Radio Stardate Dec '09

Radio's Guide to the Universe - December 2009

StarDate celebrated its 10,000th broadcast on February 15, 2006. The program debuted in 1978, making it the longest-running national radio science feature in the country. It airs on more than 360 radio stations in the United States.

StarDate tells listeners what to look for in the night sky, and explains the science, history, and skylore behind these objects. It also keeps listeners up to date on the latest research findings and space missions. And it offers tidbits on astronomy in the arts and popular culture, providing ways for people with many diverse interests to keep up with the universe.

StarDate is a production of The University of Texas McDonald Observatory, which also produces the Spanish-language Universo radio program and Universo Online web site and the bi-monthly StarDate magazine.

Today's Program & December Preview
Moon and Taurus

General information about StarDate and astronomy

December 1-6: Telescopes old and new. When a giant telescope mirror began to take shape 75 years ago this week, people bought tickets to see it. We'll have details. We'll also talk about a smaller telescope that's ready to head for space.

December 7-13: Moon and meteors. The Moon passes some bright company early this week: the planet Saturn and the star Spica. But it'll be out of the way by the end of the week — just in time for the year's last meteor shower.

December 14-20: Starlight. The light from every star in the night sky has a story to tell — a story that astronomers began to decipher 150 years ago this week. Plus the story of an ancient year-end celebration.

December 21-27: Violent worlds. Some of the planetary systems outside our own aren't places you'd like to visit. We'll talk about one world that's red hot, plus another that just got smacked. Plus the beautiful Christmas sky.

December 28-31: The Red Planet. Mars puts on quite a show this winter, shining like a bright orange beacon through most of the night. We'll have details. And we'll also talk about another "colorful" beacon: a blue Moon.

Full page is here.