Audio Guide to the Galaxy

Snuggle up and look up, Leon and Beth are back with your June night sky guide from Scitech, recorded on Whadjuk Noongar land. This month, we chase the Milky Way as it stretches across the southeastern sky on cold, clear winter nights. They share top tips for stargazing in light polluted Perth (yes, your hand is a valid telescope substitute) and highlight Venus beaming brightly in the pre-dawn east.We also dive into the Winter Solstice on June 21 aka the longest night of the year and explain how to track the Sun's movement using nothing but your driveway and some chalk. And finally, we meet this month's celestial underdog: Lupus the Wolf. It's faint, it's mysterious, and it used to be part of a drunken centaur's wine sack.Grab a coat, find the southeast, and come howl at the stars with us.

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 Beth and Leon for your monthly stargazing guide as they explore the Borloo night sky this April. As we farewell Bunuru and welcome cooler nights, catch your last good views of Orion setting in the northwest alongside bright Jupiter. Mars shines vividly near Gemini and hidden between these celestial landmarks is Cancer the Crab—this month's dim but rewarding constellation to spot. Discover the faint 'nebula-like' star cluster at Cancer's heart and hear about the fascinating exoplanet system around 55 Cancri. Early risers can witness a stunning parade of Mercury, Venus, Saturn, and even Neptune before dawn, beautifully paired with a crescent moon late in the month. And don't miss the return of the Milky Way rising spectacularly in the southeast, crowned by the Southern Cross!

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 Beth and Leon guide you through the February night sky.From the continuation of the Planet Parade including the new addition of Mercury, to the Constellation of the Month, Canis Major aka Big Dog and a deep dive look at the star Sirius.

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 the Borloo night sky this December. Marvel at Venus shining brightly in the western sky after sunset, now at its maximum elongation. Journey south to spot the faint Southern Birds constellations—Grus, Tucana, Phoenix, and Pavo. In the east, find Orion's Belt leading to Sirius, the brightest star, and Jupiter, which is at its stunning opposition. Look north to explore Cetus, the sea monster, and learn its mythological ties to Andromeda and Pegasus. Early risers, don't miss the Geminids meteor shower peaking on December 14th, offering meteors every few minutes before sunrise. Plus, celebrate the summer solstice on December 21st, marking the longest day of the year, and wish a happy birthday to a very influential person on December 25th.

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 a look at the October night sky as seen from Perth, Western Australia. This month will be your last chance to see the Milky Way for a while, but don't dispair, Venus, Saturn, and an amazing meteor shower all come out to shine bright in the night sky. Beth also takes a closer look at the incredible constillation of Taurus.

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.

Leon and Amanda discuss the night sky in August 2024, highlighting the Milky Way and the constellations Scorpius and Sagittarius. They share tips for spotting the teapot asterism and the potential appearance of a new star in Corona Borealis. The hosts also talk about Venus shining brightly in the evening sky and the close approach of Mars and Jupiter.

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

Beth Maskall & Leon Smith Discuss what on in the sky in June.Included in this episode: Planets: Saturn, Mars & Jupiter, Constellations: Scorpius & Hydra, Stars: Antares, Alphard, The Winter Solstice.Audio editing: Alyshia Gatani.

Leon and Beth discuss what happening in the night sky in Boorloo in May, What's a blue last-quarter moon, and how this months meteor shower was actually remnants Haley's comet. Hosts: Leon Smith, Beth Maskall

Leon and Beth talk about what's in the night sky in the month of April, 2024.We hear how the planets are a little lacklustre this month, except for one cool event that neither of our hosts will be waking up early to see.They swap tips for locating constellations, and chat about an upcoming solar eclipse.Beth points out that a total solar eclipse is an experience unique to earth in our solar system, thanks to a coincidence about our sun and moon.To find out more about the WA night sky, search for "the sky tonight" on scitech.org.au.Credits:Hosts: Leon Smith and Beth MaskallProducers: Michelle Aitken and Zaya Altangerel

Leon and Beth take you through what you'll find in the night sky in the month of March, 2024.They discuss how to tell the difference between planets and stars, and explain how constellations are used to divide up regions of the sky.Leon gets to show off how many digits of pi he knows, and sneaks in a reference to Dune the movie.To find out more about the WA night sky, search for "the sky tonight" on scitech.org.au. CreditsHosts: Leon Smith and Beth MaskallProducers: Michelle Aitken, Zaya Altangerel

