Radio Astronomy

By BBC Sky at Night Magazine

What's Radio Astronomy about?

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

Download our free app to listen on your phone

Radio Astronomy episodes:

04.18.2024
Water found around a distant star
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
04.13.2024
Star Diary: Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks reaches its brightest (15 to 21 April 2024)
Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks reaches perihelion, its closest approach to the Sun this week, and should be at its brightest. Find out how you can see them for yourself as well as our usual stargazing highlights in this week’s podcast guide, Star...
04.06.2024
Star Diary: The Great American Eclipse arrives (8 to 14 April)
A total solar eclipse will pass right across the US, Mexico and part of Canada on 8 April. Over 40 million people are expected to see the majestic sight of totality, with millions more able to see a significant partial....
03.31.2024
Star Diary: Comet shine during the new Moon (1 to 7 April)
Comet Pons-Brooks will pass close to Aries this week, while the US is treated to the sight of Venus disappearing behind the Moon. Find out how to see all this and more in our weekly stargazing podcast, Star Diary 1 to...
03.24.2024
Star Diary: The Comet and the Coathanger (25 to 31 March)
Comet C/2021 S3 PanSTARRS passes through the Coathanger cluster, the Moon dips into the Bowl of Virgo and Mercury hangs in the evening sky. Find out how to see all this and more in our weekly stargazing podcast, Star Diary...
03.22.2024
Why do people believe in UFOs?
Have you ever seen a ghost or a UFO? Chris French is a psychologist whose latest book The Science of Weird S**t explores the paranormal, and why people might claim to have experienced something science can’t currently explain. We spoke...
03.17.2024
Star Diary 18 to 24 March 2024
Mercury reaches greatest elongation this week, while Jupiter will be bracketed by its moons. Find out how to see both of them in our weekly stargazing podcast, Star Diary. Transcription: https://www.skyatnightmagazine.com/podcasts/star-diary-18-mar-2024 Check out our on-demand astronomy webinars to learn everything worth knowing about...
03.10.2024
Star Diary 11 to 17 March 2024
Comet 12P Pons Brooks will streak past the Andromeda Galaxy this week, while Comet C/2021 S3 PanSTARRS passes the star clusters of the Milky Way. Find out how to see both of them in our weekly stargazing podcast, Star Diary. Learn...
03.03.2024
Star Diary 4 to 10 March 2024
Two comets pass overhead this week. Find out how to see both of them in our weekly stargazing podcast, Star Diary. Learn to capture the planets in our upcoming Masterclass all about photographing the planets. Get your tickets now: https://bit.ly/MCPlanets Transcription: www.skyatnightmagazine.com/podcasts/star-diary-4-mar-2024 Check out our...
02.25.2024
Star Diary 26 February to 3 March 2024
Catch Jupiter’s Great Red Spot. Hear the details in this week’s stargazing guide podcast, Star Diary. Make an animation of Jupiter: https://www.skyatnightmagazine.com/astrophotography/astrophoto-tips/planetary-animation Transcription: www.skyatnightmagazine.com/podcasts/star-diary-26-feb-2024 Check out our on-demand astronomy webinars to learn everything worth knowing about astronomy and stargazing: https://www.skyatnightmagazine.com/virtual-events-ondemand Subscribe to BBC Sky at Night Magazine...
02.18.2024
Star Diary 19 to 25 February 2024
Watch Callisto pass under Jupiter. Get the details in the latest episode of our weekly stargazing guide podcast. Transcription: www.skyatnightmagazine.com/podcasts/star-diary-19-feb-2024 Check out our on-demand astronomy webinars to learn everything worth knowing about astronomy and stargazing: https://www.skyatnightmagazine.com/virtual-events-ondemand Subscribe to BBC Sky at Night Magazine for all the...
02.16.2024
How x-rays unlock the secrets of the Universe
Optical expert Dr Charly Feldman from the University of Leicester discusses her work on China’s Einstein probe, and reveals how x-ray vision unlocks the secrets of the Universe. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
02.11.2024
Star Diary 12 to 18 February 2024
Watch Venus pass through the morning sky this Valentine’s Day. Get the details in the latest episode of our weekly stargazing guide podcast. Photographing the Moon: https://www.skyatnightmagazine.com/astrophotography/astrophoto-tips/how-to-photograph-the-moon Transcription: www.skyatnightmagazine.com/podcasts/star-diary-12-feb-2024 Check out our on-demand astronomy webinars to learn everything worth knowing about astronomy and stargazing: https://www.skyatnightmagazine.com/virtual-events-ondemand Subscribe to BBC...
02.04.2024
Star Diary 5 to 11 February 2024
