Actual Astronomy - The Observer’s Calendar for May 2026
Release Date: 05/07/2026
Guide To Space - Where Do Comets Come From? Exploring the Oort Cloud
The 365 Days of Astronomy
From Oct 17, 2017. Hosted by: Fraser Cain () Some comets orbit the Sun on a regular basis, but others come in from deep space, a region known as the Oort Cloud. What causes them to make this journey, and will we ever be able to explore the Oort Cloud? Before I get into this episode, I want to remind everyone that it’s been several decades since I’ve been able to enjoy a bright comet in the night sky. I’ve seen mind blowing auroras, and witnessed a total solar eclipse with my own eyeballs. The Universe needs to deliver this bright comet for me, and it needs to do it soon. ...
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Equatorial Sky Guide - August 2026
The 365 Days of Astronomy
Hosted by our Director, Avivah Yamani. Explore the August 2026 equatorial sky, from the Perseids and Milky Way to bright planets and the August 12 total solar eclipse. 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 helps! Thank you! ------------------------------------ Do go visit for cool Astronomy Cast and CosmoQuest t-shirts, coffee mugs and other awesomeness! This show is made...
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Cheap Astronomy - Dear CA Ep. 137: Space Missions
The 365 Days of Astronomy
Hosted by Steve Nerlich. We are still out there. Dear Cheap Astronomy – Why do some space missions last so long? So, we're all familiar with the stories of the Mars rovers, Spirit and Opportunity, landing with mission lifespans of 90 days, that then went on to rove the surface of Mars for 15 years. And the Voyager probes, launched in 1977, were supposed to have five-year missions, which are now going on 47 years and counting. So, what's going on? Is NASA just crap at predicting mission lifetimes? Dear Cheap Astronomy – How much faster is nuclear thermal propulsion? The idea behind...
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Astronomy Cast Ep. 160: Eclipses
The 365 Days of Astronomy
From October 19, 2009. Hosted by: Fraser Cain () and Dr. Pamela L. Gay () Every now and then, the Moon destroys the Sun. Okay, not destroys, covers. Well, not really covers, but from here on Earth, sitting inside the shadow of the Moon, that’s what it sure looks like. These events are called eclipses, or more precisely, transits and occultations. They occur whenever one object passes in front of another from a 3rd perspective. They’re beautiful and exciting, and deliver a tremendous amount of science as well. We've added a new way to donate to 365 Days of Astronomy to support...
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Travelers in the Night Eps. 365E & 366E: Spotting Meteors & Mars Rocks
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. From December 2025. Today's 2 topics: - Meteors, shooting stars, or falling stars are different names for the streaks of light in the night sky which are in reality the dying embers of tiny asteroids. These small interplanetary travelers were speeding along at between 7 and 44 miles per second when they entered the Earth's atmosphere. In space, they are called meteoroids and typically ranged in size from that of a grain of...
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NOIRLab - The Start of the LSST
The 365 Days of Astronomy
Hosted by Rob Sparks. The 10-year Legacy Survey of Space and Time has officially started, marking the beginning of a new era in astronomy and astrophysics. Over the next ten years, Rubin will relentlessly observe the entire southern sky every few nights to create an ultra-wide, ultra-high-definition time-lapse record of our Universe. This long-awaited milestone is the culmination of years of effort by thousands of people around the world. In this podcast, Dr. Christina Williams and Dr. Yumi Choi describe the LSST and its science goals as well as what they are most excited about researching...
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EVSN - After Hours: Space Rocks Collected for Science With Guest Dr. Rhonda Stroud
The 365 Days of Astronomy
From July 15, 2026. Hosted by: Dr. Pamela L. Gay () Our solar system readily provides us with free samples of other worlds in the form of meteorites. The trick comes in first recognizing them, and then in understanding what science is locked in their minerals. One major center for collecting and studying these space rocks is Arizona State University's Buseck Center for Meteorite Studies which houses the Carleton B. Moore Meteorite Collection. Join us as we discuss the collection with Director Rhonda Stroud. We've added a new way to donate to 365 Days of Astronomy to support editing,...
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Actual Astronomy - The Observer’s Calendar for August 2026
The 365 Days of Astronomy
Hosted by Chris Beckett & Shane Ludtke, two amateur astronomers in Saskatchewan who enjoy teaching astronomy classes and showing the public views through their telescopes. Episode 545 of the Actual Astronomy podcast features hosts Chris and Shane discussing the observer’s calendar and planetary visibility for August 2026. Throughout the month, skywatchers can track key planetary positions, including Venus in the morning sky and Jupiter rising around 3:00 AM. Notable astronomical highlights include the Perseid meteor shower, multiple lunar feature viewings, and a partial lunar...
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Ask A Spaceman Ep. 277: What’s It Like to Travel Near the Speed of Light?
