The AstroGuy Podcast

October is here, and the longer nights and cooler temperatures make it a great month to spend some time outside under the stars.

This month, Saturn reaches opposition, Mars passes through the Beehive Cluster, and the Moon has an interesting encounter with Jupiter. We’ll also look at asteroid Vesta, the October meteor showers, this month’s Lunar Feature of the Month, and then head into Cepheus for a deep-sky tour.

Free October 2026 Observing Guide

Download the October 2026 AstroGuy Observing Guide for the Moon phase calendar, planetary information, finder charts, observing notes, and this month’s deep-sky targets:

https://astroguypod.com/downloads/October-2026-Observing-Guide.pdf

Episode Chapters

00:00 Intro
01:05 Planetary Roundup
09:00 Meteor Showers
10:34 Lunar Feature of the Month
13:06 Deep-Sky Objects
19:43 Conclusion

Connect with AstroGuy

Website: https://www.AstroGuyPod.com
Email: [email protected]
Voicemail: 973-404-0380
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/astroguypodcast

Have a question, suggestion, observing report, or an image you'd like to share? Get in touch through AstroGuyPod.com or join us on Facebook.

If you'd like to support the AstroGuy Podcast, you can buy us a cup of coffee:
https://tinyurl.com/AstroGuyCoffee

Image and Video Credits

Wayne Zuhl
NASA
ESA
NSF/NOIRLab
Statis Kalyvas – VT-2004 programme
Dawn Spacecraft
Dominic Ford / In-The-Sky.org
Virtual Moon Atlas — Patrick Chevalley and Christian Legrand
Lunar data and imagery displayed in Virtual Moon Atlas and used for educational commentary.
Sky simulations created with Stellarium Desktop, free open-source planetarium software: https://stellarium.org
Stellarium is licensed under GPL-2.0.

Planetary illustrations created with AstroChron:
https://astrochron.app/

Audio Credits

“Hymn to the Dawn” — Scott Buckley
“The Long Dark” — Scott Buckley
www.scottbuckley.com.au
Music promoted by Chosic
Creative Commons licensing as applicable.

Until next time, may your skies be clear, and as always, Carpe Noctem, Seize the Night!

September is a month when the sky begins to transition. The summer Milky Way is still hanging on, but the autumn sky is beginning to rise, the nights are getting longer, and there’s plenty to watch for if you know where to look.

This month, Venus puts on a brilliant evening display, Saturn starts moving back into prime time, and Neptune gives observers a chance to track down the most distant majorplanet in the Solar System. We’ll also look at a major space news story, then turn to the Moon for a beautiful trio of craters before heading into Aquarius for a deep-sky tour of autumn delights.

Download the September observing guide at ⁠AstroGuyPod.com⁠. Feel free to leave a comment with whatyou’re observing this month, or contact me through the website with questions, suggestions, or observing reports.

Join the ⁠AstroGuy Facebook Page⁠ and ⁠group⁠ and share your observations, sketches, and images from this month’s sky. If you enjoy the episode, please like, subscribe, and click the bell so you’ll know when new episodes and livestreams are coming up.

Until next time, may your skies be clear, and as always, CarpeNoctem, Seize the Night!

Free September 2026 Observing Guide Download the ⁠September 2026 AstroGuy Observing Guide⁠

Connect with AstroGuy

Website: https://www.AstroGuyPod.comYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AstroGuyPodcast

Contact AstroGuy

Email: [email protected]

Voicemail: 973-404-0380

Links:

Feel free to buy us a cup of coffeeor two! We really appreciate it!

https://buymeacoffee.com/astroguypod

Website:https://Astroguypod.com

Links

High Point Scientific

Amazon

ZWO Seestar S30 Pro

Audio Credits

MANTRA by Alex-Productionshttps://onsound.eu/

At The End Of All Things And Hymn to the Dawn by ScottBuckley

www.scottbuckley.com.au

Music promoted byhttps://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/

Creative Commons CC BY 3.0https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ Creative Commons CC BY 4.0https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

0:00 Intro

1:10 Planetary Roundup
5:31 Space News

7:53 LFOM

10:45 DSO’s

17:25 Conclusion

August is a packed month for skywatchers. In this episode of the AstroGuy Podcast, we look at what’s up in the August 2026 skies, including Venus dominating the evening sky, a few nice Moon and planet pairings, the Perseid meteor shower under excellent Moon conditions, two eclipses, and a deep-sky tour through Cygnus, the Swan.

