Star Diary
Episodes
Star Diary: What’s in the night sky, 3 to 9 October 2022
02 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In this week's stargazing guide, we take a look at the Moon's southern pole and catch asteroid Pallas as it glides past Sirius. Transcript Hosted on...
Interview: A Brief History of Black Holes
28 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
What is a black hole? Are they really black? Are they really holes? How much do we actually know about them? Astrophysicist and YouTuber Dr Becky Smet...
Star Diary: What’s in the night sky, 26 September to 2 October 2022
25 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Jupiter makes its closest approach to Earth of the year this week as we take a look at Jupiter's opposition and more in this episode of Star Diary. Ho...
Interview: NASA's plan to crash a spacecraft into an asteroid
23 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Could humanity deflect the path of a civilisation-destroying asteroid? That's what NASA's DART mission hopes to find out by crashing into an asteroid....
Star Diary: What’s in the night sky, 19 to 25 September 2022
18 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
As the autumn equinox arrives, the crescent Moon gives a great opportunity to see Earthshine. Transcript Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for m...
Star Diary: What’s in the night sky, 12 to 18 September 2022
11 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The occultation of Uranus by the Moon making the planet vanish is just one of this week's stargazing highlights. Transcript Hosted on Acast. See acas...
Star Diary: What’s in the night sky, 5 to 11 September, 2022
04 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Jupiter and Neptune meet up with minor world 3 Juno, which is in opposition as we run through this week's stargazing highlights. Transcript Hosted on...
Star Diary: What’s in the night sky, 29 August to 4 September
28 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Mars makes its way past the Pleiades and the Hyades, while Mercury hugs the horizon as we take a look at what's in the sky this week. Transcript Host...
Interview: How JWST observes the Universe
26 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Instrument scientist Dr Pamela Klaassen reveals the science behind how JWST studies the cosmos, what its images show us, and the secrets it might unco...
Interview: How JWST will observe exoplanets
22 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Astrophysicist Dr Hannah Wakeford from the University of Bristol reveals how JWST will unlock the secrets of planets orbiting stars beyond our Solar S...
Star Diary: What’s in the night sky, 22 to 28 August 2022
21 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
This week is a great opportunity to take a look at Orion, or hunt out the asteroids Pallas and Vesta. Transcript Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/priva...
Star Diary: What’s in the night sky, 15 to 21 August 2022
14 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Mars meets the Pleiades, Venus approaches the Beehive in this week's stargazing diary. Transcript Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more inf...
Interview: Observing the Solar System in x-ray
10 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Astrophysicist William Dunn reveals how x-rays can reveal the secrets of the outer planets and their moons. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for...
Star Diary: What’s in the night sky, 8 to 14 August
07 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The Perseid meteor shower and Saturn at opposition are both stargazing highlight this week. Transcript. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for mo...
Star Diary: What’s in the night sky, 1st to 7th August
31 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Comet Wilson-Harrington is still on show for stargazers this week, while Venus brushes up against the stars in this week's night sky. Transcript Host...
Bluedot 2022 | Why study asteroids?
29 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
This episode we spoke to planetary scientist and spacerocks expert Dr Sarah Crowther about the science of asteroids. What can asteroids tell us about...
Bluedot 2022 | A new era for human spaceflight?
28 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
We spoke the the UK Space Agency's Libby Jackson about what the future holds for crewed space exploration. Are we overdue a UK astronaut? Can we exp...
Bluedot 2022 | What is space weather?
27 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
We sat down with Jim Wild, Professor of Space Physics at Lancaster University, to find out about space weather and the Sun's far-reaching influence on...
Star Diary: What’s in the night sky, 25 to 31 July
24 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune continue their planetary parade, while a comet, 107P Wilson Harrington, also makes an appearance as we tell ...
Star Diary: What’s in the night sky, 18 to 24 July
17 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Neptune, the Pleiades and asteroid that used to be a comet are all visible in this week's night sky. Transcript Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privac...
Star Diary: What’s in the night sky, 11 to 17 July 2022
10 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The full moon offers a great 'stargazing' opportunity this week, with asteroid Vesta also making an appearance. Transcript Hosted on Acast. See acast...
Star Diary: What’s in the night sky, 4 to 10 July
03 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
This week, we take a look at the full Moon – which is a supermoon this month – as it tracks its way across the night sky. Transcript Hosted on Ac...
