Star Diary
Episodes
The Evening Star is back
29 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
Exploring the radio Universe
16 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Radio astronomer Dr Emma Chapman reveals how radio waves enable scientists to explore the cosmos, from mapping Venus to searching for alien life and d...
Spring stargazing is here
02 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
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...
Revealing the secrets of Mercury
09 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
The European Space Agency's BepiColombo mission arrives at Mercury later this year. Planetary scientist Emma Bunce reveals the mysteries the mission c...
Jupiter dominates the night sky in February 2026
30 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
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 yo...
Listening to black holes colliding
12 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Tessa Baker discusses newly-discovered cosmic collisions and how they’re helping her unlock the secrets of the Universe. Learn more about your ad ch...
New Year, new stargazing – January 2026
06 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
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...
3D-mapping an alien world
15 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 cho...
Christmas stargazing 2025
28 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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...
Have scientists solved Webb’s ‘impossible’ black holes?
14 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 w...
See the Moon and planets under truly dark skies
31 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 Novem...
Can a planet have a planet?
14 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Astronomer Belinda Damian discusses her research into the giant, free-floating worlds that may one day be able to form their own planetary systems. Le...
See gas giants Jupiter and Saturn at their best
29 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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...
Can YOU help astronomers find exploding stars?
14 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Astronomer Tom Killestein reveals how the public can help him on his mission to find stellar explosions via the Kilonova Seekers project, and reveals ...
See the blood Moon rise
28 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
How the Rubin Observatory will study the Universe
14 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
See Venus and Jupiter’s close approach
30 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 N...
Will our Galaxy collide with its neighbour?
10 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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...
Saturn and Venus are morning jewels
26 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 Sou...
The birth of the Universe
19 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 podcas...
Venus is a Morning Star and Mars meets the Lion's heart
29 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 st...
Earth, aliens and astronomy
15 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 Flower Moon rises in full bloom
10 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 D...
The Eta Aquarid meteor shower lights up the sky
03 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 D...
Mars passes through the Beehive
26 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 po...
Venus reaches its greatest brightness near the Moon (21 to 27 April)
19 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 episo...
Strange signals from the 'Eye of God'
17 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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...
Two sparkling diamonds glisten in the night sky (14 to 20 April)
12 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 f...
An asteroid passes through a Hamburger (Galaxy) (7 to 13 April 2025)
05 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 fro...
The Moon blots out the Pleiades (31 March to 6 April 2025)
30 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
After creeping ever closer to the Seven Sisters star cluster, the crescent Moon will pass through the Seven Sisters star cluster this week. Discover h...
Partial solar eclipse visible across the UK (24 to 30 March 2025)
23 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
Searching for life on alien planets
21 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 spec...
The Moon passes the heart of the Scorpion (17 to 23 March 2025)
16 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
Can you see the Blood Moon? (10 to 16 March 2025)
09 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 fin...
Mars meets up with the Moon (3 to 9 March 2025)
02 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 episod...
Mercury returns to the evening skies (24 February to 2 March 2025)
23 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 epi...
Catch Saturn before it leaves our skies (17 to 23 February 2025)
16 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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...
Webb uses space-bending gravity trick to discover distant stars
14 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 t...
The Full Moon shines next to bright star, Regulus (10 to 16 February 2025)
09 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 y...
Jupiter lies close to the Moon (3 to 9 February 2025)
02 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 yo...
The planets continue their parade across the sky (27 January to 2 February 2025)
26 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 st...
Jupiter’s shadow transit runs late (20 to 26 January 2025)
19 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 fin...
First zoomed-in image of a star beyond our galaxy
13 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 t...
The Full moon meets with Mars (13 to 19 December 2025)
12 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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...
Mars makes its closest approach to Earth since 2022 (6 to 12 January 2025)
05 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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. T...
Quadrantid meteor shower is gifted a moonless night (30 December to 5 January)
29 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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 sta...
A Cosmic Christmas Tree (23 to 29 December 2024)
22 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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...
How did life emerge on Earth?
16 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Spacerocks expert Rayssa Martins discusses her study into meteorites and how they delivered the building blocks of life to our planet. Learn more abou...
Mars disappears behind the Moon (16 to 22 December 2022)
15 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The Moon passes in front of Mars in the daylight sky. Find out how you might be able to catch the disappearance as well as other stargazing highlights...
Geminids meteor shower reaches its peak (9 to 15 December 2024)
08 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The Geminids is one of the most prolific meteor showers, but this year the Moon could get in the way. Find out how to make the most of the shower desp...
Jupiter makes its closest approach to Earth (2 to 8 December 2024)
01 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Both Jupiter and Venus are due to shine brightly in the sky this week. Find out how to see them along with many more stargazing highlights in this w...
Saturn, Jupiter, Venus and Mars all shine brightly (25 November to 1 December 2024)
24 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
A quartet of planets will be bright and on display throughout the night this week. Find out how to see them along with many more stargazing highligh...
