Star Diary

BBC Sky at Night Magazine

Venus

Saturn

Mercury

Jupiter

Uranus

Vesta

Pleiades

Neptune

Full Moon

Milky Way

Regulus

Monkey Head Nebula

Moon

Spica

Mars

Zubin El-Ghanoubi

Crescent Moon

Scorpius

Beehive Cluster

Ganymede

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

170 ratings

Publishes	Twice monthly	Episodes	363	Founded	18 years ago
Number of Listeners		Categories	ScienceAstronomy

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Guests Hosts Reviews Charts Talking Points

Latest Episodes

Exploring the radio Universe

Radio astronomer Dr Emma Chapman reveals how radio waves enable scientists to explore the cosmos, from mapping Venus to searching for alien life and discovering the origins of the Universe.

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16 Mar 2026 • 32 min

Spring stargazing is here

Find out which planets are best in the night sky in March 2026, plus key times to observe the Moon, stars and constellations.

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2 Mar 2026 • 31 min

Revealing the secrets of Mercury

The European Space Agency's BepiColombo mission arrives at Mercury later this year. Planetary scientist Emma Bunce reveals the mysteries the mission could uncover.

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9 Feb 2026 • 30 min

Jupiter dominates the night sky in February 2026

Find out the best things to see in the sky this month, from the planets and constellations to deep-sky targets for your telescope.

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30 Jan 2026 • 28 min

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.

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

The Supermassive PodcastThe Royal Astronomical Society

BBC Inside ScienceBBC Radio 4

Why This Universe?Dan Hooper, Shalma Wegsman

DiscoveryBBC World Service

More or LessBBC Radio 4

Recent Guests

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

Belinda Damian

Postdoctoral research fellow in the School of Physics and Astronomy at the University of St. Andrews

University of St. Andrews

Episode: Can a planet have a planet?

Dr. Tom Killestein

Price Fellow at the University of Warwick, focused on time domain astronomy and machine learning techniques

University of Warwick

Episode: Can YOU help astronomers find exploding stars?

Professor Alis Deason

Professor at Durham University in the Astronomy Department.

Durham University

Episode: Will our Galaxy collide with its neighbour?

Penny Boston

A scientist from NASA's Ames Research Center, leading expert in astrobiology

NASA's Ames Research Center

Episode: Earth, aliens and astronomy

Lisa Kaltenegger

Director of the Carl Sagan Institute at Cornell University and author of Alien Earths

Cornell University

Episode: Searching for life on alien planets

David Lagatuta

Research scientist at Durham University studying dark matter and the evolution of galaxies and stars.

Durham University

Episode: Webb uses space-bending gravity trick to discover distant stars

Hosts

Paul Abel

Co-host with a focus on sky observations and storytelling.

Pete Lawrence

Co-host known for practical observing tips and planetary discussions.

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 Kingdoma year 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 Kingdom6 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 Kingdom6 years ago

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Listeners Say

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

Feedback often mentions the balance of host energy and content quality, with some criticism of pacing or audio issues.

Positive notes highlight guest expertise and the connection between magazine content and podcasts.

Listeners appreciate credible science discussions and practical observing tips.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts	#25	United States/Science/Astronomy
Apple Podcasts	#16	United Kingdom/Science/Astronomy
Apple Podcasts	#28	Canada/Science/Astronomy
Apple Podcasts	#236	United Kingdom/Science
Apple Podcasts	#26	Australia/Science/Astronomy
Apple Podcasts	#72	Italy/Science/Astronomy

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

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.

3D-mapping an alien world

Q: What did it actually tell you about the atmosphere of Marsby 18b?

The analysis indicated the presence of water vapor and unexpected thermal structures, particularly that the hotspot region has a more extreme temperature profile compared to the rest of the planet.

Have scientists solved Webb’s ‘impossible’ black holes?

Q: Are there sort of follow up observations that you would want to do to really nail it down and prove the point?

We plan to observe a bigger sample of objects using the new instrument Gravity Plus to gather more data and potentially correct past estimates regarding black hole masses.

Have scientists solved Webb’s ‘impossible’ black holes?

Q: What did you actually find? Did you find that Webb was way out? That what it thought of the mass of these early black holes was completely wrong?

We found the masses, the real masses, dynamical masses, that we measure a factor of 10 smaller than what Webb found, indicating that those impossible supermassive black holes may not be as massive as we initially thought.

Can a planet have a planet?

Q: What motivated your study on free-floating planets?

The study of free-floating planets is interesting because it is relatively new and there is still much to learn about these mysterious objects.

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 show centers on astronomy news, stargazing tips, and explanations of current space missions and celestial phenomena, often anchored by a duo of hosts who share practical observing advice and enthusiastic commentary. Across episodes, listeners are guided through planetary configurations, notable astronomical events, and mission-focused discussions with scientists and researchers. The format tends to mix technical insights with accessible explanations, making it a good fit for amateur astronomers who want to deepen their understanding while staying updated on sky-watching opportunities. Notable strengths include a strong emphasis on observing tips, timely mission context, and credible guests from universities and research institutes.

Where can I find podcast stats for Star Diary?

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How many listeners does Star Diary get?

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How many subscribers and views does Star Diary have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Star Diary has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Star Diary?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Star Diary:

1. The Supermassive Podcast
2. BBC Inside Science
3. Why This Universe?
4. Discovery
5. More or Less

How many episodes of Star Diary are there?

Star Diary launched 18 years ago and published 363 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. Emma Bunce
2. Tessa Baker
3. Anjali Piette
4. Belinda Damian
5. Dr. Tom Killestein
6. Professor Alis Deason
7. Penny Boston
8. Lisa Kaltenegger

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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