Leon is joined by Amanda, a Scitech Planetarium Presenter, to highlight all the different planets and constellations you'll be able to spot throughout December.The duo also update us on how the second Space X Starship launch unfolded.To find our more about the WA night sky, visit: www.scitech.org.au/explore/the-sky-tonight/CreditsHost: Leon SmithGuest: Amanda HunterProducer: Zaya Altangerel, Michelle Aitken, Alyshia Gatani

Leon is joined by Sharna, a Scitech Planetarium Presenter, to highlight a collection of creatively named objects you can spot in the Perth night sky like Grus the Crane.The duo also discuss what makes a planetary nebula and how much The Universe weighs(!)To find our more about the WA night sky, visit: www.scitech.org.au/explore/the-sky-tonight/CreditsHost: Leon SmithGuest: Sharna LambertProducer: Zaya Altangerel

Leon is joined by Beth, a Scitech Planetarium Presenter, to highlight some spectacular constellations visible in the Perth night sky this month – and the dramatic mythologies that inspired their names!The duo also discuss what makes an Exoplanet and what OSIRIS-REx found on its mission to study the Bennu asteroid.To find our more about the WA night sky, visit: www.scitech.org.au/explore/the-sky-tonight/CreditsHost: Leon SmithGuest: Beth MaskallProducer: Zaya Altangerel

Leon is joined by Amanda, a Scitech Planetarium Presenter, to give you tips on how to spot Saturn, Jupiter, Venus and Mercury alongside a peculiar constellation known as Pavo the Giant Space Slug. The duo also update us on the Chandrayaan-3 mission. And explain how India's ADITYA-L1 is going to study the Sun. To find our more about the WA night sky, visit: www.scitech.org.au/explore/the-sky-tonight/CreditsHost: Leon SmithGuest: Amanda HunterProducer: Zaya Altangerel

As we head into the Noongar season of Djilba, Leon is joined by Amanda, one of Scitech's expert Planetarium Presenters to talk all things stargazing. In addition to highlighting all that we can currently see in the WA night sky, Amanda answers the question of "What exactly is a blue moon?"To find our more about the WA night sky, visit: www.scitech.org.au/explore/the-sky-tonight/Credits Host: Leon Smith Guest: Amanda Hunter Producer: Zaya Altangerel, Michael Gatt & Alyshia Gatani

Leon is joined by Professor Steven Tingay, the Deputy Executive Director of ICRAR, to talk all about the Murchison Widefield Array. Join us as we discover the:purpose of the ground-breaking telescopemeaning behind the MWA's Wajarri nameMWA's influence on the Australian economy and more!To find out more about the WA night sky, visit: www.scitech.org.au/explore/the-sky-tonightCreditsHost: Leon SmithGuest: Professor Steven TingayProducers: Zaya Altangerel, Michael Gatt & Alyshia Gatani

Leon is joined by Sharna, a Scitech Planetarium Presenter, to talk all about what you can spot in the July night sky – including the International Space Station!The duo also try to comprehend the mind boggling task set for the Euclid Consortium.To find out more about the WA night sky, visit: www.scitech.org.au/explore/the-sky-tonight/CreditsHost: Leon SmithGuest: Sharna LambertProducers: Zaya Altangerel & Michael Gatt

As we head into the Noongar season of Makuru, Leon is joined by Amanda, a Scitech Planetarium Presenter, to talk all about what you can spot in the June night sky.The duo highlight the constellation of Ophiuchus 'the serpent-bearer', and guide you on how to spot Venus, Mercury, and Jupiter.Amanda also highlights the importance of a space mission called JUICE.To find out more about the WA night sky, visit: www.scitech.org.au/explore/the-sky-tonight/CreditsHost: Leon Smith Guest: Amanda Hunter Producer: Zaya Altangerel

Leon is joined by Damon, one of Scitech's expert Planetarium Presenters, to talk all about how to spot Mars, Venus and Orion in the May night sky. The duo also recount the launch of Space X Falcon 9 rocket. Some say it was a complete failure, others say it was a great success. Find out why the event was so polarising. To find out more about the WA night sky, visit: www.scitech.org.au/explore/the-sky-tonight/ Credits Host: Leon Smith Guest: Damon Hill Producers: Zaya Altangerel & Michael Gatt

Leon ventures out to Exmouth, Western Australia to watch the hybrid total solar eclipse. Afterwards, he sat down with Dr Robin Cook from the International Centre for Radio Astronomy Research (ICRAR) to further discuss the special event.To find out more about the April night sky, visit: www.scitech.org.au/explore/the-sky-tonight/Find out more about Dr Cook's research via www.icrar.org/people/rcook/Credits Host: Leon Smith Guest: Dr Robin Cook Producer: Zaya Altangerel and Michael Gatt