Leonid meteor shower reaches its peak (18 to 24 November 2024)
17 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The Leonid meteor shower reaches the peak of activity this week. It might not be the best year for the shower, but fortunately we’re on hand with ma...
The mission to make solar eclipses
15 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Studying the outermost layer of the Sun is tricky business. Our host star is so bright, it can be difficult to see what’s going on at the surface. T...
Catch the last supermoon of the year, the Beaver Moon (11 to 17 November 2024)
10 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This week sees the last supermoon of the year, as the Beaver Moon lights up the night sky. Find out more, as well as all the latest stargazing high...
Firework galaxies light up the sky (4 to 10 November 2024)
03 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The Pinwheel and St Catherine’s Wheel Galaxy spin across the autumn skies. Learn the best sights to see, as well as all the latest stargazing hig...
Aurora special Ep 4: Photographing the aurora
30 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The aurora are a marvellous sight to behold and can look even more beautiful when captured on camera. We talk to photographer and Astronomy of the Yea...
Marvel at the Milky Way (28 October to 3 November 2024)
27 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
With the new Moon and a comet passing by, this week is the ideal time to take a look at the Milky Way. Learn the best sights to see, as well as all ...
Catch Tsuchinshan-ATLAS before it fades from view (21-27 October 2024)
20 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The spectacular comet is beginning to fade from view. To make sure you catch it before it disappears, as well ad learning about all the latest starga...
Aurora special Ep 3: The Solar Cycle
17 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The Sun is currently at the peak of an 11-year cycle of activity, making now a great time to go aurora hunting. We speak with solar scientist Lucie Gr...
Comet A3 Tsuchinshan-ATLAS makes its closest approach to Earth (14 to 20 October 2024)
13 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The comet could be naked eye visible, streaking away across the night sky. Find out when you can see them for yourself, as well as all the latest sta...
Keeping an eye on Comet Tsuchinshan (7 to 13 October 2024)
06 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The comet could be naked eye visible, streaking away across the night sky. Find out when you can see them for yourself, as well as all the latest sta...
Aurora special Ep 2: The science of the aurora
29 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The aurora are set to be at their best in the next few years, but what creates the light show in the first place? Join us as we talk with aurora exper...
Star Diary: Saturn the planet, or Saturn the nebula? (30 September to 6 October 2024)
29 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This week is a great time to see not only the planet Saturn, but the look alike nebula that also bears its name. Find out when you can see them for yo...
Star Diary: Catch sight of Saturn’s moon Titan (23 to 29 September 2024)
22 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The ringed planet’s moon will be visible just above the northern pole, and a telescope should be able to pick out six other moons. Find out how you ...
Star Diary: A supermoon eclipse (16 to 22 September 2024)
15 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
A partial lunar eclipse will cross the face of the supermoon this week. Find out when you can see the sight for yourself, as well as all the latest s...
Aurora special Ep 1: How to hunt the aurora
11 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The aurora are a spectacular sight and now is the best time in a decade to see them for yourself. We talk to aurora hunting expert Tom Kerss about the...
Star Diary: Spotting faces in the Moon (9 to 15 September 2024)
08 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The shadows of mountains and craters will create an array of lunar faces this week. Find out when you can see them for yourself, as well as all the la...
Star Diary: See a starry waterfall in the night sky (2 to 8 September 2024)
01 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
A line of stars will appear to tumble down the sky into a nearby cluster this week, like a waterfall flowing into a splash pool, in a feature known as...
Star Diary: Mars, Jupiter and the Moon partner up in the night sky (26 August to 1 September 2024)
24 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The crescent Moon joins Mars and Jupiter to form a striking celestial trio before the Moon dips out of the way to allow stargazers a stunning view of ...
Star Diary: The Super Blue Moon rises (19 to 25 August 2024)
18 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This week sees a rare blue Moon rising into our sky, but our close cosmic companion won’t actually look any different to normal. So why is it called...
Star Diary: The Perseids meteor shower peaks (12 to 18 August 2024)
11 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The Perseids meteor shower reaches its peak activity this week. Find out how to see the sight for yourself by listening to this week’s episode of St...
A history of flying saucers
09 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Have you ever seen a UFO? Reports of strange objects in the sky are a global phenomena, regardless of whether you’re a believer or skeptic. This epi...
Star Diary: Saturn rises high in the sky (5 to 11 August 2024)
04 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The ringed planet will be high in the sky this week, making it a great time to spot the gas giant. Find out how to see the sight for yourself by liste...
New Horizons at the edge of the Solar System
31 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
NASA’s New Horizons spacecraft became the first to visit Pluto in July 2015, and has since then continued its explorations at the edge of the Solar ...
Star Diary: Saturn’s moon casts its shadow across the planet (29 July to 4 August 2024)
28 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Saturn’s moon Dione casts its shadow across the ringed planet this week. Find out how to see the sight for yourself by listening to this week’s ep...
Star Diary: Taurus the Bull gains another eye (22 to 28 July 2024)
21 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Mars passes through the constellation of Taurus this week, giving the Bull a second red eye. Find out how to see the sight for yourself by listening t...
