Dog Stars

Mr Max and Chris are finally back out under clear skies, thanks to a break in the weather (and kind sponsorship from Big Cheese in the form of the Oxford Cheese Company). Max is b..b...b...back to the (shin) bone, Chris is distracted by the Moon, but we're talking about the upcoming conjunction of the Pleiades cluster and Venus.

It's a cloudy night in Oxford but that doesn't stop Chris and Mr Max from getting out. Find out who the unluckiest astronomer is, and why even the Hubble Space Telescope needs to worry about the weather sometimes, while haring around the neighbourhood at speed. Also, do go out and find Venus and Jupiter in the next couple of days - they're spectacular right now.

A much needed clear night sees Mr Max and Chris distracted by the fabulous show put on by the Moon and planets in the West, as well as the usual bush escapades. The show features the Orion Cinematic Universe, and a guide to finding our namesake, Sirius, the Dog Star. No longer a harbinger of doom and disease, the brightest star in the sky is interesting for all sorts of reasons, not least its mysterious companion.

Mr Max is on the mini Cheddars as he and Chris make a slow wander around the local park, looking at Earth's mysterious neighbour, Venus. We find out why it's not shining quite as brightly as it does, explain why the Venera 8 mission which landed on its surface scored an own goal, and think about the prospect of penguins high in its atmosphere.

It's Bin Day Eve, and Chris and Mr Max are out under clear skies, talking about the most familiar group of stars of all, the Plough. We learn about an ancient test of your eyesight, why this pattern will persist longer than most, and where to look for the home of a distant planet. Meanwhile, can Mr Max cope with being barked at, and what exactly is hiding in the hedge?

The evening after the night before, Mr Max and Chris are recovering from a late night by gazing at the Moon and hunting for pizza. We talk about how to find the place where Neil Armstrong took his one small step, discuss KREEP, and explain an unexpected connection between Nicaragua and Las Vegas. #FoundABin #DontEatThat

In a quieter walk than usual, Chris and Mr Max tell the story of Betelgeuse - the armpit of the Great One, and the star that might one day provide a spectacular supernova. They also encourage you to find the constellation of Orion, the signpost to the winter sky, enjoy the odd bit of chicken and mourn the loss of the bone they found on Tuesday.

On a cold wander around Oxford, we learn about Jupiter and its fascinating moons, from volcanic Io to icy Europa. Learn how you can watch their dance around Jupiter, about the fascinating images sent back by the plucky Juno probe, and how the Great Red Spot might not be as Great as it used to be. We also discuss Mr Max's velocity, and the theme of today's walk is: Don't Eat That!

Thanks to Jules Nixon for the question that set us off today, and to those of you who have shared photos of your dogs and sky.

Chris and Mr Max are pleased to see Mars in the sky, finding the perfect location for an evening walk in a local park. We talk about colour, whether the red planet has little red plants on it, and compare it to nearby Aldebaran, the brightest star in the constellation of Taurus. Aldebaran also points us to the Hyades cluster, a nearby group of young stars. Enjoy your walk - and don't pee on the car!

You can find out when Mars is visible from where you are here at  in-the-sky.org, and read about Aldebaran here: https://www.skyatnightmagazine.com/advice/aldebaran/

While distracted, Chris describes the Hyades as a constellation a few times in this walk. It's a cluster, and he gets it right eventually, but Mr Max has been given extra bacon as an apology.

On our first walk, Chris and Mr Max explore the Full Moon on a blustery evening. Full Moon is a wonderful time to go crater spotting, and we talk about Tycho and Copernicus, as well as the mysterious Moon illusion.

You can find out about Moon phases and much more via in-the-sky.org, and you can read more about Copernicus here: https://www.skyatnightmagazine.com/astrophotography/moon/lunar-crater-copernicus/