Leon is joined by Brandi, a Scitech Planetarium Presenter and lover of the night sky, to talk all about the total solar eclipse that's about to occur over Exmouth, WA. The duo answer questions like 'what makes a solar eclipse so special?' and 'how can we safely view the solar eclipse?' To find out more about the WA night sky, visit: www.scitech.org.au/explore/the-sky-tonight/ Credits Host: Leon Smith Guest: Brandi Wahl Producer: Zaya Altangerel

Leon is joined by Damon, one of Scitech's expert Planetarium Presenters, to talk all about the different constellations and planets visible in the March night sky. The duo also ponder upon the role of 3D printers in space exploration. To find out more about the WA night sky, visit: www.scitech.org.au/explore/the-sky-tonight/ Credits Host: Leon Smith Guest: Damon Hill Producers: Zaya Altangerel & Michael Gatt

Leon is joined by Rob, one of Scitech's expert Planetarium Presenters. This month, they will guide you through the night sky and help you spot Jupiter, Venus, Mars, and a once-in-a-lifetime comet crossing the West Australian night sky. To find our more about the WA night sky, visit: www.scitech.org.au/explore/the-sky-tonight/ Credits Host: Leon Smith Guest: Rob Producers: Zaya Altangerel & Michael Gatt

Leon is joined by Amanda, one of Scitech's expert Planetarium Presenters. This month we will guide you through the night sky and help you spot Venus, Saturn, Mars and Orion in Western Australia's night sky. To find our more about the WA night sky, visit: www.scitech.org.au/explore/the-sky-tonight/ Credits Host: Leon Smith Guest: Amanda Hunter Producer: Zaya Altangerel

This month, Leon sits down with Rob, a Scitech Planetarium presenter, to highlight the different planets and constellations we can see in the December night sky from WA. Can we see the Big Dipper from our side of the planet? And what's the difference between a meteor and meteorite? For more information on the December night sky and the latest astronomy news, visit The Sky Tonight blog.

Episode Notes Look deep into Centaurus to spy a globular cluster. Are these the building blocks of galaxies or the dead hearts left over from cosmic cannibalism? If you enjoyed the music in this episode visit artlit.io

Episode Notes Taurus, the Bull, is one of the largest constellations in the northern night sky. It's known for the distinctive V-shaped pattern of stars that make up the horns of the bull, and the red giant star Aldebaran that forms its eye.  This week on Audio Guide to the Galaxy, join Mel to explore these and other remarkable features that make this constellation so intriguing.   If you enjoyed the music in this episode go to artlist.io

Episode Notes When we look up at night, we see a sky filled with stars. Over time, humans have 'connected the dots' to cover the sky in pictures, and the stories behind them. This week, we're looking at some of the mightiest constellations in our night sky. If you enjoyed the music in this episode, check out artlist.io

Episode Notes The cold distant world of Uranus is one of the most mysterious planets in the Solar System. Visible through a telescope as a greenish-blue dot, Uranus is technically the first planet ever discovered. Learn about its bizarre 40 year summers. its rings and the intriguing story it tells about the evolution of the Solar System. If you enjoy the music in this episode, visit https://artlist.io/

Episode Notes The Moon is out and looking glorious as usual. Learn about our closest celestial neighbour and how scientists are putting together the pieces of the puzzle of the close relationship between the Earth and the Moon. This episode is timed to be listened to at any time after 8pm on Saturday 15 January. If it's cloudy tonight, you can still listen to this at later days, but be aware that the time to see some things will change.

Episode Notes The Binar (BIN-ah) Space Program (named for the Noongar word for fireball) from the Space Science and Technology Centre (SSTC) at Curtin University is building the next generation of Australian small spacecraft. Find out more about this exciting program at https://www.binarspace.com/

Episode Notes The International Space Station is passing overhead this week. Join Leah to learn where to look, at what time, to see this massive orbital laboratory from your backyard. It's been a busy year for the ISS. Hear about the crew changeovers, the additions to the station and the latest science being carried out on this truly international spaceship. Make sure you've got this episode downloaded, and remember to take insect repellent, a torch, and a jumper if it's cold. We'll see you outside! If you liked the music in this episode, it is all available on https://artlist.io/

Perfect for anyone heading out of town for the summer break, as you also move away from the light pollution of the city, revealing the majestic night sky in all its splendour. Learn about the Milky Way, our galaxy stretching overhead, and our place within it. Make sure you've got this episode downloaded, and remember to take insect repellent, a torch, and a jumper if it's cold. We'll see you outside! If you liked the music in this episode, it is all available on https://artlist.io/

Episode Notes NASA is sending its next flagship observatory to space. After a troubled development, the James Webb Space Telescope is ready for launch on 25 December 2021. JWST is a next generation telescope pioneering astronomy of the future.

