Audio Guide to the Galaxy

This month Leon & Sharna explore the November night sky in Perth, from Scorpius setting as Orion rises to Uranus at its best for the year. They catch the Leonids meteor shower, mark Voyager 1 reaching one light day from Earth, follow BepiColombo's eight year trip to Mercury and get ready for Astrofest at Curtin on 28 November. Plus a wander through the new Oceans exhibition at Scitech.

This month Leon & Sharna explore the October night sky in Perth, featuring meteor showers, giant tarantulas, and moon potatoes. You'll spot Venus and Mercury alongside the Moon in the western sky, and introduce you to the Orionids meteor shower, a spectacle linked to Halley's Comet. Discover the constellation Dorado, home to the Large Magellanic Cloud and the intriguing Tarantula Nebula. Whether you're a seasoned stargazer or a curious newcomer, this episode promises a fascinating journey through the cosmos.

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!