PODCAST · science
Audio Guide to the Galaxy
by Scitech
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.
Episodes
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October Night Sky: Meteor Showers, Giant Tarantulas & Moon Potatoes
This month Leon & Sharna explore the October night sky in Perth, featuring meteor showers, giant tarantulas, and moon potatoes. You'll spot Venus and Mercury alongside the Moon in the western sky, and introduce you to the Orionids meteor shower, a spectacle linked to Halley's Comet. Discover the...
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September Night Sky Guide: Venus & Mercury at Sunset, Moon Meetups, and Ophiuchus
Leon and Sharna preview September’s night sky, starting with Venus shining brightly in the western sky just after sunset, and noting that Mercury will join it low in the west in the second half of the month. They recommend using the Moon as a guide: on September 14 the Moon sits near Venus, and…
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August 2026 - Venus, Sagittarius & the Centre of the Galaxy!
In this episode of the Audio Guide to the Galaxy, join me as we explore the stunning night sky of Perth in August. Discover the brilliance of Venus dominating the western horizon and learn about the best times to spot the crescent moon alongside this bright planet. I'll guide you through the...
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July 2026: Moon Day, Virgo Cluster & Egg Shaped Stars
What's up in July? Best time to see the Milkyway, Moon Day & Virgo Cluster. What's up in the Night Sky for July? In the West - Jupiter going going gone. Venus is still super bright & swings by Regulus in Leo constellation July 10. To the East - see Mars in the morning. Pleiades, Taurus…
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June 2026: Season of the Scorpion
Join hosts Leon and Sharna as they guide you through what you can see in the night sky in June. In June wave bye bye to Orion and hello to Scorpius, rising in the east and marking the onset of winter. Due to this change in season this month is your last good chance to see Jupiter, and its putting...
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May 2026: Blue Moons and Planets Galore
Join hosts Leon and Sharna as they guide you through the May night sky. There's plenty of action in the sky this month with four visible planets, two full moons, an ISS flyby and a stand out constellation. Happy stargazing!
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April 2026: Scales and Scorpions
Leon and Shana share the April edition of Audio Guide to the Galaxy, a stargazing companion for Perth (WA), starting in the western sky at sunset where bright Venus returns to the evening sky and Jupiter sits slightly northwest. After dark, Orion is highlighted as a useful pattern for spotting...
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March 2026: Moony March
Join hosts Leon and Sharna as they guide you through the March night sky. This month boasts a very exciting night sky, including but not limited to, two visible planets and a starry ship with a flying fish to go along with it! And of course, we can't forget a spectacular total lunar eclipse, AKA...
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February 2026: Bright Stars and Space Travel
Join hosts Leon and Sharna as they guide you through the February night sky. From the stars Sirius and Canopus to the planet Jupiter, the night sky this month is full of bright spots. If you can find these spots, you'll also be able to find the constellation of the month! Additionally, Leon and...
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January 2026: Dogs and Flies in the Sky
Join host Sharna - on her own this episode! - as she guides you through the night sky for January. This month there are a bunch of fun constellations to try and spot but keep your eyes peeled because some are fainter than others. On the other hand, Jupiter is a planet for the people this month!…
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December 2025: Your Stargazing Guide for December
Join Leon and Sharna as they explore the December night sky. As the milky way grows fainter Jupiter and Saturn appear to steal the show this month. With a bit of squinted searching you’ll be able to spot Pisces and Neptune - do not be discouraged by their faintness! They are out there. Finally,...
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November 2025: The Four M's
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…
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October 2025 - Triangles, Meteor Showers and Mercury. Oh My!
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.
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September 2025 - Stargazing! Total Eclipse of the Blood Moon & a bad impression of a magpie.
Leon is joined by guest, & producer Morgan while Beth is away. What's in the sky? Total Lunar Eclipse + Blood Moon - 7th September Equinox - where the days will be getting longer. Planets: Saturn's Rings (best viewed 21st September) Constellations: The Southern Birds Phoenix Grus the Crane Tucana...
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August 2025 - Stargazing! A "normal" constellation hides a fascinating galaxy cluster
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.…
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Milky Way Magic: Your Stargazing Guide for July
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…
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June 2025 – Milky Way Magic, Venus at Dawn & Lupus the Lone Wolf
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…
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August 2024: The Teapot, Galactic Wonders, and Space Oddities
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…
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April 2025 – Orion’s Farewell, Cancer’s Hidden Gems & Morning Planet Parade
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...
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March 2025 – Equinox, Asteroid Watch & The Hare in the Sky
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...
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February 2025 - Planet Parade, Alpha Centaurids and Big Dog
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.
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January 2025: Mars, Gemini, and a Parade of Planets!
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...
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December 2024: Pegasus, Jupiter, and the Geminids!
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,...
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November 2024: Mercury, Venus and Jupiter.
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...
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October 2024: Venus, Taurus and the Orionid meteor shower
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…
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September 2024: Saturn’s Opposition and the Southern Birds Constellations
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...
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August 2024: Stargazing Delights Amidst the Winter Chill. The Milky Way, Venus & Corona Borealis.
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...
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July 2024: The best time of year if it wasn't for the clouds. The Milky Way, The Evening Star & Corvus the Crow.
Beth Maskall & Leon Smith discuss what on in the sky in July Included in this episode: Planets: Mercury & Saturn, Constellations: Corvus, Stars: The Even Star. Produced by: Michael Gatt
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June 2024: the planets return! A scorpion, a snake, and Mars's mortal enemy.
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.
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May 2024: Earth throws some shade on the ISS and the lesser known blue last-quarter-moon.
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
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April 2024: A lion with beans on its head, and the solar eclipse you won't be able to see
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…
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March 2024: twinkling planets, Pi Day, and the carina constellation
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…
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December 2023
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:...
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November 2023
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,...
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October 2023
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...
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September 2023
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...
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August 2023
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…
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Celebrating the Murchison Widefield Array with Professor Steven Tingay
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 telescope meaning behind the MWA's Wajarri name MWA's influence on the Australian economy and more! To…
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July 2023
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:...
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June 2023
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.…
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May 2023
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...
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Bonus episode: Experiencing the total solar eclipse with Dr Robin Cook
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:...
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April 2023
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…
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March 2023
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:...
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February 2023
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:...
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January 2023
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…
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The Audio Guide is back!
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...
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7.3: Clan of stars
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
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7.2: Families of stars
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...
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7.1: Groups of stars
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…
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
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.
HOSTED BY
Scitech
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Audio Guide to the Galaxy have?
Audio Guide to the Galaxy currently has 92 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Audio Guide to the Galaxy about?
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...
How often does Audio Guide to the Galaxy release new episodes?
Audio Guide to the Galaxy has 92 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to Audio Guide to the Galaxy?
You can listen to Audio Guide to the Galaxy on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Audio Guide to the Galaxy?
Audio Guide to the Galaxy is created and hosted by Scitech.
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