The Astronomy Show 19.12.18

The Astronomy Show 19.12.18

It is the Christmas Astronomy Show, but although it is the closest show to the big day the world of astronomy does not stop, things keep happening. Therefore I will be looking at news that astronomers have discovered the most distant solar system object to have been observed. The object named 2018 VG18 is more than 100 times further than the Earth is from the Sun.

I will look at the Night Sky over the Festive period with Mars being seen in the south west just after Sunset and Venus easily seen before sunrise and as an extra bonus right at the end of the month Jupiter and Mercury can also been seen before sunrise. The autumn constellations are now dropping away in the west with the winter constellations much more apparent in the east. There will be much more on the winter constellations next month.

The other regular feature include the A-Z of constellations which today has reached Tucana  the Toucan, while the Messier marathon is at M85 in Coma Berenices. The latest astronomy news includes how the Insight lander will monitor the weather on Mars, NASA has selected the place where the Mars 2020 will land and Voyager 2 left the solar system the same day that a solar probe touched the Sun. The astronomical scrapbook which looks at anniversaries this week includes Apollo 8  at the Moon in 1968, Halleys comet was recovered in 1758 and astronomer Scriven Bolton died in 1929. All this plus the round up of news from the astronomical societies in the North of England.

At this time of year one very famous star is often mentioned the Star of Bethlehem, I will have a quick look at just what that might have been.

I hope everyone has a very peaceful and blessed Christmas and a wonderful start to the New Year.
I will be back with the Astronomy Show on Wednesday 2nd January 2019.

The Astronomy Show every Wednesday afternoon between 3.00 pm and 5.00 pm only on Drystone Radio 103.5 FM, you can hear the show live on line at www.drystoneradio.com or hear the Astronomy Show later on the Drystone Radio Podcast.

The Astronomy Show 12.12.18

The Astronomy Show 12.12.18

On the Astronomy Show today I will be looking at Voyager 2 which has finally reached interstellar space. This venerable space craft which was launched in 1977 is now saying goodbye to the solar system. I will be looking at what Voyager 2 achieved and what will happen to it next,

There will be the regular review of the night sky, including the Geminid meteor shower which peaks on the night of December 13/14. The Geminid meteor shower is the best of the year, plus the latest news on comet Wirtanen. I will also look at one of the main early winter constellations Perseus which is now high in the sky, plus a round up of the other constellations visible at the moment.

The A-Z of constellations has reached Triangulum Australe, the Southern Triangle, the Messier Marathon is a double helping with the galaxies M84 and M86 in Virgo. This is the first time that the Messier Marathon has gone out of sequence with M85 to follow next time. There will be the latest astronomy news including China launches the first mission to land on the far side of the Moon, the Osiris-REX mission arrives at the asteroid Bennu and news that a Near Earth asteroid has been removed from the list of objects that could hit the Earth. This plus the latest news from the astronomy societies in the North of England.

The Astronomy Show every Wednesday afternoon between 3.00 pm and 5.00 pm only on Drystone Radio 103.5 FM. The show can be heard live on line at www.drystoneradio.com or you can listen to the programme later via the Drystone Radio Podcast.

The Astronomy Show 05.12.18

The Astronomy Show 05.12.18

On the Astronomy Show today I will be looking at cave paintings that are 40,000 years old and show that people living all those years ago had a good knowledge of astronomy. This information must have been preserved in various forms and ultimately ended up in  Greece over 2,500 years ago leading to the so called beginning of science.

Astronomers are watching comet Wirtanen as it gets higher in the sky and hopefully brighter, I will be looking at the latest details. I will also be taking a look at what stars can be seen during the next few nights and the very close encounter between the planets Mars and Neptune.

The other regular features include the A-Z of constellations which is now at Triangulum the Triangle, one of the few constellations that look like the object it is supposed to represent. The Messier Marathon has reached M83 in Hydra the Water Snake. The astronomy news this week includes an asteroid that exploded 3,700 years ago and wiped out part of the Middle East and astronomers determine the distance to the Cygnus Loop often known as the Veil,Nebula.

The Astronomical Scrapbook which looks at anniversaries this week includes the discovery of the Supernova in 185 AD and the birth of Annie Jump Cannon in 1863. There will also be the usual roundup of meetings of the astronomical societies in the North of England.

The Astronomy Show every Wednesday afternoon between 3.00 pm and 5. 00 pm only on Drystone Radio 103.5 FM. The show can be heard on line at www.drystoneradio.com or you can listen to the show later on the Drystone Radio Podcast.