Episode Notes No compass? No star chart? No problem! Join Leah to discover how to find your way around the night sky using just your eyes, your hands, and a few handy pieces of knowledge.

Episode Notes This week, we're taking a closer look at our nearest celestial neighbour, the moon! We will also learn about Artemis 1 and the Space Launch System and what they mean for the future of human spaceflight to the Moon. You can listen to this episode after sunset on any clear evening this week (9 October - 15 October). Make sure you've got this episode downloaded and ready to go, and remember to take insect repellant and a jumper if it's cold. To find out more about the Artemis 1 mission and when it will launch, check out www.nasa.gov/news

Episode Notes This week we're taking a look at Jupiter and Saturn in our night sky and learning about the upcoming journey of Lucy, a NASA spacecraft that will be visiting asteroids near Jupiter to learn about the origins of our solar system. You can listen to this episode after sunset on any clear evening this fortnight (2 October - 14 October) Make sure you've got this episode downloaded and ready to go, and remember to take insect repellant and a jumper if it's cold. We'll see you outside

Episode Notes This week, we're taking a look at Venus, the brightest planet in our sky – so bright, it's often the first object we see as the sun sets, and the last one we see as the sun rises. We'll be hearing a bit about Venus' sky as well. You can listen to this episode at or after sunset, on any clear night this week (24 September to 1 October). Credits: Frozen Star Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

A walking tour of the solar system Part 2: Jupiter to Neptune This week on the Audio Guide to the Galaxy, we're continuing our space walk. We'll be exploring the 4.2 billion km expanse of the solar system at 3.5 million kilometres a second. So put your walking shoes on, and let's get out of this world Once again, you can listen to this episode any time. Yep, even day time. If you missed part one last week, you might like to listen to that first - you'll find it one episode back wherever you're listening to your podcasts.

A walking tour of the solar system Part 1: Mercury to Mars This week on the Audio Guide to the Galaxy, we're going for a walk. No, really - we're walking through the inner planets of our solar system at 175 000km/s. So put your walking shoes on, and let's head into orbit. You can listen to this episode any time. Yep, even day time. Tune in next week for part two, which will take us beyond the asteroid belt to the outer Solar System.

On Wednesday this week, 26 May, we're heading outside to spot a cosmic coincidence in the evening sky - a lunar eclipse. Just after sunset, the moon will start to pass into the Earth's shadow, and by 7.18pm it'll be completely covered. Take us with you for a guided commentary on how and why it's happening! Make sure you've got this episode downloaded and ready to go, and remember to take insect repellent and a jumper if it's cold. We'll see you outside!

This week, we're getting up before dawn to try catching a glimpse of the Eta Aquarid meteor shower. It's a cosmic lightshow that only comes around once a year, as fragments of Halley's comet streak through our atmosphere. It's at its peak between the 5th and 7th of May, visible from 2am until sunrise at around 6am. Make sure you've got this episode downloaded and ready to go, and remember to take insect repellent and a jumper if it's cold. We'll see you outside!

This week on the Audio Guide to the Galaxy, we spot the International Space Station as it passes over Perth - not just once, but a several times over the next few days. This orbiting lab is the only place humans can live beyond Earth, and you can see it from your backyard! Head outside at 7.25pm on Thursday, 6.39pm or 8.14pm on Friday, 7.27pm on Saturday or 6.40pm on Sunday to spot the station. If you miss them, NASA will help you figure out when to look up for another pass - head to https://spotthestation.nasa.gov/ Make sure you've got this episode downloaded and ready to go, and remember to take insect repellent and a jumper if it's cold. We'll see you outside!

This week on the Audio Guide to the Galaxy, we'll be exploring a great pattern in our night sky – Argo Navis. We'll talk about how to find this mighty ship and some of the remarkable stars that it features. You can listen to this episode any night this week, and the bright stars in the constellations of Vela, Puppis and Carina are visible in Perth for most of the year. Make sure you've got this episode downloaded and ready to go, and remember to take insect repellent and a jumper if it's cold. We'll see you outside!

This week on the Audio Guide to the Galaxy, we're taking a look at some of the deepest, most distant parts of our sky. We can only see these from outside the city, so this episode is a little bonus for anyone's who has headed out of town for the long weekend. You can listen to this episode any night this week, but the Milky Way is easier to see if you can get away from the city lights. Make sure you've got this episode downloaded and ready to go, and remember to take insect repellent and a jumper if it's cold. We'll see you outside!