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Dr Ian 'Astroblog' Musgrave returns with your October 2026 Sky Guide for Australian skies, including Saturn at opposition (October 4), Mars crossing the Beehive Cluster (M44), the Orionid meteor shower, a daylight Lunar X on the 18th, and the occultation of Elnath (Beta Tauri) on October 29–30. Venus becomes a wire-thin crescent on its way to inferior conjunction on the 24th, Mercury reaches greatest elongation, and T Coronae Borealis still hasn't gone bang. In the Tangent: could life be hiding in the clouds of Venus? Ian explores the "unknown absorber" in Venus's sulfuric acid clouds, a new peptide candidate, the phosphine debate, and the microbes living in Earth's 'black smokers' (deep ocean vents). Full human-curated transcript and resources: WWW.astrophiz.com Follow: https://astrophiz.com | Bluesky: https://web-cdn.bsky.app/profile/astrophiz.bsky.social | Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/astrophiz #Astrophiz #SkyGuide #OctoberSky #Saturn #Orionids #Venus #AstronomyPodcast #Australia Astrophiz is an independent, non-commercial, ad-free astrophysics podcast, running since 2016, with over 240 episodes featuring space scientists from around the world. Also on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and YouTube.

Is dark matter finally showing itself? In this episode of Astrophiz, Dr Sophia Gad-Nasr — particle cosmologist, science communicator, and creator of @AstropartiGirl — returns for her second appearance on the show (her first was Episode 90, back in 2019) to unpack the tantalising 2.6-sigma signal detected by the LUX-ZEPLIN (LZ) dark matter experiment, buried deep underground in South Dakota. Sophia walks us through how direct-detection experiments work, why this result is exciting but not yet a discovery, and what it would — and wouldn't — tell us about self-interacting dark matter, the subject of her PhD. We also cover the newly launched Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, which Sophia watched lift off in person, and what its huge survey power means for our understanding of dark energy. Plus: an update on Sophia's PhD research into gravothermal collapse and black hole formation, and her thoughts on diversity in physics. Chapters: Introduction & Welcome Back PhD Update: Gravothermal Collapse in Self-Interacting Dark Matter Recap: Cold Dark Matter, WIMPs & SIDM The LUX-ZEPLIN (LZ) Signal Explained Watching the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope Launch Self-Interacting Dark Matter vs Direct Detection Sophia's Soapbox: Diversity in Physics & the Big Open Questions Follow Dr Sophia Gad-Nasr: @AstropartiGirl Full transcript and show notes: www.astrophiz.com Astrophiz is an independent, non-commercial, ad-free astrophysics podcast running since 2016. Subscribe, tell your Astro Buddies, and join us on the 1st of each month for Dr Ian Musgrave's SkyGuide, and on the 15th for an in-depth interview with a leading space scientist. Clear skies!

Dr Ian 'Astroblog' Musgrave returns with your essential guide to the September night sky — Venus at its greatest brilliancy (mag -4.5), the Moon's occultation of Antares, and Mercury lining up with Venus and Spica at dusk. 🔭 In this episode: - Spring equinox (Sept 23) and an apogee First Quarter Moon - Venus at greatest brilliancy, sinking toward evening twilight - Mercury returns and lines up with Spica and Venus - Saturn climbs toward October opposition; Mars crosses Gemini at dawn - Comet 220P/McNaught's second outburst — still visible in binoculars - T Coronae Borealis: still hasn't gone nova - The occultation of Antares, Sept 17–18 (Adelaide, Canberra, Hobart, Melbourne) - Deep-sky spotlight: Sagittarius and the triangle of globular clusters — M28, Omega Centauri, and 47 Tucanae 🌀 The Tangent: Ian traces the thousand-year argument over why Venus and Mercury never wander far from the Sun — from Ptolemy's epicycles to Tycho Brahe, Simon Marius, and Galileo's discovery of the phases of Venus. Full transcript and show notes: https://astrophiz.com Astrophiz is an independent, ad-free astronomy and astrophysics podcast. Free, unsponsored, and produced on Yorta Yorta, Pangarang and Kaurna country. #Astronomy #NightSky #Venus #Antares #Astrophysics

