Sky Watch by Geoff Burt

Spring has sprung in the Petersphere and all around is a profusion of radiant blooms and blossoms. The nights are distinctly shorter for stargazing, but at least the skies are clearer and the temperature comfortable!

This month Sky Watch takes a look at the Sun, the planets Jupiter and the celestial sign of Spring in the Petersphere, the constellation of Leo the Lion.

April is also the ideal time in our area to study the largest constellation in the entire sky. Tune in to this month's Sky Watch to find out what it is.

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Welcome to the first anniversary of 'Sky Watch'! This March, Sky Watch celebrates one year on air; a complete orbit of the Sun of some 940 million kilometres!

March has always been an important month. Here in the 'Petersphere', we escape the cold gloomy clutches of Winter and welcome the onset of Spring. The Spring Equinox is the first of two occasions every year when all parts of our planet get approximately equal day and night, but have you heard of the Equinox's close relative the Equilux?

This month Sky Watch explains the small, but important, difference.

Written by Petersphere resident, astronomical expert and amateur astronomer Geoff Burt, every month Shine Radio presents a Sky Watch of our unique dark skies.

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"Thirty days hath September, April, June, and November; all the rest have thirty-one,

Excepting February alone, and that has twenty-eight days clear,

And twenty-nine in each leap year."

February has always been a bit of an oddity. Why is it shorter than all the other months; and why does it sometimes have a leap day as it does now in 2024? Listen to the latest Sky Watch to find out why and more...

Written by Petersphere resident, astronomical expert and amateur astronomer Geoff Burt, every month Shine Radio presents a Sky Watch of our unique dark skies.

Sky Watch is read from under the dark skies of Langrish by Claire Vennis.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Happy new year and welcome to Sky Watch as we begin another new orbit of the Sun!

January is probably the best time to observe the constellation of mighty Taurus the Bull, well-placed due south around mid-evening throughout the month.

Find out how to find Taurus as well as which planets you can view in January as local astronomical expert and amateur astronomer Geoff Burt takes you on a tour of our night sky.

Let Shine Radio open up the wonder of Petersfield's night skies for magical star-gazing from your doorstep, in Sky Watch.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Winter Solstice, otherwise known as the Shortest Day, occurs on December the 22nd. On that day, the 'Petersphere' will receive barely eight hours of daylight. From there the days start getting longer again and the festive season will be upon us, leading to a famous seasonal stargazing story. Yes, everyone's heard of the Christmas Star, but there's a mystery about it that's never been solved... 

Written by Petersphere resident, astronomical expert and amateur astronomer Geoff Burt, every month Shine Radio presents a Sky Watch of our unique dark skies.

Let Shine Radio open up the wonder of Petersfield's night skies for magical star-gazing from your doorstep, in Sky Watch.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A monthly guide to our dark skies by Geoff Burt.

Written by Petersphere resident, astronomical expert and amateur astronomer Geoff Burt, every month Shine Radio presents a Sky Watch of our unique dark skies.

Let Shine Radio open up the wonder of Petersfield's night skies for magical star-gazing from your doorstep, in Sky Watch.

November

Find out what the furthest thing you can see in space with the eye is in this month's Sky Watch - but you'll need the help of a winged horse and a princess too.

It's also the month when there are more shooting stars with meteor showers increasing towards the middle of the month.  Definitely worth a look if you get the opportunity. 

Who is Geoff Burt?

Geoff Burt has been an active member of the Hampshire Astronomical Group, is a mentor for the Open University 'Moons of our Solar System' online course and was elected a Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society in 2009. He lives locally.

 

 

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Autumn has arrived in the Petersphere - don't forget that the clocks go back at the end of the month - and although summer has slipped away and winter approaches, it means we're entering into the new observing season! 

Look out for the lunar eclipse on October 28th when the Hunter Moon will slowly glide through the outer region of Earth's shadow and turn red, it will also look suitably spooky for Halloween too and there are more shooting stars this month as well.

Find out more in this month's Sky Watch.

Written by Petersphere resident, astronomical expert and amateur astronomer Geoff Burt, every month Shine Radio presents a Sky Watch of our unique dark skies.

Let Shine Radio open up the wonder of Petersfield's night skies for magical star-gazing from your doorstep, in Sky Watch.

 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Make the most of our unique dark skies with Shine Radio

Sky Watch is a monthly guide to night sky events for stargazers in and around Petersfield.

This month, with the Autumn Equinox, we prepare for a new observing season.  September's final Supermoon will take place toward the end of the month and the Morning Star puts on a dazzling display.  Tune in to find out more.

Sky Watch is written by local resident and astronomical expert Geoff Burt and read  from under the dark skies of Langrish by Claire Vennis.

We wish you clear skies and happy stargazing.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Written by Petersphere resident, astronomical expert and amateur astronomer Geoff Burt, every month Shine Radio presents a Sky Watch of our unique dark skies.

Let Shine Radio open up the wonder of Petersfield's night skies for magical star-gazing from your doorstep, in Sky Watch.

Our nearest neighbour in space has something special in store this August; there will be two full moons this month - and not only that but both will be Super Moons and one will be a Super Blue Moon!

Look out for the summer triangle, a dolphin, the morning star and meteor showers too.

Find out more in this month's Sky Watch.

 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Make the most of our unique dark skies with Shine Radio

Sky Watch is a monthly guide to night sky events for stargazers in and around Petersfield.

This month we explain what you can look for in August, including a rare Blue Moon. I think we know a song about that!

Sky Watch is written by local resident and astronomical expert Geoff Burt and read  from under the dark skies of Langrish by Claire Vennis.

We wish you cllear skies and happy stargazing.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.