Watch the shadows of Jupiter’s moons as they pass across the face of the planet. Get the details in the latest episode of our weekly stargazing guide podcast. Learn how to make your own Jupiter animation: https://www.skyatnightmagazine.com/astrophotography/astrophoto-tips/planetary-animation Transcription: www.skyatnightmagazine.com/podcasts/star-diary-5-feb-2024 Check out our on-demand astronomy webinars...
01.28.2024
Star Diary 29 January to 4 February 2024
Search for a comet in the morning twilight all this week. Get the details in the latest episode of our weekly stargazing guide podcast. Learn how to make your own Jupiter animation: https://www.skyatnightmagazine.com/astrophotography/astrophoto-tips/planetary-animation Transcription: www.skyatnightmagazine.com/podcasts/star-diary-29-jan-2024 Learn all about astrophotography in our on-demand Masterclass, all about...
01.21.2024
Star Diary 22 to 28 January 2024
Catch all 8 of the Solar System’s planets in one night! Get the details in the latest episode of our weekly stargazing guide podcast. Transcription: www.skyatnightmagazine.com/podcasts/star-diary-22-jan-2024 Learn all about astrophotography in our on-demand Masterclass, all about deep-sky imaging: https://bit.ly/SaNMCDSPod Subscribe to BBC Sky at Night...
01.19.2024
How Asteroid Bennu could unlock the secrets of the Solar System
Prof Sara Russell of the UK’s Natural History Museum reveals how she will be studying the samples of Asteroid Bennu returned to Earth by NASA’s OSIRIS-REx mission, and what it could tell us about the history of our Solar System. Learn...
01.14.2024
Star Diary 15 to 21 January 2024
Jupiter appears to gain another moon this week as it passes another star. Find out how to see it and other astronomy highlights in this week’s stargazing podcast guide. Transcription: www.skyatnightmagazine.com/podcasts/star-diary-15-jan-2024 Learn all about astrophotography in our on-demand Masterclass, all about deep-sky imaging: https://bit.ly/SaNMCDSPod Subscribe...
01.07.2024
Star Diary 8 to 14 January 2024
Watch the rare sight of a moon’s shadow passing across the face of Saturn. Get the details in the latest episode of our weekly stargazing guide podcast. Transcription: www.skyatnightmagazine.com/podcasts/star-diary-8-jan-2024 Learn all about astrophotography in our on-demand Masterclass, all about deep-sky imaging: https://bit.ly/SaNMCDSPod Subscribe to BBC...
12.31.2023
Star Diary 1 to 7 January 2024
The Quadrantids meteor shower lights up the night sky, while Comet 144P Kushida passes by on the latest episode of our weekly stargazing podcast. Meteor shower observing tips: https://www.skyatnightmagazine.com/advice/top-tips-observing-perseid-meteor-shower Transcription: www.skyatnightmagazine.com/podcasts/star-diary-1-jan-2024 Learn all about astrophotography in our on-demand Masterclass, all about deep-sky imaging: https://bit.ly/SaNMCDSPod Subscribe to BBC...
12.24.2023
Star Diary, 25 to 31 December 2023
Venus puts on a good show on Christmas morning, while Mercury reappears in time for the new year in the latest episode of our weekly stargazing podcast. Transcription: www.skyatnightmagazine.com/podcasts/star-diary-25-dec-2023 Learn all about astrophotography in our on-demand Masterclass, all about deep-sky imaging: https://bit.ly/SaNMCDSPod Subscribe to BBC...
12.17.2023
Star Diary, 18 to 24 December 2023
Jupiter, Uranus and the Pleiades line up for a Christmas Eve treat in our weekly stargazing guide. Transcription: www.skyatnightmagazine.com/podcasts/star-diary-18-dec-2023 Learn all about astrophotography in our on-demand Masterclass, all about deep-sky imaging: https://bit.ly/SaNMCDSPod Subscribe to BBC Sky at Night Magazine for all the best stargazing tips: https://www.skyatnightmagazine.com/subscribe Learn more...
12.10.2023
Star Diary, 11 to 17 December 2023
Watch the minor planet Vesta as it moves past the Monkey Head Nebula in this week’s stargazing guide. Transcription: www.skyatnightmagazine.com/podcasts/star-diary-11-dec-2023 Learn all about astrophotography in our on-demand Masterclass, all about deep-sky imaging: https://bit.ly/SaNMCDSPod Subscribe to BBC Sky at Night Magazine for all the best stargazing tips: https://www.skyatnightmagazine.com/subscribe Learn more about...
12.03.2023
Star Diary, 4 to 10 December 2023
Take a look at the evening Milky Way while the Moon is out of view in this week’s stargazing guide. Transcription: www.skyatnightmagazine.com/podcasts/star-diary-4-dec-2023 Learn all about astrophotography in our upcoming online Masterclass, all about deep-sky imaging: https://bit.ly/SaNMCDSPod Subscribe to BBC Sky at Night Magazine for all...
12.01.2023
Moonshot success, with astronaut Mike Massimino
Former NASA astronaut and spacewalker Mike Massimino is perhaps best known for his work repairing the Hubble Space Telescope in Earth orbit. In this episode, Massimino discusses his new book Moonshot and his top tips for achieving your goals. Learn more...
11.26.2023
Star Diary, 27 November to 3 December 2023