Trevor Barry — the Outback Astronomer — is a world-renowned planetary imager whose backyard observatory in Broken Hill, NSW, produces scientific-grade Jupiter and Saturn data used by NASA. In this episode of Astrophiz, host Brendan O'Brien travels to the outback to sit down with Trevor at his custom-built observatory. Discover how a former mining tradesman built a 16-inch high-resolution planetary telescope with a 32-point mirror cell and Peltier-cooled optics — and why Broken Hill's flat outback terrain produces some of the best planetary seeing on Earth. From tracking Saturn's electrical storms for NASA's Cassini mission to winning the ASA Berenice and Arthur Page Medal and ALPO's Walter H. Haas Award, Trevor breaks down the exact capture, derotation and processing workflow behind his NASA-grade data. IN THIS EPISODE: -Introduction: Arriving in Broken Hill - From the Mines to the Night Sky: the "aha" moment - Building the First Telescope: storm water pipe & a trip into the roses - Why Broken Hill Delivers World-Class Seeing - Inside the Observatory: the 32-point mirror cell & Peltier-cooled optics - First Contact with NASA: discovering an electrical storm on Saturn - From Pretty Pictures to Scientific Data: capture & processing protocols - The Thrill of Discovery: Jupiter's real-time impact scar - A Dream Fulfilled: two nights on the twin Keck telescopes, Mauna Kea - Mission Control at JPL: meeting Dr Carolyn Porco - Advice for Amateurs: where to send your data - Earning Trust in the Professional Community - Looking Ahead: the 2028 total solar eclipse & Saturn's Great Vortex - The Golden Mic: sharing the wonder with the next generation Full transcript & images: https://astrophiz.com Trevor's book "Outback Astronomer": available online & in all good bookstores Trevor's 60 Minutes feature: tinyurl.com/trevorbarry Astrophiz is an independent, ad-free science podcast running since 2016. If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, or share it with a friend who loves the cosmos. #Astrophiz #TrevorBarry #PlanetaryImaging #Astrophotography #Saturn #Jupiter #NASA #Cassini #BrokenHill #Astronomy #OutbackAstronomer #JPL

How do we "autopsy" a galaxy from billions of light-years away? Join world-renowned astrophysicist Dr. Elisabete da Cunha as she sits down with Astrophiz host Brendan O’Brien to explore the life, evolution, and eventual "death" of the most massive structures in the universe. From her early inspirations under the stars of Portugal to her groundbreaking work in Extragalactic Astronomy, Elisabete shares her personal journey and the high-tech tools used to decode Starlight, Cosmic Dust, and Spectral Energy Distributions (SEDs). In this episode, we dive into: Galaxy Evolution: How star systems grow and transform over billions of years. Radio Astronomy: Using invisible light to peer into the deep universe. Stellar Populations: What the chemistry of stars tells us about the history of space. Cosmology & Dark Matter: The invisible forces shaping our galactic neighborhood. Whether you are a student of astrophysics or a casual stargazer, this conversation offers a unique, charming, and deeply insightful window into the forensic evidence of our universe. Read the full transcript and see the show notes at: https://astrophiz.com/2026/03/18/galaxy-forensics-with-dr-elisabete-da-cunha-astrophiz-230/ Subscribe to Astrophiz for your monthly dose of space science, telescope technology, and expert interviews.

Astrophiz 239: August 2026 Sky Guide — Venus at Greatest Elongation, Mars Meets the Crab Nebula, and the Eagle of Aquila Dr. Ian 'Astroblog' Musgrave returns with your essential guide to the August night sky. This month the planetary action shifts to the morning sky, with Mars sweeping past the Crab Nebula and open cluster M35, while Saturn begins opening its rings ahead of September opposition. Venus dominates the evening twilight on its way to greatest elongation, and the Moon occults El Nath (Beta Tauri) on the 9th. In this episode: Moon Phases: Last Quarter, New Moon, First Quarter, Full Moon, and the Lunar X A Total Solar Eclipse crosses the Northern Hemisphere (not visible from Australia) Evening Skies: Venus approaches greatest elongation; Jupiter absent until next month Morning Skies: Mars passes the Crab Nebula and M35; Saturn's rings begin opening Deep-Sky Spotlight: Scorpius, Sagittarius, and the constellation Aquila the Eagle Indigenous Astronomy: Aquila in Koori, Boorong, and Muurrbay sky-lore The Occultation of Elnath by the Moon, August 9 The Perseid Meteor Shower (best from the Northern Hemisphere) The Tangent: How sugar and other organic molecules survive the birth of a new star Read the full transcript and see the show notes at: astrophiz.com Support independent science: Astrophiz is free, ad-free, and unsponsored. #Astrophiz #Astronomy #Stargazing #SciencePodcast #AugustSkyGuide #IanMusgrave #Venus #Mars #Saturn #Aquila #NightSky #Astrophotography

