The Actual Astronomy Podcast
558 episodes — Page 2 of 12
#505 - First Night With Your First Telescope Guide
Chris and Shane talk about some things you can do to prepare for your first night of observing with your first telescope.
Ep 59#506 - Comet A6 Lemmon & Comet R2 SWAN
Chris and Shane discuss 2 naked-eye comets that are visible right now!
#504 - Bad Light and Light Pollution
Chris and Shane discuss what can be done when a someone installs an exceptionally bright light that diminishes the night sky.
#503 - M55, Helix Nebula and other Observations
Chris and Shane discuss recent observations.
#502 - Observer’s Calendar for October 2025
Chris and Shane discuss interesting things to observe in October 2025. Show notes available at www.actualastronomy.com
#501 - Titan Transit and Other Observations
Chris and Shane discuss the Titan shadow transit across Saturn and some other observations.
#500 - Feature Constellation Taurus
Chris and Shane talk about interesting things to observe in Taurus.
#499 - Observing Features on Jupiter’s Moons & Other Observations
Chris and Shane discuss recent observations and trying to observe features on the Galilean moons around Jupiter.
#498 - Observer’s Calendar for September 2025
Chris and Shane discuss interesting things to observe in September 2023. Show notes available at www.actualastronomy.com
#497 - 78 Nights in Namibia with Alister Ling
Chris and Shane welcome Alister back to the show. Alister just returned from a long astronomy stint in Namibia.
#496 - Listener Emails
Chris and Shane discuss listener emails.
#495 - Grasslands National Park Observing & Telescopes for Young People
Chris and Shane discuss recent observing in Grasslands National Park as well as buying a telescope for young people.
#494 - Mid-summer Observing Reflections with Mike O’Brien
Chris and Shane welcome Mike back to the show to talk about summertime observing.
#493 - The Observer’s Calendar August 2025
Chris and Shane discuss interesting things to observe in August 2025. Show notes available at www.sasktel.com
#492 - How to Get Over Your Fear of the Dark and General Astro Topics
Chris and Shane discuss a bunch of Cloudynights forum topics.
#491 - We Judge Your Observing
Chris and Shane discuss multiple observing reports.
#490 - First Upgrades For Your Telescope
Chris and Shane discuss upgrades that new telescope owners can consider.
#489 - Observer’s Calendar for July 2025
Chris and Shane discuss interesting things to observe in July 2025. Show notes available at www.actualastronomy.com
#488 - Telescope Store Tours
Chris shares he recent astronomy adventures in Toronto.
#487 - Mini Solar Scope and Recent Observations
Chris and Shane discuss using a mini Borg as a solar scope and share some observing reports.
#486 - Chiricahua Sky Village with Peter Monson
Chris and Shane welcome Peter Monson to the show to talk about the Chiricahua Sky Village in Arizona.
#485 - Observer’s Calendar for June 2025
Chris and Shane talk about interesting things to observe in June 2025. Show notes are available at www.actualastronomy.com
#484 - Star Party Primer
Chris and Shane talk about their experiences at star parties.
#483 - Affordable Wide-Field with Brian Ventrudo
Chris and Shane welcome Brian Ventrudo back to the show to talk about affordable wide-field observing options.
#482 - Organizing Astronomy Gear
Chris and Shane talk about options to organize astronomy gear.
#481 - April Observing Sessions
Chris and Shane share their April observing reports.
#480 - The Observer’s Calendar for May 2025
Chris and Shane discuss interesting things to observe in May 2025. Show notes available on www.actualastronomy.com
#479 - Comet C2025F2 SWAN and Listener Email
Chris and Shane talk about an unexpected bright comet and also read some listener emails.
#478 - Favourite Equipment by Elimination
Chris and Shane each share their choices if they had to pick one telescope, three eyepieces, two accessories, and one star chart from their current collections.
#477 - Observer’s Calendar for April 2025
Chris and Shane discuss interesting things to observe in April 2025. Show notes available on www.actualastronomy.com
#476 - Gear Talk and Listener Emails
Chris and Shane discuss gear and listener emails.
#475 - A History of Planetary Motion with Dave Chapman
Chris and Shane welcome Dave Chapman back to the show. Dave shares the history of how humans began to understand planetary motion.
#474 - Skies Over the Southern Ocean with Michael Wright
Chris and Shane welcome Michael Wright back to the show to hear about the observing he was able to do in the Southern Hemisphere.
#473 - Sirius Observing in Canis Major
Chris and Shane read a listener observing report that is an excellent guide to objects in Canis Major. Show notes available on www.actualastronomy.com
#472 - The Observer’s Calendar for March 2025
Chris and Shane discuss interesting things to observe in March 2025. Show notes available at www.actualastronomy.com
#471 - Naked Eye Observing
Chris and Shane talk about some ways to observe during the winter when it’s too cold to bring optics outside.
#470 - Gear Haul with Craig Levine
Chris and Shane welcome Craig back to the show to talk about the amazing gear he received from his brother.
#469 - Non-Astronomy Things We Do While Observing
Chris and Shane talk about the things they do while astronomy that have nothing to do with astronomy.
#468 - Observer’s Calendar for February 2025
Chris and Shane discuss interesting things to observe in February 2025.
#467 - Eyepiece Updates and Contact Red Polymer Advice
Chris shares his eyepiece plans for the 7” TMB refractor and the guys continue the conversation on cleaning eyepieces.
#466 - Listener Emails and Christmas Gifts
Chris and Shane share listener emails.
#465 - 7” Refractor First Light
Chris shares his first light report with the 7” TMB refractor. Shane joined Chris for second light with the 7” and the guys talk about the views.
#464 - Observing Lists and Eyepiece Cleaning
Chris and Shane talk about some of the non-observing astronomy things they do when they can’t observe.
#463 - Observer’s Calendar for January 2025
Chris and Shane discuss interesting things to observe in January 2025. Show notes are available at www.actualastronomy.com
#462 - Atmospheric Dispersion Correctors
Chris and Shane welcome welcome Alister Ling back to the show to talk about atmospheric dispersion correctors (ADC).
#461 - Obstacles to Doing Astronomy
Chris and Shane share some obstacles that stop them from observing and what they do to mitigate.
#460 - Lost Astronomy Gear and Listener Emails
Some astro gear is lost in transit and a bunch of listener emails to go through.
#459 - Winter Observing Plans
Chris and Shane talk about gear on their wish lists and what they plan to do over winter.
#458 - Observer’s Calendar for December 2024
Chris and Shane talk about interesting things to observe in December 2024. Show notes available on www.actualastronomy.com
#357 - Autumn Observing
Chris and Shane share their recent observing reports.