The full Moon offers a great chance to see ray features before gliding past the Beehive cluster in this week’s stargazing guide. Transcription: www.skyatnightmagazine.com/podcasts/star-diary-27-nov-2023 Learn all about astrophotography in our upcoming online Masterclass, all about deep-sky imaging: https://bit.ly/SaNMCDSPod Subscribe to BBC Sky at Night Magazine...
11.19.2023
Star Diary, 20 to 26 November 2023
The Moon points the way to Neptune, before heading on to the Pleiades in this week’s stargazing guide. Transcription: www.skyatnightmagazine.com/podcasts/star-diary-20-nov-2023 Learn all about astrophotography in our upcoming online Masterclass, all about deep-sky imaging: https://bit.ly/SaNMCDSPod Subscribe to BBC Sky at Night Magazine for all the best...
11.12.2023
Star Diary, 13 to 19 November 2023
The Leonids meteor shower and Jupiter’s moons pass in front of the planet’s in this week’s stargazing guide. Transcription: www.skyatnightmagazine.com/podcasts/star-diary-13-nov-2023 Learn all about astrophotography in our upcoming online Masterclass, all about deep-sky imaging: https://bit.ly/SaNMCDSPod Subscribe to BBC Sky at Night Magazine for all the best stargazing tips: https://www.skyatnightmagazine.com/subscribe Learn more...
11.05.2023
Star Diary, 6 to 12 November 2023
Saturn’s moons – including Titan, Iapatus and Dione – will be putting on a great show this week. Find out how to catch it and other astronomy highlights in this week’s episode of the Star Diary stargazing podcast guide. Transcription: www.skyatnightmagazine.com/podcasts/star-diary-6-nov-2023 Learn all about astrophotography in our...
10.28.2023
Star Diary, 30 October to 5 November 2023
Jupiter reaches opposition and will be high and bright in the night sky. Find out how to catch it and other astronomy highlights in this week’s episode of the Star Diary stargazing podcast guide. Transcription: www.skyatnightmagazine.com/podcasts/star-diary-30-oct-2023 Learn all about astrophotography in our upcoming online...
10.21.2023
Star Diary, 23 to 29 October 2023
A partial lunar eclipse is the highlight of this week’s stargazing guide. Listen now for all the latest astronomy highlights. Learn all about our deep-sky imaging in our latest Masterclass series: https://bit.ly/SaNMCDSPod Subscribe to the magazine: https://www.skyatnightmagazine.com/subscribe Submit your astrophotography images and we'll print...
10.19.2023
Interview: The Search for Alien Life
If intelligent alien life did exist out there in the cosmos, how would we find it? This episode, astronomer Adam Frank discusses his latest book The Little Book of Aliens, reveals how scientists can now detect signs of life on...
10.14.2023
Star Diary, 16 to 22 October 2023
Comet 103P Hartley continues to pass across the sky, while Venus dominates the morning sky in this week’s stargazing guide. Listen now to catch all the week’s astronomy highlights. Transcription: www.skyatnightmagazine.com/podcasts/star-diary-16-oct-2023 Send in your astrophotos and we’ll print the best: https://www.skyatnightmagazine.com/send-us-your-astrophotos Learn more about your ad...
10.10.2023
How can we see the heat of the Big Bang?
We discuss how the cosmic microwave background (CMB) can reveal the earliest days of the Universe with cosmologist Ermina Calabrese from Cardiff University. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
10.07.2023
Star Diary, 9 to 15 October 2023
Comet 103P Hartley will streak its way across the sky this week, while Venus shines brightly in the morning sky. Listen now to catch all of this week’s stargazing highlights. Learn all about astrophotography in our upcoming online Masterclass, all about deep-sky imaging: https://bit.ly/SaNMCDSPod Transcript: www.skyatnightmagazine.com/podcasts/star-diary-9-oct-2023 Send in...
09.30.2023
Star Diary, 2 to 8 October 2023
The Draconids meteor shower puts on a show and the Moon brushes past the Pleiades star cluster in this week’s stargazing guide. Listen now to catch all the week’s astronomy highlights. Transcription: www.skyatnightmagazine.com/podcasts/star-diary-2-oct-2023 Send in your astrophotos and we’ll print the best: https://www.skyatnightmagazine.com/send-us-your-astrophotos Learn more about your ad choices....
09.23.2023
Star Diary, 25 September to 1 October 2023
Uranus lines up with Jupiter and the Pleiades this week, making it a great chance to see this faint planet. Find out how in our weekly stargazing guide. Capture a shadow cast by Venus: https://www.skyatnightmagazine.com/advice/skills/capture-a-shadow-cast-by-the-planet-venus Transcript: www.skyatnightmagazine.com/podcasts/star-diary-25-sept-2023. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
09.16.2023
Star Diary: 18 to 24 September 2023
