Star Diary

Scientist Tim Etheridge talks Artemis II, crewed spaceflight and the toll of weightlessness on astronauts spending long periods of time in space. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Pete Lawrence and Paul Abel reveal what's in the sky in May 2026, including the ever-improving return of Venus and what astronomers really think about the 'blue Moon' on 31 May. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Astronomer Shyam Balaji reveals how three cosmic signals could be an invisible dark force in deep space. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Venus is slowly returning to the evening sky, marking the re-emergence of one of the best naked-eye objects. Find out what else is happening with the planets, the Moon, stars constellations and deep-sky objects in April 2026 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Radio astronomer Dr Emma Chapman reveals how radio waves enable scientists to explore the cosmos, from mapping Venus to searching for alien life and discovering the origins of the Universe. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out which planets are best in the night sky in March 2026, plus key times to observe the Moon, stars and constellations. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The European Space Agency's BepiColombo mission arrives at Mercury later this year. Planetary scientist Emma Bunce reveals the mysteries the mission could uncover. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out the best things to see in the sky this month, from the planets and constellations to deep-sky targets for your telescope. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Tessa Baker discusses newly-discovered cosmic collisions and how they’re helping her unlock the secrets of the Universe. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Pete Lawrence and Paul Abel reveal the best things to see in the night sky to kick off a new year of stargazing. Happy 2026 everyone! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Astronomer Anjali Piette reveals how she and colleagues created a 3D view of a scorching gas giant around a distant star. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Pete Lawrence and Paul Abel reveal what you should be looking at in the December 2025 night sky, including the best planets, the Geminid meteor shower, Orion and top times to see the Moon. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Astronomers say the James Webb Space Telescope has seen black holes at the dawn of time that shouldn't exist. But a new study may be able to explain what's going on. Astronomer Seb Hoenig reveals how a new look at the early Universe could show that JWST has got black holes all wrong. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As winter gets underway, we’re approaching the darkest time of year. Find out the best times to see the Moon and planets this month, including November’s supermoon. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Astronomer Belinda Damian discusses her research into the giant, free-floating worlds that may one day be able to form their own planetary systems. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to see the biggest planets in the Solar System while they’re big and bright, and find out what makes the Harvest Moon so special. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Astronomer Tom Killestein reveals how the public can help him on his mission to find stellar explosions via the Kilonova Seekers project, and reveals its first major discovery. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We reveal how to see the ‘blood Moon’ total lunar eclipse in September 2025, and explain the best dates and times to see the planets of the Solar System in the sky. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Vera C Rubin Observatory is set to be a game-changer in our understanding of key ideas such as the expansion of the Universe and the distribution of matter in distant galaxies. But how will it do all this? We spoke to astronomer Dani Leonard, who is working with the Rubin Observatory, to find out. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The best things to see in the night sky this month, including Venus and Jupiter’s close approach, Uranus’s meeting with the Pleiades, Saturn and Neptune’s nightly tango and the low-down full Moon. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Astronomer Alis Deason reveals new research that shows how likely it is the Milky Way will collide with the Andromeda Galaxy. She discusses why galaxy mergers happen and, if our galaxy did collide with its neighbour, which would come out on top.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Pete Lawrence and Paul Abel reveal how to observe Saturn, Venus and the rest of the planets, the Moon's meeting with the Pleiades and Antares, the Southern Aquarid meteor shower and the best deep-sky objects. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Astronomer Hidde Jense has seen cosmic light from just after the Big Bang. He reveals what it tells us. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to see bright planet Venus in the early morning before sunrise, and track the Red Planet Mars as it passes near Regulus, the brightest star in the constellation Leo. Our new monthly version of Star Diary is hosted by Pete Lawrence and Paul Abel. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The search is on for life beyond Earth. Astrobiologist Penny Boston reveals what life on our own planet can tell us about extra-terrestrial life among the stars.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Meteor showers are always a great excuse to get out and do some stargazing.  