Audio Guide to the Galaxy
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.
All Episodes
September Night Sky Guide: Venus & Mercury at Sunset, Moon Meetups, and Ophiuchus
Leon and Sharna preview September’s night sky, starting with Venus shining brightly in the western sky just after sunset, and noting that Mercury will join it low in the west in the second half of the month. They recommend using the Moon as a guide: on September 14 the Moon sits near Venus, and on September 17 it sits near the subtly red star Antares, the heart of Scorpius, which also helps locate the Milky Way stretching roughly north–south and shifting toward the western sky in the evening. They explain the September equinox on September 23, when day and night are roughly equal, and introduce the constellation of the month, Ophiuchus (the serpent bearer), visible from anywhere on Earth and sometimes traversed by the Sun. Highlights include Barnard’s Star, a nearby fast-moving red dwarf, and Kepler’s Supernova (1604) and the related system RS Ophiuchi.
August 2026 - Venus, Sagittarius & the Centre of the Galaxy!
In this episode of the Audio Guide to the Galaxy, join me as we explore the stunning night sky of Perth in August. Discover the brilliance of Venus dominating the western horizon and learn about the best times to spot the crescent moon alongside this bright planet. I'll guide you through the mesmerizing Milky Way, with tips on identifying Scorpius, and discuss the elusive Perseids meteor shower. Although eclipses this month won't be visible from Australia, I'll share insights on their significance and upcoming astronomical events, including the exciting launch of the Nancy Grace Roman Telescope. Tune in for a captivating journey through the cosmos and the wonders awaiting you in the night sky.
July 2026: Moon Day, Virgo Cluster & Egg Shaped Stars
<p>What's up in July? Best time to see the Milkyway, Moon Day & Virgo Cluster.</p> <p></p> <p>What's up in the Night Sky for July?</p> <p>In the West - Jupiter going going gone. Venus is still super bright & swings by Regulus in Leo constellation July 10. To the East - see Mars in the morning. Pleiades, Taurus, Aldebaran. Bets time of year to see the Milky Way!</p> <p></p> <p>Dates of interest:</p> <p>July 7: Earth at aphelion </p> <p>July 10: Venus close to Regulus in Leo</p> <p>July 20: International Moon Day </p> <p>July 29: Full Moon</p> <p> </p> <p>Constellation of the month:</p> <p>Virgo & the wheat laden maiden.</p> <p></p> <p>Virgo Cluster with 1300+ galaxies!</p> <p>M87's Black Hole image</p> <p>https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/edu/resources/teachable-moment/how-scientists-captured-the-first-image-of-a-black-hole/</p> <p> </p> <p>Spica - Leon's Hypothetical Egg Boys </p> <p>https://particle.scitech.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/bin_000001-egg-boys.png</p> <p>Image: Hypothetical appearance of stars in an ellipsiodal binary. Credit: Smith/Scitech</p> <p></p> <p>For more space news check out <a href="https://particle.scitech.org.au/atoms-galaxies/the-sky-tonight-july-2026/" rel="nofollow">https://particle.scitech.org.au/atoms-galaxies/the-sky-tonight-july-2026/</a></p> <p> </p> <p>Got a question? Chuck it in the comments and we will try to answer it next episode!</p> <p>The Audio Guide To the Galaxy is recorded at Scitech on Whajduk Noongar Land.</p>June 2026: Season of the Scorpion
<p>Join hosts Leon and Sharna as they guide you through what you can see in the night sky in June.</p> <p>In June wave bye bye to Orion and hello to Scorpius, rising in the east and marking the onset of winter. Due to this change in season this month is your last good chance to see Jupiter, and its putting on a show joined by Mercury and Venus.</p> <p>Last but not least don't forget to celebrate International Asteroid Day!</p> <p>Happy stargazing!</p>