June Stargazing

Another month, another opportunity for awe.

Stargazing Summary

As spring gives way to summer, the signature star patterns of the new season climb into view during the brief nights. Sagittarius, whose brightest stars outline the shape of a teapot, is low in the south by late evening, with the curving form of Scorpius in the south. They never climb far above the horizon, although their distinctive shapes make them easy to find. More stargazing information: http://stardate.org/nightsky

Radio Program Highlights

Hear StarDate every day on more than 360 radio stations nationwide.

June 1-5: Getting a Facelift. One of the largest telescopes in the world is about to get a facelift. The upgrades will allow astronomers to use the telescope to hunt for evidence of dark energy. Join us for this and much more.

June 6-12: Little black dot. Two-and-a-half centuries ago, astronomers risked life and limb to journey across a world at war -- all in pursuit of a little black dot. Join us for some long and dangerous journeys in the name of science.

June 13-19: "Puffy" universe. In the first tiny fraction of a second, before the creation of matter and radiation, the universe puffed up like a child's balloon connected to a firehose. Join us for cosmic inflation, plus much more.

June 20-26: Making moondust. Dust on the Moon could be a hazard to future explorers -- but it could also be a great resource. To evaluate both possibilities, researchers are making "fake" moondust right here on Earth. Join us for this and more.

June 27-July 3: Showers and gas. Mars and the Moon team up this week, and we'll have details. We'll also talk about a shower of stones from Mars, and puffs of gas on Mars. Join us for these, plus the Moon teaming up with the planet Mercury, too.

June Program Schedule: http://stardate.org/radio/calendars
Find an Affiliate: http://stardate.org/radio/affiliates

Coming Up In StarDate Magazine
In our July/August issue, StarDate editor Rebecca Johnson introduces you to Donald Olson, a physicist who uses scientific methods to investigate mysteries in the arts, literature, and history. And astronomer Bradford Behr returns to explain how to identify sky objects on sight, without the use of maps or guidebooks.

Subscribe online: http://stardate.org/store/subscribe

Get To Know the Constellations
We've expanded the descriptions of the constellations in our Constellations Guide with more details on their mythology, their stars, and much more. And over the coming months, we'll be adding new constellations to the guide, so check back often.Find out more: http://stardate.org/nightsky/constellations/

Get Social With Us
Keep up with all the news and video from McDonald Observatory on all your favorite social media platforms. "Like" us on Facebook, "follow" us on Twitter, and subscribe to our YouTube channel!

Like us on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/McDonaldObservatoryFollow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/McDonaldObsSubscribe on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/mcdonaldobservatory