Rephonic
Artwork for Star Diary
Jupiter
Saturn
Venus
Mars
Uranus
Mercury
Neptune
Moon
Aurora Borealis
Pleiades
James Webb Space Telescope
Full Moon
Geminids Meteor Shower
Ganymede
Earth
Milky Way
Astronomy
Lunar Eclipse
Quadrantid Meteor Shower
Comet 13P Olbers

The astronomy podcast from the makers of BBC Sky at Night Magazine.

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes373Founded18 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
AstronomyScience

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Star Diary

Latest Episodes

Tobermory Mackay-Champion reveals a game-changing find in the search for signs of life on Mars.

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Astronomers Pete Lawrence and Paul Abel reveal the best things to see in the night sky this month, including the August 2026 solar eclipse and the peak of one of the year's best meteor showers.

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Amena Faruqi reveals how she uses cosmic dust rings to measure the mass of planets around distant stars.

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Pete Lawrence and Paul Abel reveal the best things to see in the night sky in July 2026, from the Moon and planets to constellations and deep-sky objects.

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Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Accepts Sponsors
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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People also subscribe to these shows.

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The 365 Days of Astronomy365DaysOfAstronomy.org
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The Supermassive PodcastThe Royal Astronomical Society
Space Nuts: Astronomy Insights & Cosmic Discoveries
Space Nuts: Astronomy Insights & Cosmic DiscoveriesProfessor Fred Watson and Andrew Dunkley
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Bedtime AstronomySynthetic Universe

Recent Guests

Tobermory Mackay-Champion
Seismologist at the University of Bristol; previously at the University of Oxford at the time of the work
University of Bristol / University of Oxford
Episode: Discovery beneath the surface of Mars
Amena Faruqi
PhD student at the University of Warwick researching origins of planetary systems
University of Warwick
Episode: How do you weigh a planet that hasn’t formed yet?
Rachel Drummond
UK national project manager for the Ariel mission
STFC RAL Space
Episode: How to build a planet-hunting spacecraft
Tim Etheridge
Professor in Integrative Physiology
University of Ohio, USA
Episode: How spaceflight hammers the human body
Shyam Balaji
Astronomer and research fellow in astroparticle physics and cosmology
King's College London
Episode: Strange signals from the galactic centre
Emma Chapman
Astronomer, author of Radio Universe
University of Nottingham
Episode: Exploring the radio Universe
Emma Bunce
Planetary Scientist at the University of Leicester and Principal Investigator on the Mix instrument for BepiColombo.
University of Leicester
Episode: Revealing the secrets of Mercury
Tessa Baker
Professor of Cosmology in the Institute of Cosmology and Gravitation at the University of Portsmouth and a gravitational wave cosmologist.
University of Portsmouth
Episode: Listening to black holes colliding
Anjali Piette
Assistant professor at the University of Birmingham focusing on exoplanets' atmospheres
University of Birmingham
Episode: 3D-mapping an alien world

Hosts

Pete Lawrence
Host of Star Diary and Virtual Planetarium segments; long‑running presenter with ties to publishing and media in astronomy.
Paul Abel
Co-host guiding Star Diary and guest segments; longtime astronomy presenter and writer.

Reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars from 170 ratings
  • Host bored?

    It’s astronomy! Why does the guest or host sound so utterly bored? Exhausting to listen to. Get someone who can rally enthusiasm for your interviews.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    outraged American
    United Statesa year ago
  • Sad times!

    Great podcast destroyed by intrusive advertising, don’t bother

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Ivorydawn
    United Kingdom2 years ago
  • Great podcast. Change the title

    Just add Sky at Night to the title and gets a lot more listens.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Sburke102
    Ireland6 years ago
  • Heard much better

    Why do presenters constantly talk over each other? Why is the guests’ sound quality non-existent? Why are scientists always giggling?

    Give me the magazine, this podcast iis a waste of time.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Sir Giffs
    United Kingdom7 years ago
  • Rubbish Presenter

    The Podcast is superb apart from the woman presenter...whilst very knowledgeable...she insists of making loud false laughs after everything she comments on...very annoying.

    A replacement presenter would make it 4 stars.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    IMM62
    United Kingdom7 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Listeners appreciate credible guests and accessible science explanations.
Guest diversity and depth of topics are frequently praised.
Some episodes draw critical feedback about pacing or sound quality; overall reception highlights engaging hosts and strong science.
Show blends practical observing tips with deep dives into missions and research topics.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

How do you weigh a planet that hasn’t formed yet?
Q: How does the ring-based method work to estimate a planet's mass?
The rings respond to the planet's gravity, creating measurable features such as gaps and brightness peaks. By relating ring properties to the planet's mass through multiple independent methods, we can infer the planet's mass without directly observing the planet.
How spaceflight hammers the human body
Q: Are you looking forward to the upcoming Artemis missions?
There is enthusiasm about expanding human presence in space and solving health-related challenges, while noting the ethical and planetary concerns and the need to ensure sustainable exploration.
How spaceflight hammers the human body
Q: Is there scope for getting worms or any other form of animals on Artemis IV and sending them to the moon?
There is broad interest in expanding biology experiments to lunar missions, and discussions involve coordinating with space agencies to fund and plan such work, recognizing it would be a significant opportunity for in-situ biology research.
How spaceflight hammers the human body
Q: Did you follow the Artemis II mission with scientific interest with regard to your own area of expertise?
Yes, the mission provided real-world context to study how a short duration, deep-space-like experience impacts human physiology, especially outside low Earth orbit, which informs what to monitor in longer missions.
3D-mapping an alien world
Q: When you mention the 3D mapping, what are the benefits of using this new technique?
Eclipse spectroscopy allows for understanding both the chemistry of the atmosphere and its thermal structure, giving a more comprehensive view than transit spectroscopy.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Star Diary

What is Star Diary about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This science-oriented show features accessible discussions about astronomy, space missions, and planetary science, often anchored by practical observing tips and plain‑spoken explanations of current research. Episodes frequently center on solar system bodies, telescope-era observing guidance, and mission updates (e.g., exoplanet hunts, planetary atmospheres, and human spaceflight health), with guests ranging from seismologists to mission project managers. A notable strength is the blend of hands-on sky-watching with in‑depth scientific context, making complex topics approachable for enthusiasts while still offering substantial technical detail for more knowledgeable listeners. A recurring charm is the camaraderie between two long‑running ho... more

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How many subscribers and views does Star Diary have?

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Which podcasts are similar to Star Diary?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Star Diary:

1. The 365 Days of Astronomy
2. The Supermassive Podcast
3. Space Nuts: Astronomy Insights & Cosmic Discoveries
4. Bedtime Astronomy
5. SpaceTime with Stuart Gary

How many episodes of Star Diary are there?

Star Diary launched 18 years ago and published 373 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Star Diary?

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What guests have appeared on Star Diary?

Recent guests on Star Diary include:

1. Tobermory Mackay-Champion
2. Amena Faruqi
3. Rachel Drummond
4. Tim Etheridge
5. Shyam Balaji
6. Emma Chapman
7. Emma Bunce
8. Tessa Baker

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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