Audio Guide to the Galaxy

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 on September 17 it sits near the subtly red star Antares, the heart of Scorpius, which also helps locate the Milky Way stretching roughly north–south and shifting toward the western sky in the evening. They explain the September equinox on September 23, when day and night are roughly equal, and introduce the constellation of the month, Ophiuchus (the serpent bearer), visible from anywhere on Earth and sometimes traversed by the Sun. Highlights include Barnard’s Star, a nearby fast-moving red dwarf, and Kepler’s Supernova (1604) and the related system RS Ophiuchi.

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 mesmerizing Milky Way, with tips on identifying Scorpius, and discuss the elusive Perseids meteor shower. Although eclipses this month won't be visible from Australia, I'll share insights on their significance and upcoming astronomical events, including the exciting launch of the Nancy Grace Roman Telescope. Tune in for a captivating journey through the cosmos and the wonders awaiting you in the night sky.

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, Aldebaran. Bets time of year to see the Milky Way! Dates of interest: July 7: Earth at aphelion July 10: Venus close to Regulus in Leo July 20: International Moon Day July 29: Full Moon Constellation of the month: Virgo & the wheat laden maiden. Virgo Cluster with 1300+ galaxies! M87's Black Hole image https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/edu/resources/teachable-moment/how-scientists-captured-the-first-image-of-a-black-hole/ Spica - Leon's Hypothetical Egg Boys https://particle.scitech.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/bin_000001-egg-boys.png Image: Hypothetical appearance of stars in an ellipsiodal binary. Credit: Smith/Scitech For more space news check out https://particle.scitech.org.au/atoms-galaxies/the-sky-tonight-july-2026/ Got a question? Chuck it in the comments and we will try to answer it next episode! The Audio Guide To the Galaxy is recorded at Scitech on Whajduk Noongar Land.

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 on a show joined by Mercury and Venus. Last but not least don't forget to celebrate International Asteroid Day! Happy stargazing!

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!

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 satellites by repeatedly checking for new, steady lights moving through the constellation, with a challenge to beat 40 satellites in an hour. As Orion sets, Scorpius rises in the east, identified by the slightly red star Antares, with a close Moon–Antares pairing before sunrise on 7 April. They note that before sunrise around 16 April, Mercury, Mars, and Saturn are visible in the east (with Neptune and Uranus requiring a telescope), and mention International Day of Human Space Flight on 12 April and Earth Day on 22 April. The constellation of the month is faint Libra above Scorpius, including discussion of the planet-hosting red dwarf Gliese 581 about 20 light years away and a message beamed there expected to arrive around 2030.

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 the blood moon - ooooo, spooky. Plus, an update on the first manned mission to the moon in 54 years ... Happy stargazing!

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 Sharna fill you in on some exiting things involving our moon this month. Enjoy your stargazing, see you next month!

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! It is shining so bright you don't even need a telescope to see it. Happy stargazing!

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, once again this month meteors will streak across our sky in the Geminids meteor shower. Enjoy the December night sky. What better way to end the year than with some stargazing?

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 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 the Toucan Pavo 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 cold Venus and Jupiter are up early and looking gorgeous Sagittarius is pointing straight at the centre of the galaxy. We call it the big messy spaghetti The 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 forever Vera Rubin helped prove dark matter exists. She deserved a Nobel Prize and didn’t get one. We’re still salty about it There are over 130 million bits of space junk out there bigger than a centimetre. Who’s watching all that? We are. Kind of Need more sky stuff? scitech.org.au theskytonight

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 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 alongside rusty-red Mars, both shining in the north. Below them, Gemini’s twin stars Castor and Pollux frame a spectacular 7:13pm flyover of the International Space Station, zipping through the gap like a real-life starship. Further up, look for the hilarious “dog” constellation Canis Minor (made up of… just two stars), then continue turning right to find Leo the Lion, with its upside-down question mark mane and mythological ties to Hercules’ very first labour. Peek further into Leo’s rear to find the Leo Triplet three faraway galaxies, including one affectionately dubbed the Hamburger Galaxy. Early risers are in for a treat, too. On May 5th, the Eta Aquarids meteor shower will peak before dawn. Head out around 5am to face east and catch up to 30 meteors per hour, streaking from the Aquarius constellation. Venus blazes low on the horizon as the new Morning Star, while Saturn hovers above marking a beautiful pairing with the meteor display. May the 4th be with you—and don’t forget to wave at the ISS!

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.