The AstroGuy Podcast

Send us Fan Mail

April is here! And with it comes warmer days, blooming flowers and trees along with crisp evening skies.  This month the planets are still putting on a nice show, and we’ll explore one of the most famous areas on the Moon, learn about the Lyrid Meteor Shower, get a space mission update and explore some of the best that Canes Venatici has for us to observe on April evenings.   

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

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

Clark TV-36: https://www.ourclark.com/194/Clark-News---Our-Clark-Media

The April 2025 Episode Guide: https://tinyurl.com/April25EpGuide

 The Full Episode Guide of DSO’s sorted by Catalog Name: http://tinyurl.com/AGFullGuide

Our “Astronomy Basics” episode: https://youtu.be/MtUkLVneNYs

Charles Messier episode: https://youtu.be/3JvAEj29OBo?si=P7E2wCvIP9ZN00ZF

William Herschel episode: https://youtu.be/1sCFTQf03Wk?si=nkc4_SaeR61Z5BOp

March 13-14, 2025 Total Lunar Eclipse live stream: https://www.youtube.com/live/oo797dcWNCU?si=7dw5HseQhEr9syD3

Affiliate Links

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

 Amazon: https://amzn.to/4gFQmOG

Credits

Images:
 Wayne Zuhl

John Richards

ESA/NASA

The Hubble Heritage Team (STScI/AURA)

R. Gendler 

G. Bacon 

Juan Iacruz

John Vickery

Jim Matthes

Adam Block

Jordan Cochran

Bruce Waters

Chris Callie

Jianfeng Dai

Bruce McClure

John Hall

EarthSky.org

NASA LRO

Sloan Digital Sky Survey

Daniel Nobre

Creative Commons CC BY 4.0

https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Music Credits:

Phase Shift by Scott Buckley 

Voice of Earth

Last And First Light by Scott Buckley

There Was A Time by Scott Buckley

www.scottbuckley.com.au

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

Creative Commons CC BY 4.0

https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

Smart telescopes are changing the way we explore the night sky, making astrophotography more accessible than ever. In this episode, I’m joined by two amateur astronomers, astronomy author Phil Harrington and Al Papsun to discuss the latest advancements in smart telescope technology. We’ll dive into the capabilities of many different smart scopes, exploring how these devices are reshaping the amateur astronomy experience.

Are smart telescopes the future? What do they do well, and where do they fall short? Whether you’re a beginner looking for your first telescope or a seasoned observer curious about the latest tech, this episode will give you all the insights you need. So sit back and enjoy, it’s going to be a LOT of fun! 

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

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

Clark TV-36: https://www.ourclark.com/194/Clark-News---Our-Clark-Media

Affiliate Links

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

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

Purchase Phil Harrington’s books: https://amzn.to/4i8RhaC

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

March is here, roaring in like a lion, and only time will tell if it will go out like a lamb. You’ve certainly noticed that the days are getting longer and soon, the Winter weather will make way for warmer temperatures as Spring approaches.  This month, we’ll explore the planets, the crater Cassini on the Moon, a spectacular Lunar Eclipse that will be visible this month, then we’ll explore some of the galaxies that Leo has for us to enjoy and there’s a fun challenge there as well.  So sit back and enjoy, it’s going to be a LOT of fun! 

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

The March 2025 Episode Guide: https://tinyurl.com/March25EpGuide

The Full Episode Guide of DSO’s sorted by Catalog Name: http://tinyurl.com/AGFullGuide

 Our “Astronomy Basics” episode: https://youtu.be/MtUkLVneNYs

Phil Harrington’s article about this month’s DSO challenge: See www.cloudynights.com/articles/cat/column/phil-harrington-s/cosmic-challenge-leo-trio-2-r3231

March 13-14, 2025 Total Lunar Eclipse Information : https://www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/lunar/2025-march-14

Mars Occultation Live Stream January 13, 2025: https://tinyurl.com/MarsJan13Occ

Affiliate Links

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

 Amazon: https://amzn.to/4gFQmOG

Purchase Phil Harrington’s book “Cosmic Challenge: The Ultimate Observing List for Amateurs”: https://amzn.to/3XiF62z

Music Credits:

Keys of Moon Under the Sun (Chosic)

Phase Shift by Scott Buckley 

Last And First Light by Scott Buckley

There Was A Time by Scott Buckley

www.scottbuckley.com.au

Distant Sky by Keys of Moon

soundcloud.com/keysofmoon

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

Creative Commons CC BY 4.0

https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

In this episode, I had the pleasure of interviewing Bill Brown and Jonathon Eggleston, who are members of the West Virginia Astrophotography Association.  This unique organization is promoting astrophotography at all levels, they hold monthly star parties, have an annual conference, the advocate about proper lighting and much more  So enjoy the conversation as we learn about the WVAA  It’s going to be a LOT of fun! 