We’ll also visit our Lunar Feature of the Month, Aristillus and Autolycus, a pair of craters near Mare Imbrium, and then headinto one of the richest parts of the summer Milky Way.

Join the AstroGuy Facebook group and share your observations, sketches, and images from this month’s sky.

If you enjoy the episode, please like, subscribe, and click the bell so you’ll know when new episodes and livestreams are coming up.

Carpe Noctem. Seize the night!

Free August 2026 Observing Guide
Download the August 2026 AstroGuy Observing Guide here:
https://bit.ly/AGAug26

Connect with AstroGuy
Website: https://www.AstroGuyPod.com
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AstroGuyPodcast

Contact AstroGuy

Email: [email protected]
Voicemail: 973-404-0380

Links:
Feel free to buy us a cup of coffee or two! We really appreciate it! https://tinyurl.com/AstroGuyCoffee

Website: http://Astroguypod.com

Our Facebook group page: / astroguypod

Cranford TV-35: https://www.cranfordnj.org/tv-35

Our “Astronomy Basics” episode: • Astronomy Basics

The “Great Astronomers” Playlist: • The GreatAstronomers

August 28th Lunar Eclipse Info: https://www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/lunar/2026-august-28

Affiliate Links

Eclipse Glasses: https://amzn.to/4ywDyTD

High Point Scientific: https://www.highpointscientific.com/?...

Amazon: https://amzn.to/4gFQmOG

ZWO Seestar S30 Pro: https://amzn.to/4tyy9YG

Audio Credits:
Hymn to the Dawn
by Scott Buckley

The Long Dark
by Scott Buckley

Last and First Light

by Scott Buckley

www.scottbuckley.com.au

Music promoted by
https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/

Creative Commons CC BY 4.0
Creative Commons CC BY 3.0
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/...

July is here, and the summer Milky Way is taking over the evening sky.

In this episode of the AstroGuy Podcast, we look at what’s up in the July 2026 skies, including the planets, a beautiful lunar feature near Mare Serenitatis, and a summer Milky Way observing tour that starts in Sagittarius and works its way toward Vulpecula.This month also marks a new chapter for AstroGuy. The official schedule is moving to one episode per month, and the new Monthly Observing Guide is now available at AstroGuyPod.com.

The guide is designed as a companion to the episode, with the Moon phase calendar, planetary data, deep-sky target list, finder notes, and observing windows you can use while planning your time under the stars.Visit the website:AstroGuyPod.comJoin the AstroGuy Facebook group and share your observations, sketches, and images from this month’s sky.If you enjoy the episode, please like, subscribe, and click the bell so you’ll know when new episodes and livestreams are coming up.Carpe Noctem. Seize the night!Contact AstroGuyEmail: [email protected]: 973-404-0380Links:Feel free to buy us a cup of coffee or two! We really appreciate it!https://tinyurl.com/AstroGuyCoffeeWebsite: http://Astroguypod.comOur Facebook group page: / astroguypodCranford TV-35: https://www.cranfordnj.org/tv-35Our “Astronomy Basics” episode: • Astronomy BasicsThe “Great Astronomers” Playlist: • The Great AstronomersAffiliate LinksHigh Point Scientific: https://www.highpointscientific.com/?...Amazon: https://amzn.to/4gFQmOGZWO Seestar S30 Pro: https://amzn.to/4tyy9YGAudio Credits:Hymn to the Dawnby Scott BuckleyThe Long Darkby Scott Buckleywww.scottbuckley.com.auMusic promoted byhttps://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/Creative Commons CC BY 4.0Creative Commons CC BY 3.0https://creativecommons.org/licenses/...

June nights may be short, but there is still plenty worth seeing. In this episode of the AstroGuy Podcast, we explore one of the Moon’s most recognizable dark features, Mare Crisium, the Sea of Crises, before heading into the deep sky for “A Little Bit of Everything” — a mix of double stars, galaxies, planetary nebulae, and open clusters that are well placed for June evenings.

We’ll discuss how to find these objects, what to expect visually in modest telescopes, and observing tips.

If you missed Part 1, where we covered the planets and space news for June 2026, check it out here: https://youtu.be/K6Ol_NJ6VLE?si=zQmu0iOvu_TgRZDM

Beginning in July, we will be transitioning back to a single monthly “What’s Up” episode, along with additional astronomy content, livestreams, imaging and processing episodes, along with special event coverage throughout the year.

