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Astronomy Podcasts

Our podcasts allow you to easily find objects in the night sky. We provide an information page which you can read as you are downloading the podcast. Listen to the podcast with the page in front of you. When you have downloaded the podcast on to your player, go outside and listen to it again as you look at the stars – no more using torches and spoiling your night vision looking at the information in a book or magazine!

We will start from somewhere you can certainly find – DIRECTLY ABOVE YOUR HEAD! (In Astronomy terms, this is called the ZENITH). Each podcast will be quite short and will concentrate on one small area of the night sky. Start by listening to the earliest podcasts on the screen – these will be nearer the bottom of the list. Note the time that is stated by the podcast, as the night sky objects will be best placed around this time.

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Try our podcasts and let us know how successful you’ve been by sending us an email about how you have got on.

Finding the Constellation of Perseus

Finding the Constellation of Perseus

Date added: Sunday, January 01, 2012

In January, between 8pm and 9pm, Perseus is directly overhead (at the ZENITH). This makes Perseus very easy to find.

Finding the Pleiades using the constellation of Perseus

Finding the Pleiades using the constellation of Perseus

Date added: Sunday, January 01, 2012

The Pleiades (also known as M45) is a very bright open cluster of new stars burning with a blue/white colour. The cluster of stars looks like a miniature wheelbarrow.

Finding the double cluster of Perseus

Finding the double cluster of Perseus

Date added: Sunday, January 01, 2012

At 8pm, the famous double cluster of Perseus is nearly directly overhead (excellent when seen in binoculars or a telescope).

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