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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 monthlyEpisodes368Founded18 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
AstronomyScience

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Artwork for Star Diary

Latest Episodes

Summer is here! Pete Lawrence and Paul Abel reveal the best things to see in the night sky, June 2026, including the close meeting of Venus and Jupiter just after dawn

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Scientist Tim Etheridge talks Artemis II, crewed spaceflight and the toll of weightlessness on astronauts spending long periods of time in space.

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Pete Lawrence and Paul Abel reveal what's in the sky in May 2026, including the ever-improving return of Venus and what astronomers really think about the 'blue Moon' on 31 May.

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Astronomer Shyam Balaji reveals how three cosmic signals could be an invisible dark force in deep space.

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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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Recent Guests

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
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?

Hosts

Pete Lawrence
Host of The Virtual Planetarium segment; co-host of Star Diary
Paul Abel
Co-host of The Virtual Planetarium segment; Host of Star Diary

Reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars from 171 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 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

Listeners Say

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

Listeners appreciate expert guests and mission-focused discussions.
Long-running show with dependable skywatch guidance and credible science storytelling.
The show has strong astronomy content and engaging guests but some listeners feel the hosts could improve pacing and production quality.

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 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.
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.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
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Frequently Asked Questions About Star Diary

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

The show benches accessible, practical astronomy discussion with a strong emphasis on current sky events, space missions, and the people behind the science. Episodes regularly balance hands-on observing tips for the night sky with deep dives into missions, instruments, and recent discoveries—especially in planetary science, black holes, and dark matter—often complemented by guest experts and mission-focused segments. A notable strength is the long-running, approachable format led by veteran hosts who blend practical guidance with thoughtful commentary, making it appealing to dedicated hobbyists and STEM professionals alike. The mix of recurring segments (skywatch planning, planetary updates) and expert guests who translate complex concepts ... more

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How many listeners does Star Diary get?

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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. Planetary Radio: Space Exploration, Astronomy and Science
4. Universe Today Podcast
5. SpaceTime with Stuart Gary

How many episodes of Star Diary are there?

Star Diary launched 18 years ago and published 368 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. Tim Etheridge
2. Shyam Balaji
3. Emma Chapman
4. Emma Bunce
5. Tessa Baker
6. Anjali Piette
7. Belinda Damian
8. Dr. Tom Killestein

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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