The Night Sky!

Stuff we will see: It's all about the Milkyway in August (just look up!)

Stuff we won't see: Southern Hemisphere misses out on the Perseid meteor shower (lucky you if you're in the north!)

Planets: Jupiter and Venus get close and personal in the morning of the 12th & 13th August. Something something optics, physics.

Constellation of the Month: Norma - The Set Square.

Beth gets constellation bias thinking about Norma and it's lack of greek mythology, but there's something mysterious hiding out there just beyond our view. called "the great attractor."

Star Stories: Earth & it's many meanings to many peoples.

Space Fail of the Month: An Artemis Rocket Booster went BOOM!

Space Picture of the Month:

- Beth - NASA Apollo mission patches https://particle.scitech.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/7995383large-1.jpg

- Leon - Solid Rocket Boosters

https://particle.scitech.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/boosterstar.png

Space Flight Focus: Gilmore Space - Eris 1 (Recorded before it launched and will feature more in our September episode)

More space stuff:

https://www.scitech.org.au/explore/the-sky-tonight/

Science news from WA:

WA science. Done different. | Particle

Beth and Leon are back with your monthly galaxy guide and a cracking mix of cosmic banter, dodgy Latin puns, and eyebrow raising Aussie aerospace news recorded at SciTech on Whadjuk Noongar land.

In this episode:

What's Up This Month? [01:00] Beth and Leon spin left for winter skies, chasing the Milky Way across the southeast and spotting Venus on your morning coffee run.

Constellation of the Month: [10:00] Tucked between showier neighbours, Lupus isn’t the flashiest, but it’s got myth, mystery, and a surprise link to Harry Potter. No, really.

Solstice Shenanigans [20:00] The 21st brings the darkest day of the year (aka perfect stargazing). Beth explains how to track the Sun with your shadow—and why Esperance has the real Stonehenge.

Spaceflight Focus: [30:00] Australia’s first homegrown orbital rocket launch… didn’t quite launch. Beth and Leon unpack the Gilmore Space Vegemite-fuelled debacle and remind us that nobody died, so it’s fine to laugh. A little.

Join Leon and Beth for your monthly dose of stargazing tips, mythological deep dives, and cosmic commentary, recorded at SciTech on Whadjuk Noongar land.

In this episode:

What’s Up This Month? [01:00] Celebrate Star Wars Day by heading outside on May 4th at exactly 7:13pm! Beth and Leon walk us through how to spot a perfect first quarter moon, locate Mars, and catch the International Space Station fly directly between Castor and Pollux in Gemini. Also featuring: the tiny Canis Minor, and the surprisingly lion-like Leo constellation.

Constellation of the Month: Leo the Lion [10:00] It’s Leon’s time to shine! The crew explores Leo, a constellation that actually resembles its namesake. Learn how to find it in the northern sky this month, how its stars form a backwards question mark, and how both ancient Greeks and Arab astronomers imagined the same great lion in the sky.

Star Stories: The Nemean Lion and Regulus [20:10] Dive into the mythology behind Leo, including Hercules’ impossible battle against the Nemean Lion and the clever trick (or divine advice) that helped him skin the beast. Plus: Harry Potter trivia, the meanings behind Regulus and Denebola, and what Arabic star names reveal about ancient cross-cultural astronomy.

Meteor Showers and Planet Gazing: The Eta Aquarids [33:40] Set your alarms! The Eta Aquarid meteor shower peaks in the early morning hours of May 5th and 6th. With the moon out of the way and meteors zipping by at 70 km/s, this is one of the best sky shows of the year. Bonus: look east to spot Venus, Saturn, and even distant Neptune (with a telescope).

Star Stories II: Neptune the Freshwater God [40:55] Neptune wasn't always the god of the sea! Beth explains how this Roman deity originally ruled over springs and rivers, and only later took on Poseidon's oceanic identity. Hear about Neptunalia—the ancient summer festival of shade, wine, and cool water—and the odd tale of how Neptune ended up inside his father Saturn.

Space Picture of the Month [TBA] …Was there one? Maybe. Possibly. We were distracted by imaginary sausage dogs in the sky. (Sorry, Canis Minor.)

Please Look Up Podcast | April Edition

Join Leon and Beth (with special April Fool's guest Producer Morgan!) for your monthly dose of space news, astronomy tips, and cosmic commentary—recorded at SciTech on Whadjuk Noongar land.

In this episode:

What's Up This Month? [01:00] Beth guides us through the southern sky as the Southern Cross returns, marking the rise of the spectacular Milky Way and the famous dark Emu.

Star Stories: Saturn and Too Many Moons [09:25] Beth dives into the mythology surrounding Saturn (Cronus)—god of time, agriculture, and oddly enough, Christmas traditions. Plus, what's up with Saturn's 274 moons?!

Constellation of the Month: Cancer the Crab [27:10] Leon reveals the secrets of Cancer, the faintest zodiac constellation, including how to find the famous Beehive Cluster, a nearby exoplanet system, and some strangely named stars (featuring two donkeys!).

Spaceflight Focus: Return from the ISS and Media Missteps [44:03] Leon and Beth discuss astronauts Butch and Suni's long-awaited return from the International Space Station and reflect critically on media coverage surrounding their mission.

Space Picture of the Month (01:06): The return of the favourite segment, Space Picture of the Month!

Join Leon and Beth for this month’s PLU Podcast, your ultimate guide to the night sky over Borloo! As the warm evenings of Bunuru continue, March offers stunning celestial sights, with Mars and Jupiter shining bright in the north. Meanwhile, Saturn, Venus, and Mercury stay hidden in the Sun’s glare, slowly making their way back into view—though the best chance to spot them comes in April.

Turn your gaze southward to the vast Argo Navis, the great celestial ship, and discover Lepus, the mysterious celestial hare nestled beneath Orion. Plus, Leon and Beth break down the March equinox, explaining how the Earth’s slow wobble has changed the stars we see over thousands of years.

Whether you’re a seasoned stargazer or just looking up for the first time, this episode will help you navigate the cosmos from your own backyard!

February’s night sky is putting on a show! This month, Leon and Beth guide you through a rare planetary parade, where every planet—including Mercury—is visible at once. Learn how to spot Venus at peak brightness, Jupiter ruling the northern sky, and Orion’s celestial hunting dogs, Canis Major and Canis Minor. Plus, we debunk the myths around planetary alignments and take a deep dive into the fiery world of Io, Jupiter’s volcanic moon, where a recent eruption reshaped its surface. Tune in for space news, skywatching tips, and a friendly satellite-spotting competition!

Get ready for a spectacular January night sky! This month, we’ll take you on a stargazing journey featuring Mars at opposition, a rare planetary parade visible from Perth, Western Australia, and the stunning constellation of Gemini.

Find out why Venus and Saturn are cozying up in the west, when to catch Earth at perihelion, and why Mars is shining brighter than ever. Plus, we’ll uncover the secrets of open star clusters, the legendary Eskimo Nebula, and the mythological twins of Gemini.

Whether you’re an experienced astronomer or a curious observer, we’ve got everything you need to make the most of this month’s night sky. Don’t miss your chance to catch 2025’s best view of Mars!

Please Look Up is brought to you by Particle and powered by Scitech, your ultimate guide to the cosmos!