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The Backyard Astronomer brings you semi-monthly topics and interviews relative to astronomy, space, and science. Follow us at https://www.facebook.com/BackyardAstronomerAZThemes and summary (AI-generated based on podcaster-provided show and episode descriptions):
➤ Backyard stargazing guides • meteor showers, eclipses, lunar phases • planets, constellations, deep-sky targets • comets, asteroids, Oort Cloud • ISS, rockets, satellites, space junk • solar activity • exoplanets • indigenous astronomy and sky loreThis podcast focuses on backyard-friendly astronomy and space science, pairing skywatching guidance with explanations of the underlying science and occasional interviews. Across the episodes, listeners are oriented to what’s visible in the night (and sometimes daytime) sky at different times of year, with emphasis on when to look, where to look, and what instruments—often just the naked eye, binoculars, or a small telescope—can reveal.
A recurring theme is observing cyclical celestial events and seasonal markers. The show frequently highlights meteor showers, lunar phases and supermoons, equinoxes and solstices, and notable morning or evening viewing windows. Constellations and asterisms are used as practical “signposts” to help locate targets, and the podcast often connects those patterns to deep-sky objects such as star clusters, nebulae, and galaxies.
Solar system science is another major thread. Episodes commonly explore planets at opposition or during other favorable alignments, how to spot features like rings or atmospheric markings, and how transits and orbital geometry enable discoveries—from professional exoplanet detection methods to observational opportunities involving familiar bodies. Small bodies also receive sustained attention, including comets and asteroids: where they originate (such as the Oort Cloud), how they’re discovered and tracked, and how to observe notable apparitions.
The podcast also touches on human activity in space and near-Earth hazards, with discussions of satellites, the International Space Station, rockets, acronyms used in the space sector, and concerns like space junk and orbital collisions. Several episodes broaden into astronomy history and culture, including ancient and Indigenous sky knowledge, naming projects tied to exoplanets, and how long-term records of phenomena inform modern astronomy. Interviews and STEM-education-oriented segments appear as part of this mix, bridging observational tips with storytelling about space exploration and scientific practice.