The return of Halley's Comet in 1910 saw many media outlets report on the supposed end of civilisation that would occur as the celestial wanderer passed close by planet Earth. This episode, author Richard Goodrich discusses his new book Comet Madness, all about the doom-laden predictions that accompanied news of Halley's approach.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Interview: Comet Madness

The weekly astronomy podcast from the makers of BBC Sky at Night Magazine.

Science

Astronomy

Catch the Milky Way this month before it disappears into the twilight. Find out how to catch these and more stargazing highlights in this week’s podcast guide, Star Diary, 13 to 19 May 2024.
 
Transcript: https://www.skyatnightmagazine.com/news/star-diary-13-may-2024
 
Subscribe to BBC Sky at Night Magazine and submit your astrophotography images over on our website: https://www.skyatnightmagazine.com
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Star Diary: The Milky Way puts on a show (13 to 19 May 2024)

Challenge yourself to find the 1% crescent Moon as it passes by Jupiter and the Pleiades. Find out how to catch these and more stargazing highlights in this week’s podcast guide, Star Diary, 6 to 12 May 2024.
 
Transcript: https://www.skyatnightmagazine.com/podcasts/star-diary-6-may-2024
 
Make you own craters: https://www.skyatnightmagazine.com/advice/make-moon-impact-craters
 
Subscribe to BBC Sky at Night Magazine and submit your astrophotography images over on our website: https://www.skyatnightmagazine.com
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Star Diary: See the crescent Moon pass the Pleiades (6 to 12 May 2024)

See the Moon sit inside the Teapot asterism this week, as well as a quartet of asteroids moving across the night sky. Find out how to catch these and more stargazing highlights in this week’s podcast guide, Star Diary, 29 April to 5 May 2024.
 
Transcript: https://www.skyatnightmagazine.com/podcasts/star-diary-29-apr-2024
 
Listen for meteors on your FM radio: https://www.skyatnightmagazine.com/advice/how-hear-meteors-fm-radio
 
Subscribe to BBC Sky at Night Magazine and submit your astrophotography images over on our website: https://www.skyatnightmagazine.com
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Star Diary: The Moon lies in The Teapot (29 April to 5 May 2024)

The full Moon will wash out some of the dimmer meteors, but fortunately there are plenty of other stargazing highlights in this week’s stargazing podcast guide, Star Diary, 22 to 28 April 2024.
 
Transcript: https://www.skyatnightmagazine.com/podcasts/star-diary-22-apr-2024
 
Record a meteor shower for science: https://www.skyatnightmagazine.com/advice/observe-and-record-the-geminid-meteor-shower 
 
Subscribe to BBC Sky at Night Magazine and submit your astrophotography images over on our website: https://www.skyatnightmagazine.com
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Star Diary: The Lyrid Meteor shower reaches its peak (22 to 28 April 2024)

Astronomer Stefano Facchini reveals how he and his colleagues found water vapour at a Sun-like star where planets could already be forming.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Interview: Comet Madness

Download our free app to listen on your phone