Star Diary: What’s in the night sky, 27 June to 3 July
26 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
A parade of planets, Earthshine and a stellar occultation, as we run down what you can see in the night sky this week. Transcript Hosted on Acast. Se...
The search for extraterrestrial intelligence
24 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Could there be life beyond Earth? Microbial life existing elsewhere in the Universe seems likely, but what about an intelligent civilisation? How are ...
Star Diary: What’s in the night sky, 20 to 26 June
19 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
A handful of planets, Earthshine and a comet are all in this weeks episode, where we list the best things to see in this week's night sky. Hosted on A...
Space Women: Maggie Aderin-Pocock
15 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Presenter of The Sky at Night, Maggie Aderin Pocock, talks us through her career and her lifelong obsession with the Moon Transcript Hosted on Acast....
Star Diary: What’s in the night sky, 13 to 19 June
12 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Supermoons, stargazing with Antares and a planetary parade in this week's episode, where we tell you the best things in the night sky this week. Trans...
Star Diary: What's in the night sky from 6 to 12 June
05 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The craters of the Moon; double stars and the Moon's progress across the stars – We run down the best things to see in the sky this week. Hosted on ...
Star Diary: What's in the night sky from 30 May to 5 June
27 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The Planets; the twins of Gemini - Castor and Pollux; the Moon. We run down the best things to see in the sky this week. Hosted on Acast. See acast.co...
What is dark energy?
27 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Cosmologist Dr Eva-Maria Mueller reveals how we know the expansion of the Universe is accelerating, what this 'dark energy' might be, and how we can h...
Star Diary: What’s in the night sky, 23 to 29 May 2022
22 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
A run down of all the best things to see in the northern hemisphere's sky from the 23 to 29 May 2022. Transcript Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/priva...
Star Diary: What’s in the night sky, 16 to 22 May 2022
15 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
A run down of all the best things to see in the northern hemisphere's sky from the 16 to 22 May 2022. Transcript Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/priva...
Star Diary: What’s in the night sky, 9 to 15 May 2022
08 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
A run down of all the best things to see in the northern hemisphere's sky from the 9 to 15 May 2022. Transcript Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privac...
Star Diary: What’s in the night sky, 2 to 8 May 2022
01 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
A run down of all the best things to see in the northern hemisphere's sky from 2 to 8 May 2022. Transcript Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for...
Hubble, James Webb and life beyond Earth
29 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
NASA’s Dr Richard Barry discusses the science of space telescopes, the hunt for distant worlds and why finding life beyond Earth is an inevitability...
Star Diary: What’s in the night sky, 25 April to 1 May 2022
24 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
A run down of all the best things to see in the northern hemisphere's sky from the 25 April to 1 May 2022. Transcript Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/...
Star Diary: What’s in the night sky, 18 to 24 April 2022
18 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
A run down of all the best things to see in the northern hemisphere's sky from the 18 to 24 April 2022. Transcript Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/pri...
Star Diary: What’s in the night sky, 11 to 17 April 2022
11 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
A run down of all the best things to see in the northern hemisphere's sky from the 11 to 17 April 2022. Transcript Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/pri...
Star Diary: What’s in the night sky, 4 to 10 April 2022
04 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
A run down of all the best things to see in the northern hemisphere's sky from the 4 to 10 April 2022. Transcript Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/priv...
What happens if someone dies in space?
01 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Who upholds the law in space? Are astronauts governed by the same laws as those of us on Earth? Do we need a new cosmic constitution to cover future m...
Star Diary: What’s in the night sky, 28 March to 3 April 2022
28 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
A run down of all the best things to see in the northern hemisphere's sky from the 28 March to 3 April 2022. Transcript Hosted on Acast. See acast.co...
Star Diary: What’s in the night sky, March 2022
28 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
What's coming up in the night sky in the month of March 2022. Transcript. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more abo...
Interview: The science of exploding stars
22 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Astronomer Or Graur reveals how studying exploding stars - known as supernovae - can reveal the secrets of the Universe, past present and future. Host...
Star Diary: What’s in the night sky, February 2022
29 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
What's coming up in the night sky in the month of February 2022. Transcript Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more a...
Astronomy events of the 21st Century
19 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
January 2022 marks the 200th issue of BBC Sky at Night Magazine. To celebrate, astronomers Pete Lawrence and Paul Abel look back on their favourite me...
