronomical tour of the night sky for the week starting February 4, 2024.Drew highlights key constellations visible in the North American skies, such as the radiant Orion with its notable belt and the Orion Nebula, as well as Taurus and the Pleiades star cluster. The episode also covers visible planets including Jupiter, Saturn, and Venus. Additionally, the Alpha Centaurid meteor shower is coming!

Star Trails is a weekly look at what's in the sky above. In a world where the night sky unfolds in infinite wonder, Star Trails is your guide to the celestial stories written in the stars. Join us as we voyage beyond the boundaries of Earth, exploring the mysteries of the universe, one star at a time.Star Trails primarily highlights astronomical phenomena visible to listeners in North America.