Claim OwnershipAudio Guide to the Galaxy
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A guided tour of the night sky as seen from Perth, Western Australia, exploring the stories and science of astronomy, space science and space travel. It's a planetarium presenter in your pocket - just download, head outside, and press play. The Audio Guide to the Galaxy is proudly presented by Scitech.
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Join Leon and guest host Alyshia, as they explore the Boorloo night sky this November.Grab your M&M's and settle in because this month's sky contains multitudes - the Milky Way, Mercury, Mars and meteors will all be visible in the western sky!Not too far away from these you can use a telescope to find a telescope! The constellation Telescopium is visible, but it's a faint one so make sure you have your eyes peeled.
The western night sky! Join Leon and Sharna as they guide you through our night sky throughout October. From sunset to the early hours of the morning, you can see triangles, meteors, Mercury and more.The October sky has something for everyone.
Leon is joined by guest, & producer Morgan while Beth is away. What's in the sky?Total Lunar Eclipse + Blood Moon - 7th SeptemberEquinox - where the days will be getting longer. Planets:Saturn's Rings (best viewed 21st September) Constellations: The Southern BirdsPhoenixGrus the CraneTucana the ToucanPavo the Peacock For more stargazing stuff check out Leon's monthly blog - "The Sky Tonight"https://www.scitech.org.au/explore/the-sky-tonight/
The Night Sky! It's all about the Milkyway in August (just look up & and maybe cover your neighbours light). Southern Hemisphere misses out on the Perseid meteor shower (lucky you if you're in the north!)Planets: Jupiter and Venus are visible in the morning of the 12th & 13th August. Constellation of the Month: Norma - The Set Square doesn't have much greek mythology, but there's something mysterious hiding out there just beyond our view called "the great attractor."Beth goes on an exciting new adventure!
July is peak galaxy appreciation month, and the Milky Way is putting on a show. This episode, we’re grabbing our stargazing snacks and heading outside to soak in that big, hazy river of light across the sky.Whether you're deep in the bush or just squinting past your neighbour’s porch light, we’ll help you spot it. We'll also help you find the Southern Cross and introduce you to the dark emu hiding in plain sight. Spoiler: it’s not made of stars but the dark bits between them.Also, on this week’s tour of the cosmos:July 4th is when Earth is furthest from the Sun. No, that’s not why it’s coldVenus and Jupiter are up early and looking gorgeousSagittarius is pointing straight at the centre of the galaxy. We call it the big messy spaghettiThe Vera Rubin Observatory has a camera the size of a small car and a mission to map the entire night sky. Every three days. For ten years. It cost a billion bucks and it’s going to change astronomy foreverVera Rubin helped prove dark matter exists. She deserved a Nobel Prize and didn’t get one. We’re still salty about itThere are over 130 million bits of space junk out there bigger than a centimetre. Who’s watching all that? We are. Kind ofNeed more sky stuff?scitech.org.autheskytonight
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 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
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