The equinox signals the start of autumn, and Neptune reaches opposition. Find out what other astronomy highlights are coming up in our weekly stargazing guide. Find out more details about the equinox and causes it: https://www.skyatnightmagazine.com/space-science/autumn-equinox-when-is-what-means Transcript: www.skyatnightmagazine.com/podcasts/star-diary-18-sept-2023 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
09.14.2023
Exploring a magnetic Solar System
Professor Michele Dougherty reveals what we can learn by studying the magnetic fields of Solar System bodies, why the Cassini mission was so important, and what JUICE might discover at Jupiter's icy moons. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
09.09.2023
Star Diary, 11 to 17 September 2023
Welcome back the winter sky, and take in the Milky Way as we take you through the astronomy highlights in our weekly stargazing guide. Learn all about astrophotography in our upcoming online Masterclass, all about deep-sky imaging: https://bit.ly/SaNMCDSPod Transcript: https://www.skyatnightmagazine.com/podcasts/star-diary-11-sept-2023 Astrophotography guide: Create a Milky...
09.02.2023
Star Diary, 4 to 10 September 2023
The Milky Way is on fabulous display this week as the Moon clears out of the evening sky, while the Moon passes close to the Pleiades in this week’s stargazing guide. Transcript: www.skyatnightmagazine.co.uk/podcast/star-diary-4-sept-2023 How to see the Milky Way: https://www.skyatnightmagazine.com/advice/skills/how-to-see-the-milky-way Learn more about...
08.26.2023
Star Dairy, 28 August to 3 September , 2023
This week the Super Blue Moon takes centre stage in this week’s stargazing guide. Transcript [URL: https://www.skyatnightmagazine.com/podcasts/star-diary-28-august-2023/] What is a supermoon: https://www.skyatnightmagazine.com/space-science/supermoon-what-when-next Astrophotography image processing: a beginner’s guide: https://www.skyatnightmagazine.com/astrophotography/astrophoto-tips/astrophotography-image-processing-beginners-guide Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
08.19.2023
Star Dairy, 21 to 27 August, 2023
Saturn’s rings are disappearing, so make sure you don’t miss the planet as it passes through opposition in this week’s stargazing guide. Transcript [URL: https://www.skyatnightmagazine.com/podcasts/star-diary-21-august-2023/] Photograph Saturn’s rings before they disappear: https://www.skyatnightmagazine.com/astrophotography/astrophoto-tips/photograph-saturn-rings Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
08.12.2023
Star Diary, 14 to 20 August
All four gas giants will be visible this week, as well as other highlights in our stargazing guide. Transcript [URL: https://www.skyatnightmagazine.com/podcasts/star-diary-14-august-2023/] Photograph Saturn’s rings before they disappear: https://www.skyatnightmagazine.com/astrophotography/astrophoto-tips/photograph-saturn-rings/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
08.05.2023
Star Diary, 7 to 13 August
The Perseid meteor shower is due to put on a great show in this week’s stargazing guide. Transcript [URL: https://www.skyatnightmagazine.com/podcasts/star-diary-7-august-2023/] How to see the meteors: https://www.skyatnightmagazine.com/advice/skills/meteor-showers-how-observe-record-shooting-stars/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
07.29.2023
Star Diary, 31 July to 6 August
The first of August’s supermoons and the appearance of the Pleiades feature in this week’s stargazing guide. Transcript [URL: https://www.skyatnightmagazine.com/podcasts/star-diary-31-july-2023/ ] Meteor observing [URL] https://www.skyatnightmagazine.com/advice/skills/perseid-meteor-shower-how-to-see-it/ Stargazing in Utah [URL: https://www.skyatnightmagazine.com/advice/stargazing-utah/] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
07.25.2023
Hunting down strange signals with humans and machines.
Telescopes like JWST or the upcoming Square Kilometre Array have the power to reveal the hidden depths of the Universe. Their images contain not just the stars, galaxies and planets astronomers are looking for, but could contain all manner of...
07.22.2023
Star Diary, 24 to 30 July
Keep an eye out for the three innermost planets just after sunset in this week’s stargazing guide. Transcript [URL: https://www.skyatnightmagazine.com/podcasts/star-diary-24-july-2023/ ] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
07.20.2023
Interview: Spaceflight entrepreneur Mishaal Ashemimry
Mishaal Ashemimry started her own aerospace company at the age of 26, aiming to build the space industry in her home nation of Saudi Arabia. Now she works as a special adviser to the Saudi Space Commission, who recently sent...
07.15.2023
Star Diary, 17 to 23 July
Transcript [URL: https://www.skyatnightmagazine.com/podcasts/star-diary-17-july-2023/ ] How to see the ISS in the night sky [URL: https://www.skyatnightmagazine.com/advice/skills/how-see-international-space-station-iss-night-sky/] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What's Radio Astronomy about?