In Episode 238 of the Astrophiz Podcast, we sit down with multi-wavelength astrophysicist Kovi Rose to explore a groundbreaking breakthrough in radio astronomy: the discovery of the stellar "Rosetta Stone" system, ASKAP J1745. Kovi shares the inside story of tracking down this unique system using Australia’s world-class hardware, including the Australian Square Kilometre Array Pathfinder (ASKAP) and the Australia Telescope Compact Array (ATCA). We dive deep into his research on mysterious Long Period Transients, how the modern AI era is transforming data analysis in astronomy, and the vital role of science communication. Chapters: 00:00 Intro & Kovi’s journey into astrophysics 12:15 Hunting for Long Period Transients with ASKAP 24:40 Deep dive: The ASKAP J1745 "Rosetta Stone" system 38:10 AI, data pipelines, and the future of radio astronomy 48:15 Science communication & outtakes Links: Read the full transcript and show notes: https://astrophiz.com Follow Kovi’s work and his podcast "The Nerd and the Scientist" Subscribe to Astrophiz on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube for your fortnightly space science update. Find us on FB 'Astrophiz' and Bluesky

In Astrophiz Episode 237, Dr. Ian Musgrave joins host Brendan O'Brien to deliver your comprehensive July 2026 SkyGuide, detailing a spectacular month of naked-eye astronomy and astrophotography targets. Today we celebrate the 10 year anniversary of Ian's Skyguides.

Celebrate a decade of stargazing with Astrophiz! 🌟 In this milestone episode, host Brendan O'Brien is joined by acclaimed scientist, educator, and amateur astronomer Dr. Ian Musgrave to celebrate 10 years of the Astrophiz SkyGuide and the 19th anniversary of his renowned 'Astroblog'. Ian delivers your comprehensive Southern Hemisphere July Sky Guide, detailing when and where to spot the planet dance as it transfers to the morning skies. Discover how to witness a spectacular close conjunction between Mars and Uranus in Taurus, and how to track Saturn as it begins its retrograde path toward September opposition. Plus, get crucial viewing tips for the Southern Delta Aquariid meteor shower and learn how to navigate the brilliant winter Milky Way to find deep-sky treasures like Omega Centauri, the Carina Nebula, and Ptolemy’s Cluster. In a deeply moving and personal Tangent, Ian dedicates this anniversary edition to the memory of his late son, Jack. Shifting his gaze to our atmosphere, Ian explores the historical beauty, science, and classification of clouds—from Luke Howard's 1802 nomenclature to stunning 'asperitas' formations—while playfully dismantling modern "cloud-shaming" chemtrail conspiracies. Grab your binoculars, check your local twilight times, and keep looking up! *** TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 - Introduction & Celebrating 10 Years of Sky Guides 03:15 - July Moon Phases, Solstice & Earth at Aphelion 04:45 - Evening Planets: Venus climbs through Leo, goodbye to Jupiter 06:20 - Morning Skies: Mars meets Uranus; Saturn’s retrograde track 09:15 - Deep Sky Treasures: Scorpius, Sagittarius & Omega Centauri 11:40 - Southern Delta Aquariids Meteor Shower Peak 13:10 - The Tangent: Dedicated to Jack, Luke Howard & the beauty of clouds 19:45 - Future Anniversaries, Apophis Flyby & Solar Eclipses *** LINKS & RESOURCES: • For full episode transcripts, back-catalogues, and planetarium updates, visit our website: https://astrophiz.com • Listen to our special live recording piano, violin, and cello tribute to Jack Musgrave: https://tinyurl.com/jackstribute Astrophiz is an independent, completely free, ad-free, and unsponsored science podcast produced on Yorta Yorta, Pangerang, and Kahuna Country.

