Backyard Astronomer - Delta College Public Radio

Mike Murray from the Delta College Planetarium takes a look at what's up in the night sky. Things are happening all the time in the backyard universe, and many of them don't require a telescope to see and enjoy.

Episodes

8/25/25 - An Interstellar Visitor

August 25, 2025 • 2 mins

By now you may have heard the buzz about an object entering our solar system from interstellar space. The newly discovered object 3I/ATLAS – found on July 1st – is likely the oldest comet we’ve ever seen.

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8/18/25 - Sagittarius the Archer

August 18, 2025 • 2 mins

From late August through September, Sagittarius the Archer will appear low in the south at evening twilight as a "teapot" shape of stars.

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8/11/25 - Scorpius the Scorpion

August 11, 2025 • 2 mins

From late July to late August, the zodiacal constellation of Scorpius the Scorpion scrapes the southern horizon at the end of dusk.

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8/4/25 - Venus Meets Jupiter

August 4, 2025 • 2 mins

About 90 minutes before sunrise, look low in the east-northeast for two brilliant stars above the horizon. But they're not stars at all. They're Venus and Jupiter!

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7/28/25 - The Moon’s Eastern Seas

July 28, 2025 • 2 mins

This week is a good time to watch the dark round plains called “maria” become lit with sunlight in the eastern section of the moon.

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7/21/25 - See the Space Station

July 21, 2025 • 2 mins

Of all the things that move among the stars, earth orbiting satellites can be quite common to see. During the few hours after sunset or before sunrise, literally dozens of satellites can be seen as faint, slowly-moving dots.

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7/14/25 - Cygnus the Swan

July 14, 2025 • 2 mins

The northernmost star in the Summer Triangle is Deneb, which marks the tail of Cygnus the Swan.

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7/7/25 - The Man in the Moon

July 7, 2025 • 2 mins

Why do people see faces in the Moon? And what actually causes these lunar features?

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6/30/25 - A Feast of Morning Objects

June 30, 2025 • 2 mins

About 90 minutes before sunrise, look low in the east for the brightest point in the pre-dawn sky. It’s the planet Venus, and there’s a feast of celestial wonders nearby to look for this week!

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6/23/25 - The Colors of Stars

June 23, 2025 • 2 mins

There’s a whole spectrum of star colors glittering up there, from cool red stars to middle-range yellow stars to hot blue-white stars.

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6/16/25 - The Northern Crown

June 16, 2025 • 2 mins

During the month of June, about 90 minutes after sunset, look high in the east, almost overhead for a faint semi-circular pattern of stars. This is the constellation of Corona Borealis, the Northern Crown.

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6/9/25 - The Strawberry Moon

June 11, 2025 • 2 mins

The June full moon or "Strawberry Moon" marks the lowest path the full moon takes across the sky during the year.

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6/2/25 - Does The Moon Rotate?

June 2, 2025 • 2 mins

Since one side of the moon always faces the earth, it's often assumed that means the moon doesn't rotate. But that's not really the case.

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5/26/25 - Spike to Spica

May 27, 2025 • 2 mins

If you follow the arc to Arcturus and keep the curve going even farther down into the south, you’ll come to the faint bluish star, Spica.

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5/19/25 - Coma Star Cluster

May 19, 2025 • 2 mins

Now that we’re past full moon, the early evening sky remains dark for longer periods as the moon rises later each night. This reveals a really nice target for binoculars called the Coma star cluster.

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5/12/25 - Leo the Lion

May 12, 2025 • 2 mins

In spring, many stargazers use the zodiacal constellation of Leo the Lion as a signpost to the sky.

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5/5/25 - Waxing Gibbous Moon

May 6, 2025 • 2 mins

All this week, the phase of the moon grows larger and brighter as it moves from first quarter toward full. We call this period the “waxing gibbous moon” as the oval shape becomes wider and more rounded.

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4/28/25 - Meteors from Halley’s Comet

April 28, 2025 • 2 mins

Twice each year the Earth crosses the orbit of Halley’s Comet. Each time we do, a meteor shower is created from the tiny flecks of ice and dust the comet leaves behind in its orbit.

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4/21/25 - The Spring Triangle

April 21, 2025 • 2 mins

During mid-spring, a trio of wide-spread stars covers a huge swath of the eastern sky after dark. It’s the Spring Triangle signaling the move into longer days and warmer weather for the Northern Hemisphere.

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4/14/25 - Tour the Stars of Leo

April 14, 2025 • 2 mins

Each season has that one constellation that serves as a signpost to the sky. In spring, many stargazers use the constellation of Leo the Lion.

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Backyard Astronomer - Delta College Public Radio

Episodes

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.css-r6mb8g{margin:0;word-break:break-word;display:-webkit-box;-webkit-box-orient:vertical;box-orient:vertical;-webkit-line-clamp:1;overflow:hidden;}8/18/25 - Sagittarius the Archer

8/11/25 - Scorpius the Scorpion

8/4/25 - Venus Meets Jupiter

7/28/25 - The Moon’s Eastern Seas

7/21/25 - See the Space Station

7/14/25 - Cygnus the Swan

7/7/25 - The Man in the Moon

6/30/25 - A Feast of Morning Objects

6/23/25 - The Colors of Stars

6/16/25 - The Northern Crown

6/9/25 - The Strawberry Moon

6/2/25 - Does The Moon Rotate?

5/26/25 - Spike to Spica

5/19/25 - Coma Star Cluster

5/12/25 - Leo the Lion

5/5/25 - Waxing Gibbous Moon

4/28/25 - Meteors from Halley’s Comet

4/21/25 - The Spring Triangle

4/14/25 - Tour the Stars of Leo

Popular Podcasts

8/25/25 - An Interstellar Visitor

8/18/25 - Sagittarius the Archer