Actual Astronomy - Observer’s Calendar for December
Release Date: 11/30/2023
Actual Astronomy Ep. 452: Comet C/2023 A3 Tsuchinshan-Atlas
The 365 Days of Astronomy
Hosted by Chris Beckett & Shane Ludtke, two amateur astronomers in Saskatchewan. Happy Canadian Thanksgiving, beer, turkey, bacon and observing. Did you buy that 17”? Had some notes and a photo from Wade in Australia where the comet has been Have you seen the comet? Clark wrote of his success on October 3rd. Concluding Listener Message: Please subscribe and share the show with other stargazers you know and send us show ideas, observations and questions to We've added a new way to donate to 365 Days of Astronomy to support editing, hosting, and production...
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George’s Random Astronomical Object Ep. 135: NGC 3801
The 365 Days of Astronomy
Welcome to episode 135 of George’s Random Astronomical Object, or, if you prefer Roman numerals, episode CXXXV. Every episode, I run a random number generator to select random astronomical coordinates in the sky, and I then search for an astronomical object near those coordinates and talk about what makes that object so interesting to astronomers. So let’s now turn on the random number generator. The coordinates for this episode are 11:40:16.9 right ascension and +17:43:41 declination. This points to the galaxy NGC 3801, which is located at a distance of roughly 176 million light...
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Ask A Spaceman Ep. 234: How Could We Turn the Sun Into a Telescope?
The 365 Days of Astronomy
How do gravitational lenses work? Where would a spacecraft need to be to use the Sun’s gravity as a telescope? What could we learn about exoplanets with this on weird trick? I discuss these questions and more in today’s Ask a Spaceman! This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/spaceman and get on your way to being your best self. Visit BetterHelp to get 10% off your first month! Support the show: All episodes: Follow on Twitter: Read a book: Keep those questions about space, science, astronomy, astrophysics, physics, and...
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Astronomy Cast Ep. 70: How To Win a Nobel Prize
The 365 Days of Astronomy
From January 7, 2008. Now that you’ve got your career in astronomy, obviously the next goal is to win a Nobel prize. We’re here at the American Astronomical Society meeting in Austin, which is just one tiny step that a person has to take before you get that Nobel prize. Before you get that call in the middle of the night from Sweden, you’re going to need to come with an idea, do some experiments, write a paper, get published and a bunch of other stuff. This week, we’ll tell you all about it. The 2024 version of Arxiv: We've added a new way to donate to 365 Days of Astronomy to...
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Travelers in the Night Eps. 289E & 290E: Murky & Egg Rock
The 365 Days of Astronomy
Dr. Al Grauer hosts. Dr. Albert D. Grauer ( ) is an observational asteroid hunting astronomer. Dr. Grauer retired from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock in 2006. Today's 2 topics: - It was murky cloudy night on Mt. Lemmon where I was trying to find Earth approaching objects with the Catalina Sky Survey 60 inch telescope. At about 1AM another hole in the clouds opened and I could see stars on the all sky video camera. On this fourth attempt, one set of images showed a bright rapidly moving object. Followup observations by my teammate Greg Leonard using the Catalina Sky Survey 40 inch...
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NOIRLab - NSF NOIRLab and Project ASTRO
The 365 Days of Astronomy
Project ASTRO was started by the Astronomical Society of the Pacific in 1994 and expanded to NSF NOIRLab (formerly the National Optical Astronomy Observatory) in 1996. This podcast tells the story of how Project ASTRO has been working to improve science education for almost 30 years at NSF NOIRLab. Hosted by Rob Sparks of the Communications, Education and Engagement group at NSF’s NOIRLab in Tucson, Arizona. Links: NOIRLab social media channels can be found at We've added a new way to donate to 365 Days of Astronomy to support editing, hosting, and production...
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EVSN - SpaceX vs FAA & EPA & Cards Against Humanity
The 365 Days of Astronomy
From October 2, 2024. This week we’re doing something we’ve never done before; we’re dedicating the majority of the show to a single story: SpaceX’s recurring failure to follow the rules, regulations, and norms of international spaceflight. We have the receipts, and we hope that you will hear us out before you hit that comment button. We've added a new way to donate to 365 Days of Astronomy to support editing, hosting, and production costs. Just visit: and donate as much as you can! Share the podcast with your friends and send the Patreon link to them too! Every bit...