If you enjoyed this episode, please like, subscribe, and share it with someone who loves the night sky.

Clear skies, and as always, Carpe Noctem, Seize the Night!

#astronomy #stargazing #astrophotography #moon #lunarsurface #marecrisium #m57 #ringnebula #lyra #hercules #draco #libra #doubleStars #ngc5866 #m102 #deepSky #telescope #nightSky #spacescience #astroguy

What’s Up in the June 2026 Skies? Part 1

June 2026 brings a beautiful mix of skywatchinghighlights and space news.

In this episode, we’ll look at Mercury’s best eveningopportunity of the month, the beautiful Venus-Jupiter conjunction on June 9,the Moon joining the evening planets around June 17, and the June solsticemarking the start of astronomical summer.

We’ll also talk about how the Moon phases shape yourobserving plans this month, including the best dark-sky window around New Moonand what you can still observe when the Moon is in the evening sky.

Then in Space News, NASA’s Psyche spacecraft preparesfor a Mars gravity assist on its way to asteroid Psyche, and the Vera C. RubinObservatory begins issuing its first scientific alerts, giving astronomers anew way to monitor the changing sky in near real time.

Part 2 will focus on the Lunar Feature of the Monthand a deep-sky tour as the summer Milky Way begins to take over from thegalaxies of spring.

Send us Fan Mail

May 2026 is an exciting time for astronomy, both in the sky above us and in space beyond Earth. In this episode, we take a look at the planets visible this month and recap the successful Artemis II mission, which has just returned astronauts from a journey around the Moon for the first time in over 50 years.

We’ll walk through what you can expect to see in the evening and morning skies, including a beautiful mid-month alignment of the Moon, Venus, and Jupiter, along with a helpful guide to spotting Mars and Saturn in the predawn sky.

On the space news side, we break down the Artemis II mission from launch to splashdown, highlight what was learned during the flight, and look ahead to what comes next in NASA’s Artemis program.

Beginning this month, “What’s Up in the Month’s Sky” is now a two-part series. In Part 1, we focus on planets and space news. In Part 2, we shift back to observing with the Lunar Feature of the Month and a deep sky tour.

We’re also updating the monthly Sky Guide. It will now include detailed planetary data along with information on all of the deep sky objects covered each month, and will be available both as a web page and as a downloadable PDF. More details on that coming in the next episode.

Whether you're observing with binoculars or a telescope, or simply stepping outside to take a look, May offers plenty to enjoy.

Don’t forget to like and subscribe, your support helps bring astronomy to more people every month.

Contact: [email protected]
Text/Voicemail: (973) 404-0380

If you enjoy the episode, please subscribe, comment, and share, and leave a review on your favorite podcast platform. Carpe Noctem!

Links:
Feel free to buy us a cup of coffee or two! We really appreciate it!
https://tinyurl.com/AstroGuyCoffee

Our Facebook group page: / astroguypod

Cranford TV-35: https://www.cranfordnj.org/tv-35

Our “Astronomy Basics” episode: • Astronomy Basics
The “Great Astronomers” Playlist: • The Great Astronomers
The Full Episode Guide of DSO’s sorted by Catalog Name: http://tinyurl.com/AGFullGuide

Affiliate Links
High Point Scientific: https://www.highpointscientific.com/?...
Amazon: https://amzn.to/4gFQmOG

Audio Credits:
Hymn to the Dawn
by Scott Bucklye
www.scottbuckley.com.au
Music promoted by
https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/
Creative Commons CC BY 4.0
Creative Commons CC BY 3.0
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/...

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

April 2026 is shaping up to be a fantastic month for astronomy. In this episode, we explore two comets that may be visible this month, the return of the Lyrid meteor shower, the start of galaxy season, and a possible Artemis II launch that could send astronauts back around the Moon for the first time in over 50 years.

We’ll also take a full planetary tour of the April sky, visit our Lunar Feature of the Month: Archimedes, and go deep into some of the best spring galaxies including M81 & M82, M51, M64, and the Leo Triplet.

Whether you're observing with binoculars or a telescope, April offers something for everyone, from challenging twilight planets to breathtaking deep sky targets.

Don’t forget to like and subscribe, your support helps bring astronomy to more people every month.

Contact: [email protected]
 Text/Voicemail: (973) 404-0380

If you enjoy the episode, please subscribe, comment, and share, and leave a review on your favorite podcast platform. Carpe Noctem!