Welcome to Astrophiz! In this episode, host Brendan O'Brien sits down with the brilliant Dr. Gabriela Ligeza, an Internal Research Fellow at the European Space Agency (ESA) in the Netherlands. Dr. Ligeza works at the absolute cutting edge of planetary exploration, bridging the gap between orbital maps and physical alien terrain. As a key scientist for ESA’s ExoMars mission, she is developing the science sampling strategies that will guide the Rosalind Franklin rover in its high-stakes hunt for ancient morphological biosignatures (fossilized signs of microbial life) in the 4-billion-year-old clays of Oxia Planum. We also dive deep into her incredible work for NASA’s Artemis program at the Johnson Space Center, where she mapped the lunar South Pole to establish the landing and geological sampling sites for the next human footprints on the Moon. In this episode, we explore: • The childhood spark: How a postcard from a NASA astronaut geologist changed her life. • Martian lighting secrets: How light and shadow in the Mars Lab reveal (or hide) the true history of alien rocks through the CLUPI (Close-Up Imager) instrument. • Four-legged space dogs: Why autonomous legged robots can conquer steep crater rims and lava tubes where traditional wheeled rovers fail. • Training Astronauts: What it takes to teach pilots and engineers to think like field geologists on the lunar surface. • The mystery of Noachian iron/magnesium phyllosilicates—the ancient Martian mud that could hold the key to answering: Are we alone? Whether you are an aspiring researcher or a casual stargazer, Dr. Ligeza’s journey from a small village in Poland to the forefront of solar system exploration is profoundly inspiring. Subscribe to Astrophiz for more interviews with the world's leading space scientists. Join us as we fight for a greener future and explore how our universe works. #Astrophiz #SpacePodcast #ESA #ExoMars #Artemis #MarsRover #PlanetaryGeology #Astrobiology

In Astrophiz Episode 235, Dr. Ian Musgrave joins host Brendan O'Brien to deliver your comprehensive June 2026 SkyGuide, detailing a spectacular month of naked-eye astronomy and astrophotography targets. [00:00] Introduction & Indigenous Country acknowledgment [01:05] The June Moon Phases: Apogee, Perigee, and High Tides [02:18] How to observe the Lunar X and Lunar V (June 22) [03:45] The Evening Sky: The Great Planet Dance of Venus, Jupiter, and Mercury [06:22] The Morning Sky: Mars tracking towards Uranus, and Saturn's rings opening up [07:44] Early Morning Occultation of Antares (June 28) [09:02] Autumn Stargazing: Tracking the First Nations Dark Constellation, the Cosmic Emu [10:11] The June Tangent: Comet Orbits & Busting Social Media Myths [12:35] June Astrophotography Challenge: Capturing Real-Time Planetary Motion [15:10] Looking ahead to the 10th Anniversary of Astrophiz EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS: - The Planet Dance: Watch Venus, Jupiter, and Mercury form dynamic triangles and planetary massings in the western evening twilight. - The Cosmic Emu: How to utilize dark sky sites to see the Coalsack and the dark rifts of the Milky Way shape this iconic celestial silhouette. - The Tangent: Dr. Musgrave counters a viral internet myth regarding comets moving in "lockstep" with the stars, explaining how to observe and calculate actual orbital progression. For the full, human-curated transcript of this episode and links to resources mentioned by Ian, visit our website: https://astrophiz.com Astrophiz is an independent, ad-free, and unsponsored science podcast produced on Yorta Yorta, Pangarang, and Kaurna country. If you enjoy our monthly sky guides and deep-dive interviews with global space scientists, please subscribe, leave a review, and share the universe with a friend. Keep looking up!

In May 2024, the "Mother’s Day Superstorm" slammed into Mars with a force Earth didn't experience. But how do we see a storm on a planet without a magnetic field? In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Jacob Parrott from the European Space Agency (ESA) to discuss his groundbreaking research recently published in Nature Communications. Jacob explains how he and his team "hacked" veteran satellites—the Mars Express and the ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter—to perform an unintended dance known as "mutual radio occultation." Discover how redundant hardware from failed landers became a cutting-edge sensor for Martian aeronomy, revealing how solar flares strip the atmosphere from the Red Planet. In this episode: • From biology and media internships to ESA’s grad scheme. • The physics of radio occultation: Using signal "bending" to measure atmospheric density. • Retasking the Melacom and Electra antennas for deep-space science. • Processing the data: From raw waveforms to Python and SPICE simulations. Read the full transcript and see the images at: https://www.Astrophiz.com