Find out how to see them Eta Aquarids in the latest episode of Star Diary, the podcast from the makers of Sky at Night Magazine. Transcript   Learn to observe our nearest star, the Sun, in our upcoming online masterclass series   Subscribe to BBC Sky at Night Magazine and submit your astrophotography images over on our website: https://www.skyatnightmagazine.com [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Meteor showers are always a great excuse to get out and do some stargazing.  Find out how to see them Eta Aquarids in the latest episode of Star Diary, the podcast from the makers of Sky at Night Magazine. Transcript   Learn to observe our nearest star, the Sun, in our upcoming online masterclass series   Subscribe to BBC Sky at Night Magazine and submit your astrophotography images over on our website: https://www.skyatnightmagazine.com [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Red Planet passes through the star strewn field of the Beehive Cluster. Find out how to see them in the latest episode of Star Diary, the podcast from the makers of Sky at Night Magazine. Transcript   Learn to observe our nearest star, the Sun, in our upcoming online masterclass series   Subscribe to BBC Sky at Night Magazine and submit your astrophotography images over on our website: https://www.skyatnightmagazine.com [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The planet will appear its largest in the morning sky before teaming up with the Moon later in the week. Find out how to see them in the latest episode of Star Diary, the podcast from the makers of Sky at Night Magazine. Transcript   Learn to observe our nearest star, the Sun, in our upcoming online masterclass series   Subscribe to BBC Sky at Night Magazine and submit your astrophotography images over on our website: https://www.skyatnightmagazine.com [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Astronomer Martin Guerrero reveals the mysterious x-ray signals coming from the Eye of God Nebula, that could indicate a planet is being torn apart by a dying star. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A pair of globular clusters will glitter across the night sky this week. Find out how to see them in the latest episode of Star Diary, the podcast from the makers of Sky at Night Magazine. Transcript   Learn to observe our nearest star, the Sun, in our upcoming online masterclass series   Subscribe to BBC Sky at Night Magazine and submit your astrophotography images over on our website: https://www.skyatnightmagazine.com [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Watch the asteroid Flora as at passes by the Hamburger Galaxy this week. Find out how to see it in the latest episode of Star Diary, the podcast from the makers of Sky at Night Magazine. Transcript   Learn to observe our nearest star, the Sun, in our upcoming online masterclass series   Subscribe to BBC Sky at Night Magazine and submit your astrophotography images over on our website: https://www.skyatnightmagazine.com [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

After creeping ever closer to the Seven Sisters star cluster, the crescent Moon will pass through the Seven Sisters star cluster this week. Discover how you can watch the stars as blink out one by one by listening to the latest episode of Star Diary, the podcast from the makers of Sky at Night Magazine. Transcript   Learn to observe our nearest star, the Sun, in our upcoming online masterclass series   Subscribe to BBC Sky at Night Magazine and submit your astrophotography images over on our website: https://www.skyatnightmagazine.com [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week, a partial solar eclipse will be visible across the UK. Find out how you can safely see the momentous occasion for yourself by listening to the latest episode of Star Diary, the podcast from the makers of Sky at Night Magazine. Transcript Learn to observe our nearest star, the Sun, in our upcoming online masterclass series   Subscribe to BBC Sky at Night Magazine and submit your astrophotography images over on our website: https://www.skyatnightmagazine.com [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Are we alone? It’s one of the humanity’s fundamental questions. Could one of the 6,000 known exoplanets beyond our Solar System host an alien species? Lisa Kaltenegger has spent her career trying to find out. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Moon brushes past the red star Antares, the heart of Scorpius. Make sure to catch them both by listening to the latest episode of Star Diary, the podcast from the makers of Sky at Night Magazine. Transcript   Subscribe to BBC Sky at Night Magazine and submit your astrophotography images over on our website: https://www.skyatnightmagazine.com [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week sees a total lunar eclipse turn the moon blood red as it passes over the US. Unfortunately, the UK will only catch the partial phase. To find out exactly what you can see, listen to the latest episode of Star Diary, the podcast from the makers of Sky at Night Magazine. Transcript   Subscribe to BBC Sky at Night Magazine and submit your astrophotography images over on our website: https://www.skyatnightmagazine.com [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mars passes right next to the Moon, while Mercury reaches its highest point in the sky. Make sure to catch them both by listening to the latest episode of Star Diary, the podcast from the makers of Sky at Night Magazine. Transcript   Subscribe to BBC Sky at Night Magazine and submit your astrophotography images over on our website: https://www.skyatnightmagazine.com [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