The 365 Days of Astronomy
Life at lightspeed! Hosted by Dr. Paul M. Sutter. What does high-speed motion through the Universe do to your perspective? What is the Rindler horizon, and how does it appear? Would you get vaporized by a high-energy bath of radiation? I discuss these questions and more in today’s Ask a Spaceman! Support the show: All episodes: Watch on YouTube: Read a book: Keep those questions about space, science, astronomy, astrophysics, physics, and cosmology coming to #AskASpaceman for COMPLETE KNOWLEDGE OF TIME AND SPACE! Big thanks to my top Patreon supporters this month:...
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Awesome Astronomy - August Part 2: Jodrell Bank Murder Club
The 365 Days of Astronomy
Paul Hill and Dr. Jenifer “Dr. Dust” Millard host. Damien Phillips, John Wildridge and Dustin Ruoff produce. Angry episode where Paul and Jeni have their blood boiled by the decision to defund Jodrell Bank Observatory and the plans to launch over a million satellites, thousands of which will be brighter then the full moon! 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 helps!...
info_outlineHosted by Chris Beckett & Shane Ludtke, two amateur astronomers in Saskatchewan who enjoy teaching astronomy classes and showing the public views through their telescopes. actualastronomy@gmail.com
Observer’s Calendar for May 2026 on Episode 533 of the Actual Astronomy podcast. I’m Chris and joining me is Shane. We are amateur astronomers who love looking up at the night sky and this podcast is for everyone who enjoys going out under the stars.
— David Nagler Question show reminder.
2 Full Moons!
May 1 - Full Moon — Carbon Star RY Mon best in evening
May 2 - Alpha CVn Colourful Double
May 3 - Antares 0.5-degrees N of Moon
May 4 - Carbon Star X CnC best in evening
May 6 - Eta Aquaria Meteors best in predawn skies but 3/4 Moon interferes
May 7 - Markarian’s Chain well placed
Key Details of Markarian's Chain:
- Location: Situated in the constellation Virgo, between the stars Denebola and Vindemiatrix, part of the larger Virgo Cluster.
- Key Members: The chain is anchored by the large elliptical galaxies M84 and M86. Other notable members include NGC 4477, NGC 4473, NGC 4461, NGC 4458, and NGC 4438.
- Observation: The brightest members are visible in small telescopes, but it is a popular target for astrophotography in the spring, often requiring a wide field of view to capture the entire string.
- Interaction: While some galaxies are randomly aligned, at least seven members share a common physical motion. The pair NGC 4438 and NGC 4435, known as "The Eyes," are actively interacting and distorting one another.
May 8 - 2 Shadows on Jupiter Ganymede & Europa 8:44pm EDT Eastern North America
May 9 - Last Quarter Moon — NGC 4147 well placed
May 10 - Lunar Curtis X visible
May 11 - NGC 4038/4039 well placed
Key Facts About NGC 4038/4039:
- Location: Constellation Corvus, the Crow.
- Distance: Generally estimated between and million light-years.
- Other Names: Caldwell 60/Caldwell 61, the Antennae Galaxies, NGC 4038/4039.
- Discovery: Found by William Herschel in 1785.
- Interaction Type: Colliding/Merging galaxies.
- Appearance: The collision produces long tidal tails of stars, gas, and dust resembling insect antennae
May 12 - Mare Orientale
May 13 - NGC 5634 well placed
May 15 - Ganymede & Europa shadows visible on Jupiter 11:19 pm EDT
May 16 - New Moon but Old crescent in east before Sunrise today.
May 18 - Venus 3-degrees S of Moon
May 19 - Long period star X Oph at max 11:30pm
May 20 - Jupiter 3-degrees S of Moon - Not here
May 22 - Ganymede & Europa shadows visible on Jupiter 11:54 PM EDT WEST Fav.
May 23 - Callisto & Io discs visible on Jupiter 10:15pm
May 25 - Lunar Straight Wall visible also Longomontanus Ray
May 26 - Jewelled Handle
This is a monthly lunar phenomenon occurring around the first quarter moon (approx. 10–11 days after new moon). It appears as a bright, illuminated arc formed by sunlight hitting the peaks of the Montes Jura mountain range, which separates the dark night side from the bright day side, making it look like a handle attached to the moon
May 29 - Asteroid Amphitrite at opposition Mag. 9.5
29 Amphitrite is one of the largest S-type asteroids in the Main Belt, orbiting the Sun between Mars and Jupiter. Discovered on March 1, 1854, by Albert Marth, it was the only asteroid he ever found and is named after the Greek sea goddess Amphitrite, wife of Poseidon.
May 30 - Asteroid Lutetia at Opposition Mag. 9.8
21 Lutetia is a large, irregularly shaped asteroid in the main asteroid belt, measuring approximately 120 kilometers along its longest axis. It is highly significant to astronomers as a "survivor" or planetesimal from the early formation of the Solar System, roughly 4.5 billion years ago.
May 31 - 2nd Full Moon for May
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