The 365 Days of Astronomy

Dr. Al Grauer hosts. Dr. Albert D. Grauer ( @Nmcanopus ) is an observational asteroid hunting astronomer. Dr. Grauer retired from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock in 2006. travelersinthenight.org
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 sand to perhaps ones as big as of a piece of driveway gravel. Large space pebbles can produce fireballs which are brighter than the planet Venus. 
 
- At about 2AM on July 18, 2011 several people in near Tata, Morocco saw a bright fireball which was described by one of them to be initially yellow, then turned green, and finally exploded into several pieces producing two sonic booms. In October of 2011 desert wandering nomads began finding very fresh looking dark fusion-crusted stones which were radioactively dated by Dr. John Duke of the University of Alberta to be less than 5 years old. In total 15-24 lbs of meteorites consistent with a very recent fall were found in a strewn field, were whisked away to receive high prices from collectors, and named after the town of Tissint, about 30 miles from their discovery location.
 
We've added a new way to donate to 365 Days of Astronomy to support editing, hosting, and production costs. 
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Every bit helps! Thank you!
------------------------------------
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------------------------------------
The 365 Days of Astronomy Podcast is produced by the Planetary Science Institute. http://www.psi.edu
Visit us on the web at 365DaysOfAstronomy.org or email us at info@365DaysOfAstronomy.org.

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 with its groundbreaking data. 
 
Bios: 
- Rob Sparks is in the Communications, Education and Engagement group at NSF's NOIRLab in Tucson, Arizona.
- Dr. Yumi Choi is an Assistant Astronomer at NSF NOIRLab. Her research focuses on understanding the formation and evolution of nearby galaxies. Her primary work utilizes high-precision, multi-band photometry to analyze resolved stellar populations in those galaxies. Beyond my independent research programs, she is a dedicated member of the Rubin Observatory Community Science Team.
 
Dr. Choi earned her PhD in Astronomy from the University of Washington in 2016. She subsequently held postdoctoral research positions at the University of Arizona's Steward Observatory, Montana State University, and the Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI). Prior to her current appointment at NSF NOIRLab in 2023, she spent a year as an Assistant Researcher at the University of California, Berkeley.
 
- Dr. Christina C. Williams is an Associate Astronomer at NSF NOIRLab in Tucson, Arizona And an Assistant Research Professor at University of Arizona and a member of the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) NIRCam instrument and science teams. Her research focuses on high-redshift galaxies, galaxy evolution, and star formation in the early Universe.
 
We've added a new way to donate to 365 Days of Astronomy to support editing, hosting, and production costs. 
Just visit: https://www.patreon.com/365DaysOfAstronomy 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 http://www.redbubble.com/people/CosmoQuestX/shop for cool Astronomy Cast and CosmoQuest t-shirts, coffee mugs and other awesomeness!
http://cosmoquest.org/Donate This show is made possible through your donations. 
Thank you! (Haven't donated? It's not too late! Just click!)
------------------------------------
The 365 Days of Astronomy Podcast is produced by the Planetary Science Institute. http://www.psi.edu
Visit us on the web at 365DaysOfAstronomy.org or email us at info@365DaysOfAstronomy.org.

From July 15, 2026.
Hosted by: Dr. Pamela L. Gay (@CosmoQuest)
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.
https://meteorites.asu.edu
 
We've added a new way to donate to 365 Days of Astronomy to support editing, hosting, and production costs. 
Just visit: https://www.patreon.com/365DaysOfAstronomy 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 http://www.redbubble.com/people/CosmoQuestX/shop for cool Astronomy Cast and CosmoQuest t-shirts, coffee mugs and other awesomeness!
http://cosmoquest.org/Donate This show is made possible through your donations. 
Thank you! (Haven't donated? It's not too late! Just click!)
------------------------------------
The 365 Days of Astronomy Podcast is produced by the Planetary Science Institute. http://www.psi.edu
Visit us on the web at 365DaysOfAstronomy.org or email us at info@365DaysOfAstronomy.org.

Hosted 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
 
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 eclipse accompanying the Full Moon on August 28th.
 
Planet Positions & Visibility:
- Mercury: Very close to the Sun. Superior conjunction on the 27th.
- Venus: In W, evening sky all month.
- Mars: Rises at 3 AM in ENE.
- Jupiter: Hidden behind the Sun at the start of Aug. Will rise around 5 AM by the end of month.
- Saturn: Rises in E around midnight, transits around 5:00 AM, high in SSE at dawn.
 
