Astronomy Astrophiz Podcast · Brendan O'Brien: Astronomers, Astrophysicists & Space Scientists

Astrophiz209~MarchSkyGuide

·25 min·2 clips

Watch Antares, the brightest star in Scorpius, disappear behind the moon in a dramatic occultation this March.

This episode features host Brendan O'Brien and astronomer Dr. Ian "Astroblog" Musgrave providing a guide to the night sky for March. Dr. Musgrave delivers his monthly astronomical forecast and a related tangent. The main topics include planetary positions, lunar phases, and specific celestial events visible from Australia. Mars and Jupiter remain visible in the evening, while Mercury and Venus become difficult to observe. A lunar eclipse occurs on March 14th, but it will only be partially visible from eastern Australia during twilight. A partial solar eclipse will be visible from Africa, Europe, and Russia on March 29th. The moon will occult the bright star Antares around midnight on March 20th or 21st, depending on location. The recurrent nova T Coronae Borealis, now visible in the morning sky, could potentially erupt at any time. Dr. Musgrave describes a new complex of storms in Jupiter's equatorial belt visible through telescopes. He notes that Saturn returns to the morning sky late in the month but will be low in the twilight. For astrophotography, he suggests a challenge to capture the faint structure of the Crescent Nebula. The most interesting insight involves a tangent on "sky literacy," prompted by public misidentifications of celestial objects. Dr. Musgrave recounts a December incident in the United States where many people, including a former governor, mistook stars and planets for drones. He analyzes how the stars of Orion's Belt were misinterpreted as a fleet of mysterious lights in a viral video. The discussion argues that modern light pollution and a lack of familiarity with the night sky make such misidentifications common, even among intelligent people. The hosts recommend using mobile apps like Stellarium, joining local astronomy clubs, and visiting planetariums to improve public knowledge of the sky. The tone is educational and conversational, blending straightforward astronomical data with anecdotal commentary. The style is friendly and encouraging, aimed at equipping amateur stargazers with practical viewing tips. Listeners who enjoy monthly sky guides, astrophotography challenges, and practical astronomy will love this episode. Those seeking deep interviews with scientists or discussions of theoretical astrophysics might prefer other episodes in the series.

As heard by us

A practical skywatching guide with dawn and evening targets, plus a useful photography note.

Astrophiz reads like a practical skywatching note rather than a polished feature, and that is part of its appeal. Dr. Ian Musgrave keeps the focus on what people can actually look for, from T Corona Borealis near Arcturus to Orion, Taurus, the Southern Cross, the Carinae…

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Why you'd press play

You want a monthly sky map with a possible nova on the horizon.

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