Rephonic
Artwork for The Actual Astronomy Podcast

The Actual Astronomy Podcast

Shane Ludtke & Chris Beckett
Astronomy
Jupiter
Asteroids
Lake Effects On Astronomy
Telescopes
Meteorology
Pleiades
Borg 90 FL
Astronomical Seeing
Messier Objects
Comets
Solar Eclipse
Temperature Stratification
Turbulence
Airflow Patterns
Astrophotography
Astronomy Magazine
Nova Scotia
Takahashi Eyepiece
Masayama Eyepiece

Join amateur astronomers, Chris and Shane, as they share their experiences of observing the night sky.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes516Founded6 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
ScienceAstronomy

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for The Actual Astronomy Podcast

Latest Episodes

Chris and Shane give their recommendations for beginner scopes and share their Santa wish lists.

Chris and Shane discuss recent observing sessions.

Chris and Shane welcome Mark Radice back to the show to hear about his second trip to Namibia.

Chris and Shane discuss interesting things to observe in December 2025. Show notes are available on www.actualastronomy.com

Key Facts

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.

Observers Notebook
Observers NotebookTim Robertson
The 365 Days of Astronomy
The 365 Days of Astronomy365DaysOfAstronomy.org
Astronomy Cast
Astronomy CastFraser Cain and Dr. Pamela Gay

Recent Guests

Peter Monson
Amateur astronomer with a keen interest in photographing celestial objects
Episode: #486 - Chiricahua Sky Village with Peter Monson
Brian Ventrudo
Author of Cosmic Pursuits, contributing editor for Sky and Telescope magazine
Sky and Telescope Magazine
Episode: #483 - Affordable Wide-Field with Brian Ventrudo
Michael Wright
Avid visual observer, sketcher, and piano teacher from the Kitchener-Waterloo area
Kitchener Waterloo RSC Centre
Episode: #474 - Skies Over the Southern Ocean with Michael Wright
Alister Ling
Amateur astronomer and expert on Atmospheric Dispersion Correctors
Episode: #462 - Atmospheric Dispersion Correctors
Dave Chapman
Amateur astronomer and speaker on celestial topics
Episode: #447 - Stars and Birds with Dave Chapman
Mike Lynch
Meteorologist, author, and amateur astronomer
WCCO Radio
Episode: #436 - Stars A Month-by-Month Tour of the Constellations with Mike Lynch
Steve Wallace
Project manager for The Sherwood Planetarium Project.
Mansfield and Sutton Astronomical Society
Episode: #432 - The Sherwood Planetarium
Adam Firth
Member of the Mansfield and Sutton Astronomical Society, involved in the Sherwood Planetarium Project.
Mansfield and Sutton Astronomical Society
Episode: #432 - The Sherwood Planetarium
Mark Radice
A longtime amateur astronomer who shares insights from The Winter Star Party.
Refreshing Views YouTube channel
Episode: #409 - The Winter Star Party with Mark Radice

Hosts

Chris
Co-host and amateur astronomer, known for engaging storytelling and sharing insight about various astronomy topics.
Shane
Co-host and amateur astronomer, recognized for his humor and passion for astronomy, contributing to the discussion of observable celestial events and equipment.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 229 ratings
  • Fantastic Podcast

    I really enjoy hearing Shane and Chris geek out on various astronomy topics. As a new astronomer hobbiest I am learning a lot from Chris and Shane’s discussions. The format used of focusing on a couple of topics each show is great for jumping around the back catalog. I really appreciate Chris’ dry humor as well. Keep up the great work guys.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    D1123870
    United States4 months ago
  • Best podcast on the topic

    The only astronomy podcast worth listening too.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Bear34love
    United States10 months ago
  • Sharing is caring

    Listening to Chris and Shane is like having your best astronomy mates over twice a week.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    JA Dianes
    United Kingdom2 years ago
  • Best Podcast in the Universe!!