Interview: Astrobiologist Nicol Caplin
30 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
European Space Agency astrobiologist and Deep Space Exploration Scientist Dr Nicol Caplin discusses the search for life beyond Earth, and how our plan...
Star Diary: What’s in the night sky, January 2022
23 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
What's coming up in the night sky in the month of January 2022.Transcript Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more abou...
Launch of the James Webb Space Telescope
20 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
As the James Webb Space Telescope prepares to launch on 22 December, we take a look at what the telescope has to offer. Transcript Hosted on Acas...
Interview: Astronaut Nicole Stott
02 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The former NASA astronaut ponders the fragile beauty of our home planet. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about...
Star Diary: What’s in the night sky, December 2021
25 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
BBC Sky at Night Magazine's guide to the best things to see in the northern hemisphere's night sky in December 2021. Transcript Hosted on Acast. See ...
Deflecting asteroids with NASA's DART mission
18 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Can we stop an asteroid from hitting Earth? That's what NASA's DART mission is about to investigate Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more in...
Interview: How to see the Northern Lights
08 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Aurora-hunter Tom Kerss reveals how to see the phenomena for yourself. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about y...
Star Diary: What’s in the night sky, November 2021
31 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
BBC Sky at Night Magazine's guide to the best things to see in the northern hemisphere's night sky in November 2021. Transcript Hosted on Acast. See ...
Interview: Astronaut Nora Al Matrooshi
24 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
We speak to the UAE’s first female astronaut. Transcript Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choi...
Remembering Rosetta
21 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
We take a look back at what ESA's Rosetta mission taught us about comets as the comet it spent two years exploring - 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko - retur...
Interview: Natalie Starkey talks space volcanoes
07 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Cosmochemist Natalie Starkey discusses the volcanoes of the Solar System. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more abou...
Star Diary: What’s in the night sky, October 2021
29 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
What to see in the northern hemisphere night sky throughout October 2021. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more abou...
Interview: UK astronaut Tim Peake
24 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The British astronaut discusses life on the International Space Station and getting human feet on Mars. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for mor...
Perseverance: 200 sols on Mars
17 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
NASA's Perseverance rover and the Ingenuity helicopter scout have been on Mars for 200 sols. We find out what they've been up to. Transcript Hosted o...
Star Diary: What’s in the night sky, September 2021
26 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
A guide to September 2021’s night sky in the northern hemisphere. Transcript Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn mor...
Interview: The largest radio telescope in the world
19 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Astrophysicist Carole Mundell reveals how the Square Kilometre Array will explore the secrets of the cosmos. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy fo...
Telescopes that changed astronomy
12 Aug 2021
Contributed by Lukas
From Galileo's refractor, to the Hubble Space Telescope, to the JWST - there have been some telescopes that have changed how we look at the night sky....
Star Diary: What’s in the night sky, August 2021
29 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
A guide to August 2021’s night sky in the northern hemisphere. This month Jupiter and Saturn reach opposition, and the Perseid meteor shower appears...
Interview: How to make a Universe from scratch
23 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Particle physicist Dr Harry Cliff traces the building blocks of the cosmos back to the Big Bang. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more infor...
Jupiter Special: a celebration of the gas giant
19 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
August sees Jupiter reach opposition and the extension of NASA's Juno mission. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more...
Interview: Cosmic Collisions
01 Jul 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Planetary scientist Simone Marchi reveals the vital role collisions have played in the history of the Solar System. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/pri...
Star Diary: What's in the night sky, July 2021
26 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
A guide to July's night sky in the northern hemisphere. This month a parade of planets will be visible, even during the light summer nights. Hosted on...
Apollo 15's 50th anniversary
21 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Revisiting Apollo 15 and the moon buggy on the 50th anniversary of the fourth Moon landing Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information...
Interview: solar weather expert, Mathew Owens
14 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
As the Sun's activity increases, we take a look at whether space weather could be hazardous to the Artemis moon-landing mission, and to satellites in ...
Interview: Emily Lakdawalla talks Mars exploration
04 Jun 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Planetary scientist Emily Lakdawalla discusses the importance of putting rovers on the Red Planet. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more inf...
Star Diary: What's in the night sky, June 2021
26 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
A guide to June's planets, stars, conjunctions and how to see the partial solar eclipse. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. ...
20 years of NASA's WMAP mission
20 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
How the WMAP satellite detected residual heat from the birth of the Universe. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more ...