Feel free to buy us a cup of coffee or two! We really appreciate it! 

https://tinyurl.com/AstroGuyCoffee

Our Facebook group page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/astroguypod

Audio Credits:

Hymn to the Dawn

Adrift Among Infinite Stars

Last and First Light

www.scottbuckley.com.au

Music promoted by 

https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/

Creative Commons CC BY 4.0

Creative Commons CC BY 3.0

https://creativecommons.org/licenses/... 

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

You don’t need a giant observatory telescope to explore the universe. In this episode, we take a journey outward through space to discover 10 amazing things you can see with a small telescope or even 50mm binoculars. Starting at the rugged surface of the Moon and traveling farther from Earth with each stop, we’ll visit giant planets, colorful double stars, glowing nebulae, dense star clusters, and finally another galaxy more than 2 million light-years away.  Along the way, we’ll learn what these objects actually look like through the eyepiece. 

This episode is designed especially for beginners, but even experienced observers will find these targets rewarding. Every object on this list can be seen with 50mm binoculars, and many become even more impressive through a small backyard telescope. Whenever possible, I’ll describe what to expect through different instruments so you’ll know exactly what to look for. 

For the deep-sky objects beyond our solar system, I’ll also include links to past episodes where we explore them in more detail and explain how to find them. And don’t forget to check out the free Full Episode Guide in the description, which includes all of the objects featured here and many more. 

Don’t forget to like and subscribe, your support helps bring astronomy to more people every month. 

Contact: [email protected] Text/Voicemail: (973) 404-0380 

If you enjoy the episode, please subscribe, comment, and share, and leave a review on your favorite podcast platform. Carpe Noctem! 

Links: Feel free to buy us a cup of coffee or two! We really appreciate it! 

https://tinyurl.com/AstroGuyCoffee 

Our Facebook group page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/astroguypod 

Episodes featuring the objects discussed: 

All about the Moon: https://youtu.be/TS0DHGnfmQs?si=Z8acXJQa5TirLQEe Albireo: https://youtu.be/ohY72oLh1IY

Orion Nebula: https://youtu.be/rBtraHAHtCw 

M13, Dumbbell and Lagoon Nebulae: https://youtu.be/exxfO4v2wSM?si=CNVQ9g4ewdJbqJdH

Double Cluster: https://youtu.be/5IRTj-5_SUM?si=YlYNl4Q3Lw159VRx 

Andromeda Galaxy: https://youtu.be/OJCYf7BKH0Y?si=D9vNV-YsNyBkuulN 

Affiliate Links: 

High Point Scientific: https://www.highpointscientific.com/?rfsn=7714880.bb6129 

Amazon: https://amzn.to/4gFQmOG 

 Audio Credits: 

Hymn to the Dawn 

Adrift Amongst Infinite Stars 

Keys of Moon 

The Long Dark 

All songs by Scott Buckley 

www.scottbuckley.com.au 

Music promoted by https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/ 

Creative Commons CC BY 4.0 Creative Commons CC BY 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/... 

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

March is here, bringing the first signs of spring and longer daylight hours, but the night sky is still delivering excellent observing before we lose those long winter evenings. 

We'll discuss this year’s only total lunar eclipse, and a beautiful conjunction between Venus and Saturn. 

Then we cover important developments with Artemis II, along with the latest about the Starliner program. 

We’ll also explore an often overlooked lunar crater and then we'll highlight several of the best double and multiple stars visible in the spring skies.

Don’t forget to like and subscribe, your support helps bring astronomy to more people every month.

Contact: [email protected]
Text/Voicemail: (973) 404-0380

If you enjoy the episode, please subscribe, comment, and share, and leave a review on your favorite podcast platform. Carpe Noctem!

Links:
Feel free to buy us a cup of coffee or two! We really appreciate it!
https://tinyurl.com/AstroGuyCoffee
Our Facebook group page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/astro...

Affiliate Links
High Point Scientific: https://www.highpointscientific.com/?...

Amazon: https://amzn.to/4gFQmOG
Audio Credits:
Hymn to the Dawn
By Scott Buckley

Under the Sun
By Keys of Moon

Adrift Among Infinite Stars
By Scott Buckley

The Long Dark
By Scott Buckley

www.scottbuckley.com.au

Music promoted by
https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/

Creative Commons CC BY 4.0
Creative Commons CC BY 3.0

Support the show