After a long absence Mercury returns to our evening skies, shining brightly in the twilight. To make sure to catch is return, listen to the latest episode of Star Diary, the podcast from the makers of Sky at Night Magazine. Transcript   Subscribe to BBC Sky at Night Magazine and submit your astrophotography images over on our website: https://www.skyatnightmagazine.com [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Saturn is about to disappear behind the Sun. Ensure you catch it before it leaves by listening to the latest episode of Star Diary, the podcast from the makers of Sky at Night Magazine. Transcript Chasing the ISS   Subscribe to BBC Sky at Night Magazine and submit your astrophotography images over on our website: https://www.skyatnightmagazine.com [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Massive objects in space warp spacetime to the extent that they can act like cosmic magnifying glasses, allowing astronomers to get a better view of the deep cosmos. This technique, known as gravitational lensing, has been used by the James Webb Space Telescope to discover a group of stars that existed at a key stage in the evolution of the Universe.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Snow Moon lights up the night sky this week, accompanied by one of the brightest stars in the sky, Regulus. To find out how you can see them for yourself, as well as all the latest stargazing highlights, tune in to the latest episode of Star Diary, the podcast from the makers of Sky at Night Magazine. Transcript How to enter the astronomy photographer of the year competition   Subscribe to BBC Sky at Night Magazine and submit your astrophotography images over on our website: https://www.skyatnightmagazine.com [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

All of the planets (except Mercury) are up in the night sky at the moment, as the Moon passes close to the bright planet Jupiter. To find out how you can see them for yourself, as well as all the latest stargazing highlights, tune in to the latest episode of Star Diary, the podcast from the makers of Sky at Night Magazine. Transcript Inferior and superior planets: what’s the difference?   Subscribe to BBC Sky at Night Magazine and submit your astrophotography images over on our website: https://www.skyatnightmagazine.com [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn are all shining bright in the evening sky. To find out how you can see them for yourself, as well as all the latest stargazing highlights, tune in to the latest episode of Star Diary, the podcast from the makers of Sky at Night Magazine. Transcript A Guide to Cassiopeia   Subscribe to BBC Sky at Night Magazine and submit your astrophotography images over on our website: https://www.skyatnightmagazine.com [email protected]   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ganymede, the largest moon of Jupiter, will pass across the planet’s face, but it will take another four hours for its shadow to follow suit. To find out why and how you can see the sight for yourself, as well as all the latest stargazing highlights, tune in to the latest episode of Star Diary, the podcast from the makers of Sky at Night Magazine. Transcript How to see the Horsehead Nebula   Subscribe to BBC Sky at Night Magazine and submit your astrophotography images over on our website: https://www.skyatnightmagazine.com [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Astronomers have, for the first time ever, captured a close-up image of a star beyond our home Galaxy. WOH G64 is located 160,000 lightyears away in the Large Magellanic Cloud, a small satellite galaxy of our own Milky Way. Astronomer Jacco van Loon reveals how the team captured the image, and why it's so important. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The bright Wolf Moon meets up with red Mars just days before the planet reaches opposition – when it lies directly opposite the Sun from Earth. Find out how you can see the spectacle as well as all the latest stargazing highlights in the latest episode of Star Diary, the podcast from the makers of Sky at Night Magazine. Transcript How to observe Mars The latest from Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS   Subscribe to BBC Sky at Night Magazine and submit your astrophotography images over on our website: https://www.skyatnightmagazine.com [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As the Red Planet is currently at its closest point to Earth for over two years, this week is a fantastic time to look at our neighbour planet.    To find out how you can see the event, as well as the week’s other stargazing highlights, listen to the latest episode of the Star Diary podcast from the makers of BBC Sky at Night Magazine. Transcription How to photograph the Moon   Subscribe to BBC Sky at Night Magazine and submit your astrophotography images over on our website: https://www.skyatnightmagazine.com [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Moon is hiding out the way, making it a great night to check out the meteor shower. To find out how to see the shower as well as all the other stargazing highlights of the week, be sure to listen to the latest episode of the Star Diary podcast from the makers of BBC Sky at Night Magazine. Transcription  Subscribe to BBC Sky at Night Magazine and submit your astrophotography images over on our website: https://www.skyatnightmagazine.com [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Christmas Tree Cluster is a beautifully festive cosmic decoration, the perfect thing to look at during this festive time. Find out how you can see it for yourself as well as other stargazing highlights in the latest episode of Star Diary, from the makers of Sky at Night Magazine. Transcription How to see the International Space Station in the night sky Subscribe to BBC Sky at Night Magazine and submit your astrophotography images over on our website: https://www.skyatnightmagazine.com   [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices