Backyard Astronomer - Delta College Public Radio
Michigan PR
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.
Location:
Bay City, MI
Genres:
Science Podcasts
Networks:
Michigan PR
Description:
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.
Language:
English
Episodes
6/30/25 - A Feast of Morning Objects
6/30/2025
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!
Duration:00:02:00
6/23/25 - The Colors of Stars
6/23/2025
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.
Duration:00:02:00
6/16/25 - The Northern Crown
6/16/2025
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.
Duration:00:02:00
6/9/25 - The Strawberry Moon
6/11/2025
The June full moon or "Strawberry Moon" marks the lowest path the full moon takes across the sky during the year.
Duration:00:02:00
6/2/25 - Does The Moon Rotate?
6/2/2025
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.
Duration:00:02:00
5/26/25 - Spike to Spica
5/27/2025
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.
Duration:00:02:00
5/19/25 - Coma Star Cluster
5/19/2025
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.
Duration:00:02:00
5/12/25 - Leo the Lion
5/12/2025
In spring, many stargazers use the zodiacal constellation of Leo the Lion as a signpost to the sky.
Duration:00:02:00
5/5/25 - Waxing Gibbous Moon
5/6/2025
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.
Duration:00:02:00
4/28/25 - Meteors from Halley’s Comet
4/28/2025
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.
Duration:00:02:00
4/21/25 - The Spring Triangle
4/21/2025
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.
Duration:00:02:00
4/14/25 - Tour the Stars of Leo
4/14/2025
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.
Duration:00:02:00
4/7/25 - The Big & Little Dippers
4/4/2025
Spring is the time of year when the Big Dipper climbs higher into the northern sky, but the Big Dipper is not itself a constellation. It’s only part of a much larger group called Ursa Major, the Great Bear. It also makes for a great guidepost to other stars and constellations!
Duration:00:02:00
3/31/25 - Earthshine
3/30/2025
During the week of March 31, the waxing crescent Moon makes its appearance in the west after sunset. When the moon looks like a thin crescent, there's a feature to look for called earthshine.
Duration:00:02:00
3/24/25 - The Little Beehive
3/22/2025
With the moon out of the way, the early evening sky remains dark and full of stars, and that gives us some fine objects to explore with binoculars.
Duration:00:02:00
3/17/25 - The March Equinox
3/15/2025
This year, the March equinox arrives on the 20th which marks the first day of spring for the northern hemisphere.
Duration:00:02:00
3/10/25 - Total Lunar Eclipse
3/8/2025
This month, the full moon on March 14 is also known as the "Sap Moon" because March marks the tapping of the maple trees. It also coincides with a yotal lunar eclipse.
Duration:00:02:00
2/24/25 - The Winter Triangle
3/2/2025
Sirius, Procyon, and Betelgeuse form a giant triangle in the southern sky known as the Winter Triangle. And like Orion’s Belt, it can make for an excellent pointer and guidepost to the winter night sky.
Duration:00:02:00
3/3/25 - Venus & Mercury at Dusk
3/2/2025
Over the last few months, we’ve been treated to the brilliant planet Venus piercing the western sky after sunset. During the first part of March, you’ll have a rare opportunity to watch the elusive planet Mercury join the show!
Duration:00:02:00
2/17/25 - The Great Orion Nebula
2/15/2025
As the moon wanes and rises later each night, the early evening skies are dark again, allowing us to see the Great Orion Nebula.
Duration:00:02:02