Interview: How to photograph a black hole
15 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Astronomer Heino Falcke reveals how an international science team photographed a black hole for the first time. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy...
Interview: Andy Weir, author of The Martian
06 May 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The Martian author, Andy Weir, talks to us about his new novel Project Hail Mary. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn m...
Star Diary: What's in the night sky, May 2021
30 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Discover the stars, planets, conjunctions and other observing highlights in the night sky this month. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more ...
Interview: Genetic engineering for spaceflight
28 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Geneticist Dr Christopher Mason reveals how we could reengineer human genetics to survive on another planet. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy fo...
The Disordered Cosmos
25 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Astrophysicist Chanda Prescod-Weinstein explores some of the Universe's greatest unsolved mysteries. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more i...
How the Great Debate changed astronomy forever
23 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
101 years since astronomy's Great Debate challenged our understanding of the Universe. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Le...
Interview: Light pollution from satellites
19 Apr 2021
Contributed by Lukas
We talk with John Barentine from the International Dark Sky Association about an emerging source of light pollution – satellites. Hosted on Acast. S...
Star Diary: What's in the night sky, April 2021
31 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Discover the stars, planets, conjunctions and other observing highlights in the night sky this month. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more ...
Yuri Gagarin, the first human in space
25 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
We look back on cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin's historic spaceflight. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad c...
Interview: How to photograph an exoplanet
22 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Astronomer Beth Biller reveals the new instrument that can directly image planets orbiting distant stars. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for m...
How Uranus's rings were discovered
13 Mar 2021
Contributed by Lukas
We speak to astronomer Jessica Mink about her discovery of rings around Uranus. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn mor...
Star Diary: What's in the night sky, March 2021
27 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Find out what to see in the night sky this month. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit...
Interview: How SPHEREx will track the history of the Universe
23 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
NASA scientist Jamie Bock discusses a new mission to track the evolution of the cosmos. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. L...
OSIRIS-Rex and the Asteroid belt
18 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
We take a look at the asteroid belt and NASA's space-rock-investigating spacecraft OSIRIS-Rex as it prepares to return to Earth. Hosted on Acast. See ...
Interview: The Emirates Mars Mission with Hessa Al Matroushi
08 Feb 2021
Contributed by Lukas
What will the UAE's first space mission reveal about the Red Planet? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about you...
Star Diary: What's in the night sky, February 2021
30 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Discover the best things to see in the night sky this month. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad cho...
2021: A new year for astronomy and spaceflight
22 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
A guide to stargazing and space missions over the coming year. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad c...
Interview: Kellie Gerardi on the future of spaceflight
19 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Suborbital scientist Kellie Gerardi reveals the secrets of the space industry. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more...
2020's spaceflight and astronomy highlights
17 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
2020 has been quite a year, but for many of us the ever-present cosmos has been a source of inspiration and comfort. This episode we look back on the ...
Interview: NASA astronaut Terry Virts
12 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Former NASA astronaut Terry Virts discusses life in zero gravity and the future of human spacelflight. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more...
A history of Palomar Observatory
09 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Astronomer Linda Schweizer discusses the history of California's Palomar Observatory, the subject of her new book Cosmic Odyssey. Hosted on Acast. See...
What next for New Horizons?
20 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
NASA's New Horizons spacecraft heads deeper into the Kuiper Belt at the edge of the Solar System. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more info...
Is there life beyond Earth?
17 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Biologist Wallace Arthur reveals why he believes the Universe could be teaming with life. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
What's a black hole? Interview with astrophysicist Janna Levin
06 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
US astrophysicist Janna Levin reveals the secrets of black holes. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your a...
Interview: NASA astronaut Jeff Williams
30 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
November 2020 marks 20 years of continuous occupation of the International Space Station. We speak to former NASA astronaut Jeff Williams about the sp...
20 years of the International Space Station
22 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
We're marking 20 years of continuous occupation of the ISS with a look at its past, present and future, its many achievements, and what it's like to l...
Interview: Getting The Right Stuff right
09 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Robert Yowell served as a technical consultant on Dinsey+ new series, The Right Stuff. The series chronicles the story of the US’s first astronaut c...
Interview: Stuart Clark on the history of astronomy
02 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Have you ever wondered what early humans thought as they looked up at the night sky? How did our ancestors interpret the motion of the stars, constell...