July is peak galaxy appreciation month, and the Milky Way is putting on a show. This episode, we’re grabbing our stargazing snacks and heading outside to soak in that big, hazy river of light across the sky.Whether you're deep in the bush or just squinting past your neighbour’s porch light, we’ll help you spot it. We'll also help you find the Southern Cross and introduce you to the dark emu hiding in plain sight. Spoiler: it’s not made of stars but the dark bits between them.Also, on this week’s tour of the cosmos:July 4th is when Earth is furthest from the Sun. No, that’s not why it’s coldVenus and Jupiter are up early and looking gorgeousSagittarius is pointing straight at the centre of the galaxy. We call it the big messy spaghettiThe Vera Rubin Observatory has a camera the size of a small car and a mission to map the entire night sky. Every three days. For ten years. It cost a billion bucks and it’s going to change astronomy foreverVera Rubin helped prove dark matter exists. She deserved a Nobel Prize and didn’t get one. We’re still salty about itThere are over 130 million bits of space junk out there bigger than a centimetre. Who’s watching all that? We are. Kind ofNeed more sky stuff?scitech.org.autheskytonight
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June 2025 – Milky Way Magic, Venus at Dawn & Lupus the Lone Wolf
Snuggle up and look up, Leon and Beth are back with your June night sky guide from Scitech, recorded on Whadjuk Noongar land. This month, we chase the Milky Way as it stretches across the southeastern sky on cold, clear winter nights. They share top tips for stargazing in light polluted Perth (yes, your hand is a valid telescope substitute) and highlight Venus beaming brightly in the pre-dawn east.We also dive into the Winter Solstice on June 21 aka the longest night of the year and explain how to track the Sun’s movement using nothing but your driveway and some chalk. And finally, we meet this month’s celestial underdog: Lupus the Wolf. It’s faint, it’s mysterious, and it used to be part of a drunken centaur’s wine sack.Grab a coat, find the southeast, and come howl at the stars with us.
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August 2024: The Teapot, Galactic Wonders, and Space Oddities
Join Beth and Leon for your monthly stargazing guide as they explore the Borloo night sky this May. With the arrival of cooler nights and the end of Bunuru, it’s the perfect time to head outside on Star Wars Day (May the 4th!) for some celestial viewing. Spot the bright first quarter Moon alongside rusty-red Mars, both shining in the north. Below them, Gemini’s twin stars Castor and Pollux frame a spectacular 7:13pm flyover of the International Space Station, zipping through the gap like a real-life starship.Further up, look for the hilarious “dog” constellation Canis Minor (made up of… just two stars), then continue turning right to find Leo the Lion, with its upside-down question mark mane and mythological ties to Hercules’ very first labour. Peek further into Leo’s rear to find the Leo Triplet three faraway galaxies, including one affectionately dubbed the Hamburger Galaxy.Early risers are in for a treat, too. On May 5th, the Eta Aquarids meteor shower will peak before dawn. Head out around 5am to face east and catch up to 30 meteors per hour, streaking from the Aquarius constellation. Venus blazes low on the horizon as the new Morning Star, while Saturn hovers above marking a beautiful pairing with the meteor display.May the 4th be with you—and don’t forget to wave at the ISS!
Join Beth and Leon for your monthly stargazing guide as they explore the Borloo night sky this April. As we farewell Bunuru and welcome cooler nights, catch your last good views of Orion setting in the northwest alongside bright Jupiter. Mars shines vividly near Gemini and hidden between these celestial landmarks is Cancer the Crab—this month’s dim but rewarding constellation to spot. Discover the faint 'nebula-like' star cluster at Cancer’s heart and hear about the fascinating exoplanet system around 55 Cancri. Early risers can witness a stunning parade of Mercury, Venus, Saturn, and even Neptune before dawn, beautifully paired with a crescent moon late in the month. And don't miss the return of the Milky Way rising spectacularly in the southeast, crowned by the Southern Cross!
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March 2025 – Equinox, Asteroid Watch & The Hare in the Sky
Join Leon and Beth for your monthly stargazing guide as they explore the Borloo night sky this March. As Bunuru lingers, the warm nights offer perfect conditions for spotting Mars and Jupiter shining brightly in the north. Meanwhile, Saturn, Venus, and Mercury remain hidden in the Sun’s glare but will start to emerge late in the month, with even better views coming in April. Look high in the southern sky to spot the Argo Navis constellation, and in the west, keep an eye out for the lesser-known Lepus—the celestial hare—hopping beneath Orion’s feet. Plus, learn about the March equinox and how the Earth's wobble has shifted the night sky over time!
A guided tour of the night sky as seen from Perth, Western Australia, exploring the stories and science of astronomy, space science and space travel. It's a planetarium presenter in your pocket - just download, head outside, and press play. The Audio Guide to the Galaxy is proudly presented by Scitech.
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