Welcome to Astrophiz Episode 233 This month, we are joined by Dr. Ian Musgrave for the May Sky Guide. We explore the planetary alignments, the upcoming Eta Aquariid meteor showers, and how you can track Comet C/2025 R3 (PANSTARRS). Plus, we dive into the fascinating world of sun-grazing comets and how you can get involved in citizen science. In this episode: Planetary Watch: Venus and Jupiter dominating the evening; Saturn and Mars rising in the morning. Moon Phases: Full Moon details, the "Blue Moon" on May 31st, and the occultation of Antares. Meteor Showers: What to expect from the Eta Aquariids (and how to watch them away from the Moon). Comet Hunting: Tracking Comet C/2025 R3 (PANSTARRS) and finding "sun-grazers" via SOHO and STEREO spacecraft imagery. Citizen Science: Tips on how to hunt for comets using online archives. Upcoming: Join us on May 15th as we speak with Dr. Jacob Parrott from the ESA Space Research and Technology Centre about the Mother's Day solar storm and Mars' atmosphere. Support Independent Science: Astrophiz is free, ad-free, and unsponsored. For full transcripts, show notes, and celestial charts, please visit: https://astrophiz.com #Astrophiz #Astronomy #Stargazing #SciencePodcast #MaySkyGuide #IanMusgrave #CitizenScience #Space #CometHunting #AstronomyPodcast

Discover the hidden science of the Northern Lights! In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Maria-Theresia Walach to uncover the physics behind the aurora and the fascinating complexities of space weather. In This Episode, You’ll Learn: The Science of the Aurora: What actually causes the different colors and shapes in the night sky? Space Weather Impacts: How solar activity affects our satellites, power grids, and GPS systems. The Ionosphere: A deep dive into the layer of Earth's atmosphere that acts as a gateway to space. Current Research: Dr. Walach shares insights from her latest work on magnetospheric physics. Timestamps: 00:56 - Introduction to Dr. Maria-Theresia Walach 05:15 - How Auroras are formed: Solar wind meets the Magnetosphere 12:30 - The impact of Space Weather on modern technology 22:45 - Researching the Ionosphere: Challenges and breakthroughs 35:10 - Future missions and what’s next for Space Physics 42:00 - Closing remarks and where to find more research About the Guest: Dr. Maria-Theresia Walach is a leading researcher specializing in Space Physics and the Earth's Ionosphere. Her work is vital for understanding the Sun-Earth connection and protecting our planetary infrastructure. Links & Resources: AstroPhiz Website: https://astrophiz.com/ Follow us on Twitter: @AstroPhiz Keywords: Astronomy, Aurora Borealis, Northern Lights, Space Weather, Physics, NASA, Dr Maria-Theresia Walach, Science Podcast, Ionosphere.

Will we see a "Headless Comet" this month? ☄️ Join Brendan O’Brien and Dr. Ian Musgrave for the April 2026 SkyGuide as we track the rare C/2026 A1 (MAPS) Comet and a spectacular Morning Planet Parade. In this episode, you’ll discover: The "Planet Dance": How to spot Mercury, Mars, and Saturn clustering in the morning twilight. Double Comet Watch: Updates on C/2026 A1 and C/2025 R3 (PANSTARRS)—will they survive perihelion? Deep Sky Targets: Finding the "Sickle of Leo" and the blue-white star Regulus. Lunar Events: When to catch the "Lunar X" and "Lunar A" on the moon’s surface. Viewing Tips: Why the April 5th end of Daylight Saving is your best friend for early stargazing. Links & Resources: Full Transcript & Imagery: astrophiz.com Detailed Star Charts: Visit Ian’s Astroblog Subscribe: Never miss an episode—follow us on SoundCloud, Youtube podcasts, Audible podcasts, Spotify, or Apple Podcasts. Connect with Astrophiz: https://astrophiz.com/2026/03/31/astrophiz-231-april-2026-skyguide-two-rare-comets-and-the-morning-planet-dance/ Produced on Yorta Yorta, Pangarang, and Kaurna country. We acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land and the first astronomers of Australia. Host: Brendan O’Brien: Astronomers, Astrophysicists & Space Scientists. Guest: Dr. Ian ‘Astroblog’ Musgrave. #Astronomy #SkyGuide #Comet #Space #Stargazing #SciencePodcast #PlanetParade #STEM