Star Diary: Mars passes the Pleiades (15 to 21 July 2024)
14 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Watch Mars as it passes by the Pleiades, also known as the Seven Sisters, in this week’s night sky, while bright Jupiter shines nearby. Find out ho...
Star Diary: Can you find Barry Manilow in the Moon? (8 to 14 July 2024)
07 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The shadows of a lunar crater cast the shape of the face that, according to one presenter, looks a bit like a certain famous singer. Catch the sight f...
Star Diary: Jupiter’s moons form a triangle (1 to 7 July 2024)
30 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This week, Jupiter’s moons will arrange themselves into a triangle to the left of the gas giant. Find out how you can see it and other celestial sig...
Star Diary: When will ‘new’ star, T Coronae Borealis appear? (24 to 30 June 2024)
23 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
A ‘new’ star is expected to appear in the night sky any day, as recurring nova T Coronae Borealis is due to flare up once again. Every 70 to 80 ye...
Star Diary: The Moon and Ceres take a tour through the Teapot (17 to 23 June 2024)
16 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The Moon and dwarf planet Ceres both pass near the Teapot asterism this week. Find out how you can see these for yourself as well as our usual stargaz...
How black holes changed everything
13 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In his latest book, A Crack In Everything, former radio astronomer and science author Marcus Chown reveals the history of black holes, from the mathem...
Star Diary: See the Lake of Death on the Moon (10 to 16 June 2024)
09 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
This week is a great opportunity to spot Lacus Mortis, the Lake of Death, on the lunar surface. Find out how you can see this for yourself as well as ...
Star Diary: Two comets streak across the sky (3 to 9 June 2024)
02 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Both comet Comet C 2023 A3 Tsuchinshan-ATLAS and 13P Olbers continue to make their way across the night sky. Find out how you can see these for yours...
Star Diary: Nightshining clouds return to the twilight sky (27 May - 2 June 2024)
26 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Noctilucent, or nightshining clouds, sparkle from the edge of space on the twilight sky. Find out how you can see these for yourself as well as our us...
The rock that fell to Earth
23 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Remember the Winchombe meteorite, a sample of which landed in a front garden in Gloucestershire, UK in 2021? Since that time, scientists have been ana...
Star Diary: Have you ever seen a hamburger in the sky? (20 to 26 May 2024)
19 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The Hamburger Galaxy is well placed in the sky this week, while Comet C 2023 A3 Tsuchinchan-ATLAS makes an appearance amongst the stars. Find out how ...
Star Diary: The Milky Way puts on a show (13 to 19 May 2024)
12 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Catch the Milky Way this month before it disappears into the twilight. Find out how to catch these and more stargazing highlights in this week’s pod...
Star Diary: See the crescent Moon pass the Pleiades (6 to 12 May 2024)
04 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Challenge yourself to find the 1% crescent Moon as it passes by Jupiter and the Pleiades. Find out how to catch these and more stargazing highlights i...
Star Diary: The Moon lies in The Teapot (29 April to 5 May 2024)
27 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
See the Moon sit inside the Teapot asterism this week, as well as a quartet of asteroids moving across the night sky. Find out how to catch these and ...
Star Diary: The Lyrid Meteor shower reaches its peak (22 to 28 April 2024)
20 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The full Moon will wash out some of the dimmer meteors, but fortunately there are plenty of other stargazing highlights in this week’s stargazing po...
Water found around a distant star
18 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Astronomer Stefano Facchini reveals how he and his colleagues found water vapour at a Sun-like star where planets could already be forming. Learn more...
Star Diary: Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks reaches its brightest (15 to 21 April 2024)
13 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks reaches perihelion, its closest approach to the Sun this week, and should be at its brightest. Find out how you can see them for...
Star Diary: The Great American Eclipse arrives (8 to 14 April)
06 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
A total solar eclipse will pass right across the US, Mexico and part of Canada on 8 April. Over 40 million people are expected to see the majestic sig...
Star Diary: Comet shine during the new Moon (1 to 7 April)
31 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Comet Pons-Brooks will pass close to Aries this week, while the US is treated to the sight of Venus disappearing behind the Moon. Find out how to see...
Star Diary: The Comet and the Coathanger (25 to 31 March)
24 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Comet C/2021 S3 PanSTARRS passes through the Coathanger cluster, the Moon dips into the Bowl of Virgo and Mercury hangs in the evening sky. Find out h...
Why do people believe in UFOs?
22 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Have you ever seen a ghost or a UFO? Chris French is a psychologist whose latest book The Science of Weird S**t explores the paranormal, and why peopl...
Star Diary 18 to 24 March 2024
17 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Mercury reaches greatest elongation this week, while Jupiter will be bracketed by its moons. Find out how to see both of them in our weekly stargazing...
Star Diary 11 to 17 March 2024
10 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Comet 12P Pons Brooks will streak past the Andromeda Galaxy this week, while Comet C/2021 S3 PanSTARRS passes the star clusters of the Milky Way. Find...