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Artwork for Star Trails: From Backyard Astronomy to Cosmic Wonder

Star Trails: From Backyard Astronomy to Cosmic Wonder

Single Malt Sky
Saturn
Jupiter
Mars
Venus
Milky Way
Mercury
Orion
Stars
Astronomy
Andromeda Galaxy
Betelgeuse
Orion Nebula
Neptune
Planet Nine
Pleiades
Black Holes
Uranus
Galaxies
Lunar Eclipse
Dark Matter

Star Trails is a weekly astronomy podcast that begins in your backyard and expands outward to the edge of the universe.

Each episode features a guide to the night sky visible across North America — constellations, planets, moon phases, and celestial events — along with deeper explorations of the science, history, and perspective that make astronomy one of humanity’s greatest adventures.

From anci... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes119Founded2 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
HobbiesScienceLeisureAstronomy

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Star Trails: From Backyard Astronomy to Cosmic Wonder

Latest Episodes

Most amateur astronomers spend their nights collecting light. But what if you could study our galaxy without looking through a telescope at all?

In this episode, we sit down with amateur astronomer and radio enthusiast Hap Griffin to explore the fas... more

YouTube

What if the mysterious "Planet Nine" isn't a planet at all?

In this episode, we journey to the distant frontier of our Solar System to explore one of astronomy's strangest modern hypotheses: the possibility that the unseen object influencing the orb... more

YouTube

For generations, we've pictured the Solar System as a stable and orderly place: planets forming where they are today and quietly orbiting the Sun for billions of years. But what if that picture is wrong?

In this episode, we explore the Grand Tack Hy... more

YouTube

Summer is almost here, and with it comes one of the richest observing seasons of the year.

In this episode, we take a road trip through the summer sky, exploring the constellations, deep-sky objects, planets, meteor showers, and celestial events tha... more

YouTube

Key Facts

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Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

The Actual Astronomy Podcast
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This American Life
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Recent Guests

Hap Griffin
Astrophotographer and radio astronomer; amateur radio enthusiast; created a home-made radio telescope
Independent hobbyist
Episode: Listening to the Heartbeat of the Milky Way
Paul Romanizen
Observation chairman of the Midlands Astronomy Club
Midlands Astronomy Club
Episode: From the Archive: Star Party Stories
Mike Roberts
Club president
Midlands Astronomy Club
Episode: From the Archive: Star Party Stories
Wes Munn
Past club president
Midlands Astronomy Club
Episode: From the Archive: Star Party Stories
Enrique López Rodríguez
Extragalactic astronomer at the University of South Carolina
University of South Carolina
Episode: The Invisible Architecture of the Universe, with Dr. Enrique Lopez Rodriguez
Martin Bowers
Director of Melton Memorial Observatory
Melton Memorial Observatory, University of South Carolina
Episode: Photon by Photon: A Journey Through Observatories
Clyde Tombaugh
Astronomer, discoverer of Pluto (archive interview)
Lowell Observatory
Episode: The Case of Pluto: Discovery, Demotion, and Redemption
Stephen Colbert
TV host referenced in the episode
The Colbert Report/ CBS
Episode: The Case of Pluto: Discovery, Demotion, and Redemption
Neil deGrasse Tyson
Astrophysicist who explained the planetary status change
American Museum of Natural History / Tyson Enterprises
Episode: The Case of Pluto: Discovery, Demotion, and Redemption

Host

Drew
Host of Star Trails; Star Trails: A Weekly Astronomy Podcast

Chart Rankings

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Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Listening to the Heartbeat of the Milky Way
Q: Tell us about your observatory. What does the equipment look like?
He describes a 2.4-meter dish, homemade feed horn, remote operation from home, and the importance of radio quiet sites to minimize interference.
Listening to the Heartbeat of the Milky Way
Q: So once you've detected that hydrogen signal, how do you go from a simple radio measurement to actually mapping the structure of the Milky Way?
Hap outlines using the 21 cm hydrogen line, Doppler shifts, and modeling of sky positions to map the spiral arms, explaining how latitude, longitude, and velocity information combine to reveal galaxy structure.
Listening to the Heartbeat of the Milky Way
Q: Now, you've spent years as a visual astronomer, but more recently, you've turned your attention to radio astronomy. What drew you into that side of the hobby?
Hap explains that his background in radio engineering and broadcasting naturally led him to radio astronomy, describing it as a natural extension of his interests and a practical way to study another aspect of astronomy with affordable gear.
The Invisible Architecture of the Universe, with Dr. Enrique Lopez Rodriguez
Q: Tell me a little bit about yourself. How did you get into astronomy?
I'm from the Canary Islands, grew up with excellent skies, and ended up in Florida through an exchange that led me to a PhD; I focused on galaxy evolution and later on the magnetic fields that thread through galaxies, which has become my central research focus.
The Invisible Architecture of the Universe, with Dr. Enrique Lopez Rodriguez
Q: Enrique, thanks for taking the time to speak with me today, and welcome to the show.
Well, thank you for having me.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About This Podcast

What is This Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Star Trails delivers weekly astronomy content that starts with practical, backyard skywatching guidance for North American observers and expands into broader explorations of cosmic science, history, and perspective. Episodes mix accessible night-sky tips with deep dives on topics such as galaxy evolution, dark matter, solar system bodies, and the cultural footprint of astronomical discoveries. A standout aspect is the blend of intimate, educational storytelling with timely connections to current missions, observatories, and spaceflight milestones, making it appealing to curious hobbyists and professionals alike who crave both hands-on observing advice and large-scale cosmic context.

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Which podcasts are similar to this podcast?

These podcasts share a similar audience with this podcast:

1. The Actual Astronomy Podcast
2. Universe Today Podcast
3. This American Life
4. Moonshots with Peter Diamandis

How many episodes of this podcast are there?

this podcast launched 2 years ago and published 119 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on this podcast?

Recent guests on this podcast include:

1. Hap Griffin
2. Paul Romanizen
3. Mike Roberts
4. Wes Munn
5. Enrique López Rodríguez
6. Martin Bowers
7. Clyde Tombaugh
8. Stephen Colbert

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