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

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

Clark TV-36: https://www.ourclark.com/194/Clark-News---Our-Clark-Media

Our “Astronomy Basics” episode: https://youtu.be/MtUkLVneNYs

Interview with Dr. Mario Motta about Light Pollution: https://youtu.be/iPhFjIUwZ7w?si=qUT-O0wDzIRXh0zY

WVAA Links:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/15jK5qArEp/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@WVAA304

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wvastrophotography?igsh=YTloeTB2MndjYm9r

Discord: https://discord.gg/Xxbg9ujqTA

Affiliate Links

ZWO Seestar: https://bit.ly/4hE0Jm3

Dwarf Labs Dwarf 3: https://bit.ly/405Ssjq

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

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

0:00 Intro

1:24 Interview

1:05:49 Conclusion

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

Winter is in full swing, and despite that February is often the coldest month of the year, it’s the shortest and there’s lots of great object to explore.  In this episode, we’ll explore the planets and how to see them and an update on Comet ATLAS.  We’ll look at several space mission updates, explore a large crater on the moon and then explore some of the best objects that can be seen in Canis Major.  It’s going to be a LOT of fun! 

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

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

Clark TV-36: https://www.ourclark.com/194/Clark-News---Our-Clark-Media

The February 2025 Episode Guide: https://tinyurl.com/AGFeb25

 The Full Episode Guide of DSO’s sorted by Catalog Name: http://tinyurl.com/AGFullGuide

Our “Astronomy Basics” episode: https://youtu.be/MtUkLVneNYs

William Herschel Episode: https://youtu.be/1sCFTQf03Wk?si=dpCUG_4WHUU2DSN4

Mars Occultation Live Stream January 13, 2025: https://tinyurl.com/MarsJan13Occ

Links:

 Affiliate Links

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

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

Credits

 Videos:

Blue Origin

NASA Space Flight

Amy Brown

 Images:

Wayne Zuhl

NGC 2359 & NGC 2362 images

 Copyright Adam Block/Mount Lemmon 

 SkyCenter/University of Arizona

Comet ATLAS image Caroline Jones

FireflySpace.com

HakutoR by Artvill

PUNCH by punch.space.swri.edu

NASA/LRO

NGC 2204 by Donald Pelletier

NGC2360 images by Roberto Mura

 
Creative Commons CC BY 4.0

https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Sky simulations were made using Stellarium

 Music Credits:

Phase Shift by Scott Buckley 

Last And First Light by Scott Buckley

www.scottbuckley.com.au

Distant Sky by Keys of Moon

soundcloud.com/keysofmoon

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

 Creative Commons CC BY 4.0

https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

0:00 Intro

0:32 Planetary Roundup

8:05 Comet Update

8:27 Space Mission Updates 

10:40 Lunar Feature of the Month

12:47 DSO’s

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

2024 is behind us and it was a very busy year astronomically speaking.  There were several groundbreaking space missions, eclipses, aurora, comets and much more that graced our skies.  In the episode we’ll explore some highlights of the year.   Stay tuned till the end as we have some information about what will be coming up as far as our content in the new year.  It’s going to be a LOT of fun! 

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

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

Clark TV-36: https://www.ourclark.com/194/Clark-News---Our-Clark-Media

What’s Up in the December 2024 Skies?:  https://youtu.be/iSiHbd2AS7k

T Cor Bor episode: https://youtu.be/iocIBrldMPE

Comet Tsuchinshan-Atlas Episode: https://youtu.be/GfFwpbAjeAY

The Full Episode Guide of DSO’s sorted by Catalog Name: http://tinyurl.com/AGFullGuide

Wayne Zuhl's AstroBin page: https://www.astrobin.com/users/Nighthoek/

Affiliate Links

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

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

ZWO ASI-2600MC-AIR: https://bit.ly/4g1cpOp

ZWO Seestar S30: https://bit.ly/41Wk0u4

Dwarf Labs Dwarf III: https://bit.ly/4gDblRN

ZWO CAA: https://bit.ly/3BKCJOH

 Celestron Origin: https://bit.ly/3DIKSnd

Credits: 

Aurora Video

Kaitlyn Seabright

Creative Commons No Derivatives license CC-BY-ND

 Images:

Bill Griffeth

Bobby Marinov

Donna Harris

Scott Badger

Phil Harrington

Sky & Telescope

ESO/E. Slawik

John Walker

Carlesa25

Wayne Zuhl

 Hera image

ESA – Science Office, CC BY-SA IGO 3.0

Music Credits:

Distant Sky by Keys of Moon | https://soundcloud.com/keysofmoon

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

Creative Commons CC BY 4.0

https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Phase Shift by Scott Buckley | www.scottbuckley.com.au

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

Creative Commons CC BY 4.0

https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

There Was A Time by Scott Buckley | www.scottbuckley.com.au

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

Creative Commons CC BY 4

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

Happy New Year!!! Hopefully you had a joyous holiday season filled with lots of clear skies! In this episode, we’ll discuss the planets, a meteor shower, a comet, then we’ll explore what is considered the brightest feature on the moon, before taking a sneak peek at some great astronomical events that will be happening in 2025. 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

