Deep Sage Nine StarCast

In this episode of the StarCast, Jay Shaffer and Mike Lewinski discuss the arrival of the “Golden Nights”—the prime window for astronomical observation—while exploring recent space news including the first direct study of an exoplanet surface and the release of declassified Pentagon UAP files. Episode Links https://science.nasa.gov/exoplanets/how-do-exoplanets-get-their-names Surface-details-on-a-nearby-super-earth https://science.nasa.gov/exoplanet-catalog/lhs-3844-b/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wPtvJrzxTrk

In this episode of the Deep Sage Nine StarCast, Jay Shaffer and Mike Lewinski explore the “golden age” of distributed astronomy, discussing how interconnected camera arrays and crowdsourced data from amateur observers are revolutionizing the way we track meteors and visualize the deep universe. https://www.universetoday.com/articles/the-next-generation-very-large-array-would-be-263-radio-telescopes-spread-across-north-america

The Right to the Stars In this special International Dark Sky Week episode, Jay Shaffer and Mike Lewinski explore the latest lunar discoveries from Artemis 2 and ShadowCam before discussing the urgent need to protect our ancestral night skies from light pollution and emerging orbital threats. Episode Links:

Deep space exploration meets a nuclear renaissance this week as Jay and Mike track the historic Artemis 2 mission and a sungrazing comet, before a deep dive into NASA’s fast-tracked Fission Surface Power and the future of nuclear propulsion in the cosmos! Episode Links:

The Final Fun-tier In this episode of Starcast, titled “The Final Fun-tier,” hosts Jay Shaffer and Mike Lewinski celebrate April Fool’s Day by pairing the latest space weather and Artemis mission updates with a lighthearted collection of astronomy, physics, and science jokes.

Science Projects In this episode of the Deep Sage 9 StarCast, Jay Shaffer and Mike Lewinski break down a week of intense celestial activity—from sonic booms in Ohio to a surprise visitor in a Houston kitchen. We dive into the technical side of our personal observatories, discussing the Raspberry Pi upgrades and software shifts required […]

 The B612 Foundation In this episode of Starcast, hosts Jay Shaffer and Mike Lewinski discuss current space weather and astronomical sights before diving into the history of asteroid impacts and the B612 Foundation’s data-driven efforts to detect potentially hazardous objects. Episode Links:  https://b612foundation.org/  https://earthsky.org/astronomy-essentials/zodiacal-light-false-dusk-how-to-see-explanation/  https://www.space.com/stargazing/march-is-a-great-time-to-spot-the-odd-glow-of-zodiacal-light-heres-how-to-see-it

Highway in the Sky   Hosts Jay Shaffer and Mike Lewinski explore the “main street” of our solar system by discussing the ecliptic, planetary alignments, and the environmental impact of satellite mega-constellations on our upper atmosphere

Shooting the Blood Moon   In this episode of Starcast, hosts Jay Shaffer and Mike Lewinski discuss current space weather, NASA’s strategic pivot for the Artemis program, and technical strategies for photographing the upcoming total lunar eclipse on March 3rd. Episode Links: Planning & Ephemeris Apps The Photographer’s Ephemeris (TPE): Used for calculating the exact […]

E. T. and the Presidents In this episode of the Starcast, hosts Jay Shaffer and Mike Lewinski discuss the history of U.S. presidential involvement with UFOs—from JFK’s Cold War concerns to recent disclosures by Obama and Trump—while weighing these political admissions against scientific frameworks like the Drake Equation and the Fermi Paradox.

Voyage to the Center of the Galaxy.   In this episode of StarCast, hosts Jay Shaffer and Mike Lewenski explore three conflicting scientific studies that challenge our understanding of the Milky Way’s center, debating whether it houses a traditional supermassive black hole or a dense core of fermionic dark matter.

Go Dark Hosts Jay Shaffer and Mike Lewinski discuss the importance of preserving pristine night skies while highlighting International Dark Sky Week, occurring April 13th to 20th, 2026, through community advocacy, citizen science, and local astronomical events. Episode Links:  International Dark Sky Week (official): https://idsw.darksky.org/  Crestone Dark Sky : https://www.darkskycrestone.com/  Globe at Night App: https://globeatnight.org/ Sky […]