The Backyard Astronomer Podcast

E.66 - Storm Season on Earth and in Space

July brings monsoon storms on Earth... and storms in Space!  When you have to cover your telescope and protect it from the elements, its a great opportunity to learn about space weather.
 
#Astronomy #Space #STEM #STEMEducation #NASA
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E.65 - BYA Special - Arizona's Orbital Tow Truck - Katalyst Space Attempts to Rescue NASA's Swift Observatory

On Tuesday, June 30, an Arizona-based company will attempt a mission that could change the future of spaceflight. Katalyst Space Technologies, headquartered in Flagstaff, plans to launch a first-of-its-kind orbital servicing mission designed to rendezvous with NASA's aging Swift space telescope and potentially extend its operational life.
In this episode, we'll explore why satellites slowly lose altitude, how space debris affects the orbital environment, and why many experts believe satellite servicing may become one of the most important industries of the coming Space Age.
Could the future of spaceflight involve repairing and refueling spacecraft instead of replacing them? Join us as we take a closer look at Arizona's role in a historic mission that may give an aging scientific observatory a second chance.
#BackyardAstronomer #SpaceExploration #SwiftTelescope #KatalystSpace #ArizonaSpace #Astronomy #SpaceScience #OrbitalServicing #SpaceDebris #FlagstaffAZ
 
 
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E.64 - Keeping An Eye On Jupiter

Jupiter takes center stage this June 🌌From ancient Roman mythology to NASA’s Juno spacecraft, humanity has been keeping an eye on the king of planets for centuries. This month, Jupiter meets Venus in a spectacular conjunction on June 8–9, joins the crescent Moon on June 16, and welcomes Mercury later in the month. Grab a pair of binoculars or a small telescope and watch the Galilean moons dance beside the Solar System’s giant.
 
#Astronomy #Space #STEM #STEMEducation #NASA
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E.63-A Fire in the Asteroid Belt

Long before spacecraft visited the asteroid belt, astronomers searched the skies for the remnants of a lost planet. In May’s Backyard Astronomer, we explore the discovery of 4 Vesta—a massive protoplanet, survivor of the early Solar System, and one of the brightest asteroids visible from Earth. This month, Vesta rises alongside Saturn and Neptune in the pre-dawn sky, offering backyard astronomers a chance to track a world in motion.
 
#Astronomy #Space #STEM #STEMEducation #NASA
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E.62-Earthshine: The Da Vinci Glow

More than 500 years ago, Leonardo da Vinci posited that the Earth could illuminate the Moon.  Learn more about the Da Vinci Glow in this month's Backyard Astronomer.
 
#Astronomy #Space #STEM #STEMEducation #NASA
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E.61-Element One: From Rocket Leaks to Starlight

Hydrogen is the smallest atom in existence, yet it shapes the entire universe. It fuels the Sun, forms the glowing clouds where new stars are born, and even powers the rockets carrying humans back to the Moon. In this episode of The Backyard Astronomer, we start with a stubborn hydrogen leak on the Artemis launchpad and trace element number one all the way back to the beginning of the cosmos.
 
#Astronomy #Space #STEM #STEMEducation #NASA
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E.60 - Back to the Moon

Humans are going back to the Moon. 🌕🚀After more than 50 years, a new crew prepares to orbit our lunar neighbor, marking the farthest humans have ever traveled from Earth. This month’s Backyard Astronomer looks back at Apollo 8—and forward to the next giant leap. Clear skies and godspeed.
 
#Astronomy #Space #STEM #STEMEducation #Rocket #Moon #NASA
 
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E.59 - A Winter Sky Worth Watching

January opens the year with fire in the sky. Before dawn on the 3rd, the Quadrantid meteor shower delivers one of the strongest displays of the year — streaking through crisp winter skies beneath a glowing Super Wolf Moon. Jupiter shines at its brightest, Orion returns to prominence, and the new Moon brings deep, dark nights perfect for exploration. Bundle up, step outside, and start the year by reconnecting with the night sky.
#Astronomy #Space #STEM #STEMEducation
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E.58 - Occupy Space

Imagine a football-field-sized spacecraft racing overhead at 17,500 miles per hour… one you can see with your naked eye. This month on The Backyard Astronomer, we’re celebrating 25 years of continuous human presence in space. From the first two modules joined in orbit to the sprawling station we know today, we’ll explore the story of the ISS, why it matters, and how you can spot it yourself from your own backyard. Step outside, look up, and join me as we “Occupy Space.”
 
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E.57-Lunar Peculiarities

Picture this — 4.5 billion years ago, Earth wasn’t alone. A Mars-sized neighbor named Theia was sharing the same orbit, until fate — or physics — brought them together in a collision that nearly destroyed our planet... and created our Moon.
In this episode, we’ll explore how that ancient impact shaped the skies we see tonight, from the tides and eclipses to the bright November supermoon. We’ll also look ahead to what’s happening overhead this month — the Beaver Moon, the Leonids, and even a glimpse of Uranus at its brightest.
 
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