Cranford TV-35: https://www.cranfordnj.org/tv-35
Clark TV-36: https://www.ourclark.com/194/Clark-News---Our-Clark-Media

The Full Episode Guide of DSO’s sorted by Catalog Name: http://tinyurl.com/AGFullGuide

To learn more about degrees, arcminutes, arcseconds, magnitude and more, check out our Astronomy Basics episode: https://youtu.be/MtUkLVneNYs?si=5Ge1Zq7V3q6lB92s

March 13-14 Mars Occultation: https://in-the-sky.org/news.php?id=20250114_16_100

Blue Ghost CLIPs Mission info: https://fireflyspace.com/blue-ghost/

SPHEREx info: https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/missions/spherex/

Europa Clipper info: https://science.nasa.gov/mission/europa-clipper/

March 14th Lunar Eclipes Maps and Timings: https://in-the-sky.org/news.php?id=20250314_09_100

March 29th Partial Solar Eclipse info: https://in-the-sky.org/news.php?id=20250329_09_100 Asteroid Day info: https://asteroidday.org/

JUpiter ICy Moons Explorer info: https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Space_Science/Juice

JUNO info: https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/missions/juno/

September 7th Lunar Eclipse info: https://in-the-sky.org/news.php?id=20250907_09_100

September 21st Partial Solar Eclipse info: https://in-the-sky.org/news.php?id=20250921_09_100

Affiliate Links

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

Amazon: https://amzn.to/4gFQmOG 

Binoculars: https://amzn.to/3ZRGfyu 

Binocular Mount: https://amzn.to/3ZGyU4I 

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

This December sure has been interesting!  Unless you’re living under a rock, you’ve likely heard about the myriad of mysterious drone sightings that began in New Jersey in November.  In this episode, we tell the story of the drong sightings, explain what a drone is, what they’re used for, along with tips to identify that what you’re seeing is actually a drone and not a plane or helicopter in the distance.  

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

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

Clark TV-36: https://www.ourclark.com/194/Clark-News---Our-Clark-Media

The Full Episode Guide of DSO’s sorted by Catalog Name: http://tinyurl.com/AGFullGuide

Links:

The FBI 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324)

Tips.FBI.gov

New Jersey Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness.  www.NJOHSP.gov

Affiliate Links

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

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

Binoculars: https://amzn.to/3ZRGfyu

Binocular Mount: https://amzn.to/3ZGyU4I

  Music Credits:

Voice of Earth by Alex-Productions | https://onsound.eu/

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

Creative Commons CC BY 3.0

https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Dark Knight by MaxKoMusic | https://maxkomusic.com/

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

Creative Commons CC BY-SA 3.0

https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/

Under The Sun by Keys of Moon | https://soundcloud.com/keysofmoon

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

Creative Commons CC BY 4.0

https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

In this episode, we explore what planets can be seen and when and how to find them.  We also discuss a comet, meteor shower, another groundbreaking space mission and then we explore a snow man on the moon.  Lastly, we’ll explore some holiday themed wonders in the night sky.  It’s going to be a LOT of fun! 

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

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

Clark TV-36: https://www.ourclark.com/194/Clark-News---Our-Clark-Media

December Episode Guide: https://tinyurl.com/AGDec2024

The Full Episode Guide of DSO’s sorted by Catalog Name: http://tinyurl.com/AGFullGuide

 Our “Astronomy Basics” episode: https://youtu.be/MtUkLVneNYs

Mobile Observatory: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.zima.mobileobservatorypro&pcampaignid=web_share

Affiliate Links

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

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

Deck The Halls by Alex-Productions | https://onsound.eu/

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

Creative Commons CC BY 3.0 

United States Marine Band – We Wish You a Merry Christmas

https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Carol Of The Bells Celtic Version by Alexander Nakarada | https://creatorchords.com

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

Creative Commons CC BY 4.0

https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

God Rest Ye Merry Celtishmen by Alexander Nakarada | https://creatorchords.com

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

Creative Commons CC BY 4.0

https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

The First Noel

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

0:00 Intro 

0:15 Planetary Updates

8:03 Comet Update

8:57 Meteor Showers

9:22 Space Mission Updates

9:57 Lunar Feature of the Month

12:15 Deep Sky Tour

17:16 Conclusion

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

When starting out in amateur astronomy, there are so many terms and concepts that are part of the hobby. Some are not easy to understand, some are. In this episode we’ll explore several of these and explain them in a way that is straightforward and easy to understand. We’ll explore magnitude, angular measurements, celestial coordinates and more, all while revealing some helpful tips along the way to make your astronomical journey more fun. 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 

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

Clark TV-36: https://www.ourclark.com/194/Clark-News---Our-Clark-Media 

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

Amazon: https://amzn.to/4gFQmOG 

0:00 Intro 
0:20 Angular Measurement 
4:40 Understanding Focal Ratios 
6:19 Magnification and Field of View 
8:38 Magnitude 
10:44 Celestial Coordinates 
13:45 Helpful Resources 
18:14 Conclusion 

Support the show