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Cheap Astronomy - Implausible Engineering Episode 1: How To Live Longer & Talk To Aliens
The 365 Days of Astronomy
Hosted by Steve Nerlich. Episode 1a: The Relativity Vault We’re all going to die. But let’s say you’re going to die from some incurable disease – or even just from ageing – and you’ve got some time to plan ahead. One option is to assume that future science could save you. A common strategy to access this option is to get yourself frozen – or even just get your head frozen –until medical science can find a cure for whatever ails you. Episode 1b: The welcome note One solution to Fermi’s paradox – about why there’s a universe of potentially habitable worlds out there,...
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Awesome Astronomy - October Part 1
The 365 Days of Astronomy
Paul Hill and Dr. Jenifer “Dr. Dust” Millard host. Damien Phillips, John Wildridge and Dustin Ruoff produce. This month the episode comes from the dark skies of Wales as it is AstroCamp time! Discussion of Hera and Europa Clipper probes, comet news and the live recording of the Astrocamp panel! Enjoy Bio - Awesome Astronomy explores the frontiers of science, space and our evolving understanding of the universe. Join Paul & Jeni for informative and fun astronomy programmes dedicated to space and astronomy news and monthly podcast extras covering hot topics and special...
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Exoplanet Radio - How the Roman Space Telescope Will Revolutionize Our Understanding of Exoplanets
The 365 Days of Astronomy
Hosted by Tony Darnell. From Aug 25, 2023. The next big milestone in our study of exoplanets is a telescope that can see beyond the limits of our eyes, beyond the boundaries of our solar system, beyond the frontiers of our knowledge. A telescope that can reveal the secrets of the stars and the mysteries of the planets. A telescope that can take us closer to finding another home in the cosmos. That telescope is the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, a NASA observatory that is scheduled to launch in May 2027 and explore a wide range of astronomical phenomena, including exoplanets. Get all...
info_outlineThe Observer’s Calendar for December 2023!
Hosted by Chris Beckett & Shane Ludtke, two amateur astronomers in Saskatchewan.
- Patreon Calendar Draw reminder!
- Dec 4 - Mercury at greatest elongation in evening sky 21°
- Dec 5 - Last quarter Moon
- Dec 6 - Curtis X visible - Day of Darkness
- Dec 9 - Venus 4° North of Moon
- Dec 10 - Try to spot Uranus at M=5.7 this week in Aries
- Dec 12 - New Moon
- Dec 13/14 - Geminid Meteor Shower peaks - ZHR = 120!
- Dec 14 Mercury 4° north of the Moon — not here…at least in my software.
- Dec 17 - Saturn 2° N of Moon in Aquarius
- Dec 19 Double Shadow Transit on Jupiter?
- Dec 20 - Lunar Straight wall & First Quarter Moon
- Dec 21 - Winter Solstice and Jupiter 3° South of the Moon
- Dec 22 Ursid Meteor Shower Peaks - ZHR = 10
Asteroid Metis 9 at 8.4 magnitude opposition. Discovered by Andrew Graham on 25 April 1848, at Markree Observatory in Ireland. Metis (minor planet designation: 9 Metis) is one of the larger main-belt asteroids. It is composed of silicates and metallic nickel-iron, and may be the core remnant of a large asteroid that was destroyed by an ancient collision. Metis is estimated to contain just under half a percent of the total mass of the asteroid belt.
- Dec 26 Full Moon
- Dec 28 Asteroid 5 Astraea at Opposition! 5 Astraea is an asteroid in the asteroid belt. Its surface is highly reflective and its composition is probably a mixture of nickel-iron with silicates of magnesium and iron. It is an S-type asteroid in the Tholen classification system. Astraea was the fifth asteroid discovered, on 8 December 1845, by Karl Ludwig Hencke and named for Astraea, a Greek goddess of justice named after the stars. It was his first of two asteroid discoveries. The second was 6 Hebe. A German amateur astronomer and post office headmaster, Hencke was looking for 4 Vesta when he stumbled on Astraea. The King of Prussia awarded him an annual pension of 1,200 marks for the discovery.
- Dec 30 Double Shadow Transit on Jupiter YES!
Concluding Listener Message: Just a reminder for our Patreon Calendar Draw, all you need to do is be a Patreon Supporter to be placed in our draw. Thanks to everyone for listening and you can always send us your show ideas, observations and questions to:
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Share the podcast with your friends and send the Patreon link to them too!
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