    For beginners and experts alike. The absolute best visual astronomy podcast. Chris and Shane are engaging, helpful, and a pleasure to listen to. I have learned so much from these two. They have taken my amateur astronomy pursuits to places I would never had gone if I hadn't found this podcast!! There is something for everyone!!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Into_flow
    United States2 years ago
  • So many great topics for the visual observer. Covers equipment, objects for observing, techniques, and more. Great presentation by the presenters who are amateur astronomers. By far the best astronomy podcast I've found.

    Audible
    5
    Joe Eckenrode
    United States2 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Listeners appreciate the engaging and relatable discussions between Chris and Shane, often describing the show as informative and entertaining.
Many comments highlight the hosts' ability to make astronomy accessible, with practical tips that can be easily applied by listeners of all skill levels.
Reviews frequently commend the podcast for fostering a sense of community among amateur astronomers, encouraging listener participation and sharing of experiences.

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

#500 - Feature Constellation Taurus
Q: How does snow affect sky quality?
Snow reflects light, brightening the landscape and affecting visibility. It can make the sky appear brighter and impact the Bortle scale for observing conditions.
#491 - We Judge Your Observing
Q: What are your thoughts on using paper maps vs digital atlases for locating objects?
Many people still prefer paper maps due to their ease of use in the field, especially when it comes to brightness and scale matching with the night sky.
#491 - We Judge Your Observing
Q: Do you have any advice on improving my observations of globulars?
To improve observations of globulars, try to find a darker sky and consider getting more aperture for brightness at higher magnifications.
#489 - Observer’s Calendar for July 2025
Q: Do you have any advice on improving my observations of globulars?
Using higher power, consider light pollution filters and maybe sketching to focus on details.
#487 - Mini Solar Scope and Recent Observations
Q: So what’s up?
Yeah, I was at last night for a few hours, and did quite a bit, wanted to keep progressing through planetary nebula.

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 The Actual Astronomy Podcast

What is The Actual Astronomy Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This podcast focuses on the exploration and enjoyment of amateur astronomy, featuring discussions about observing the night sky, practical tips for beginners, and personal experiences from the hosts. Each episode discusses various celestial events, equipment, and techniques that enhance the stargazing experience. The hosts engage with listeners by sharing their own adventures and challenges in astronomy, making the content accessible and relatable for both novice and experienced astronomers.

Notably, the podcast emphasizes the importance of practical observation skills over theoretical knowledge, as well as fostering a sense of community among amateur astronomers. The conversational format creates an inviting atmosphere where listeners fee... more

Where can I find podcast stats for The Actual Astronomy Podcast?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for The Actual Astronomy Podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to The Actual Astronomy Podcast and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does The Actual Astronomy Podcast get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for The Actual Astronomy Podcast, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for The Actual Astronomy Podcast?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for The Actual Astronomy Podcast, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does The Actual Astronomy Podcast have?

To see how many followers or subscribers The Actual Astronomy Podcast 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 The Actual Astronomy Podcast?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Actual Astronomy Podcast:

1. Observers Notebook
2. The 365 Days of Astronomy
3. Universe Today Podcast
4. The Astrophysics Podcast
5. Astronomy Cast

How many episodes of The Actual Astronomy Podcast are there?

The Actual Astronomy Podcast launched 6 years ago and published 516 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 The Actual Astronomy Podcast?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for The Actual Astronomy Podcast?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for The Actual Astronomy Podcast from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for The Actual Astronomy Podcast?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of The Actual Astronomy Podcast. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on The Actual Astronomy Podcast?

Recent guests on The Actual Astronomy Podcast include:

1. Peter Monson
2. Brian Ventrudo
3. Michael Wright
4. Alister Ling
5. Dave Chapman
6. Mike Lynch
7. Steve Wallace
8. Adam Firth

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.

Find and pitch the right podcasts

We help savvy brands, marketers and PR professionals to find the right podcasts for any topic or niche. Get the data and contacts you need to pitch podcasts at scale and turn listeners into customers.
Try it free for 7 days