Download our free app to listen on your phone

Radio Astronomy episodes:

Water found around a distant star

Star Diary: Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks reaches its brightest (15 to 21 April 2024)

Star Diary: The Great American Eclipse arrives (8 to 14 April)

Star Diary: Comet shine during the new Moon (1 to 7 April)

Star Diary: The Comet and the Coathanger (25 to 31 March)

Why do people believe in UFOs?

Star Diary 18 to 24 March 2024

Star Diary 11 to 17 March 2024

Star Diary 4 to 10 March 2024

Star Diary 26 February to 3 March 2024

Star Diary 19 to 25 February 2024

How x-rays unlock the secrets of the Universe

Star Diary 12 to 18 February 2024

Star Diary 5 to 11 February 2024

Star Diary 29 January to 4 February 2024

Star Diary 22 to 28 January 2024

How Asteroid Bennu could unlock the secrets of the Solar System

Star Diary 15 to 21 January 2024

Star Diary 8 to 14 January 2024

Star Diary 1 to 7 January 2024

Star Diary, 25 to 31 December 2023

Star Diary, 18 to 24 December 2023

Star Diary, 11 to 17 December 2023

Star Diary, 4 to 10 December 2023

Moonshot success, with astronaut Mike Massimino

Star Diary, 27 November to 3 December 2023

Star Diary, 20 to 26 November 2023

Star Diary, 13 to 19 November 2023

Star Diary, 6 to 12 November 2023

Star Diary, 30 October to 5 November 2023

Star Diary, 23 to 29 October 2023

Interview: The Search for Alien Life

Star Diary, 16 to 22 October 2023

How can we see the heat of the Big Bang?

Star Diary, 9 to 15 October 2023

Star Diary, 2 to 8 October 2023

Star Diary, 25 September to 1 October 2023

Star Diary: 18 to 24 September 2023

Exploring a magnetic Solar System

Star Diary, 11 to 17 September 2023

Star Diary, 4 to 10 September 2023

Star Dairy, 28 August to 3 September , 2023

Star Dairy, 21 to 27 August, 2023

Star Diary, 14 to 20 August

Star Diary, 7 to 13 August

Star Diary, 31 July to 6 August

Hunting down strange signals with humans and machines.

Star Diary, 24 to 30 July

Interview: Spaceflight entrepreneur Mishaal Ashemimry

Star Diary, 17 to 23 July