Astronomical Events by Date:
- August 2
- Mercury at greatest morning elongation (19° from Sun)
- Comet 10P/Tempel 2visible at 2:25 AM
- Image for when moon leaves in second week of Aug.
 
- August 3
- Lunar Feature (Mare Orientale) visible at 4:45 AM
- Carbon star RS Cyg best in evening
 
- August 5
- Last Quarter Moon at 22:21
***August 5 Falcon 9 Upper Stage lunar impact anyone?***
 
- August 9
- Mars 4° SW of crescent Moon before dawn.
- Star cluster NGC 6791 well placed this evening
 
- August 10
- Moon at perigee
- Wild Duck Cluster (M11) well placed this evening
 
- August 11
- Mercury 2° South of Moon, just before dawn.
- Globular clusters M22 and M28 well placed this evening
 
- August 12
- New Moon at 13:37 — Partial solar eclipse for US east coast.
- Perseid meteors (ZHR=100), late evening, but best seen after midnight
 
- August 16
- Venus 9° W of Moon
 
- August 19
- First Quarter Moon at 22:46
- Lunar feature Barrow Ray visible at 8:30 PM
- Carbon star S Sct best in evening
 
- August 23
- Lunar feature Jeweled Handle visible at 12:00 AM
- Carbon star V CrB best in evening
 
- August 26
- Crater Bailly visible at 10:00 PM
- 57 Aql (colorful double star) visible
 
- August 28th
- Full Moon: Occurs at 0:19.
- Partial (96%) Lunar Eclipse
- 9 Metis at Opposition: Visible at magnitude m = 9.3 The asteroid was discovered on April 25, 1848, by Irish astronomer Andrew Graham. It was his only asteroid discovery and holds historical significance as the only asteroid ever discovered from an observatory in Ireland (the Markree Observatory). Scientists believe 9 Metis has a cataclysmic history. It is highly dense and rich in metals, leading researchers to conclude that it is likely the core remnant of an ancient, much larger primordial asteroid. This parent body was completely destroyed and stripped of its outer crust by a colossal space collision billions of years ago.
 
We've added a new way to donate to 365 Days of Astronomy to support editing, hosting, and production costs. 
Just visit: https://www.patreon.com/365DaysOfAstronomy 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 http://www.redbubble.com/people/CosmoQuestX/shop for cool Astronomy Cast and CosmoQuest t-shirts, coffee mugs and other awesomeness!
http://cosmoquest.org/Donate This show is made possible through your donations. 
Thank you! (Haven't donated? It's not too late! Just click!)
------------------------------------
The 365 Days of Astronomy Podcast is produced by the Planetary Science Institute. http://www.psi.edu
Visit us on the web at 365DaysOfAstronomy.org or email us at info@365DaysOfAstronomy.org.

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: http://www.patreon.com/pmsutter
All episodes: http://www.AskASpaceman.com
Watch on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/PaulMSutter
Read a book: https://www.pmsutter.com/books
 
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: Justin G, Chris L, Alberto M, Corey D, Michael P, Naila, Sam R, Joshua, Scott M, Rob H, Scott M, Louis M, John W, Alexis, Gilbert M, Rob W, Jessica M, Jules R, Jim L, David S, Scott R, Heather, Mike S, Pete H, Steve S, Lisa R, Kevin B, Aileen G, Deb A, Michael J, Phillip L, Steven B, Mark R, Alan B, Craig B, Richard K, Joe R, David P, Justin, Tracy F, Thomas K, James C, Syamkumar M, Homer V, Mark D, Bruce A, Tim Z, Linda C, The Tired Jedi, Bob C, Stephen A, James R, Allen E, Michael S, Sheryl, David W, Chris, Michael S, Erlend A, James D, Karl W, Den K, Edward K, Scott K, Vivek D, M0PPET, Brad, Azra K, Steve R, M D Malahy, Brian O, Alonna M, Joseph B, and Anders J!
 
We've added a new way to donate to 365 Days of Astronomy to support editing, hosting, and production costs. 
Just visit: https://www.patreon.com/365DaysOfAstronomy 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 http://www.redbubble.com/people/CosmoQuestX/shop for cool Astronomy Cast and CosmoQuest t-shirts, coffee mugs and other awesomeness!
http://cosmoquest.org/Donate This show is made possible through your donations. 
Thank you! (Haven't donated? It's not too late! Just click!)
------------------------------------
The 365 Days of Astronomy Podcast is produced by the Planetary Science Institute. http://www.psi.edu
Visit us on the web at 365DaysOfAstronomy.org or email us at info@365DaysOfAstronomy.org.