NGC 5907, one of the flattest galaxies known, forms a thin streak across the sky. Unlike most disk galaxies, including the Milky Way, it has no big "bulge" of stars in its middle. Streamers of stars surround the pancake-like galaxy. They may be the remains of one or more smaller galaxies pulled apart by NGC 5907's stronger gravity. The galaxy is in Draco, and is about 55 million light-years from Earth. [Wikimedia/Jschulman555]
Stargazing Summary
A giant mythological soap opera stretches up the eastern half of the sky on October nights, encompassing five major constellations: Cassiopeia, Andromeda, Cepheus, Cetus, and Perseus. In the tale, Cassiopeia, queen of Ethiopia, claimed that she was more beautiful than the sea nymphs. The nymphs complained to the god Poseidon, who sent the sea monster Cetus to ravage the country. To save his people, King Cepheus chained his daughter Andromeda at the seashore as a sacrifice. At the last second, though, she was rescued by Perseus, who flashed the snake-topped head of Medusa at Cetus, turning the monster to stone.
More stargazing information »
More stargazing information »
Radio Program Highlights
If you want to start hearing the StarDate program in your area, you can request a station to carry our program by emailing the request to stations@stardate.org.
October 1-7: Fresh eyes. Astronomers are setting up networks of small telescopes to do some big science, and we'll have details. We'll also talk about some new space telescopes, and fresh eyes on the planet Mercury.
October 8-14: The Sea-goat. The constellation Capricornus glides across the south on autumn evenings, and we'll have details. We'll also talk about an orderly set of small galaxies, plus the resumption of the Moon Race.
October 15-21: Collision zones. Planets collide all the time in young star systems, and we'll have some examples. We'll also talk about ongoing collisions between Earth and big space rocks. Join us for cosmic collisions and much more.
October 22-28: Distant giant. The giant planet Uranus is putting in its best appearance of the year this week, and we'll have details. We'll also talk about evidence of some "middleweight" black holes.
October 29-November 4: Abandoned. Several abandoned observatories dot the American landscape — ghostly presences under the stars — and we'll have details. We'll also talk about a misunderstood unit for measuring distances to the stars and beyond.
Program schedule »
Hear StarDate every day on about 400 radio stations in the United States. Find an affiliate»
October 1-7: Fresh eyes. Astronomers are setting up networks of small telescopes to do some big science, and we'll have details. We'll also talk about some new space telescopes, and fresh eyes on the planet Mercury.
October 8-14: The Sea-goat. The constellation Capricornus glides across the south on autumn evenings, and we'll have details. We'll also talk about an orderly set of small galaxies, plus the resumption of the Moon Race.
October 15-21: Collision zones. Planets collide all the time in young star systems, and we'll have some examples. We'll also talk about ongoing collisions between Earth and big space rocks. Join us for cosmic collisions and much more.
October 22-28: Distant giant. The giant planet Uranus is putting in its best appearance of the year this week, and we'll have details. We'll also talk about evidence of some "middleweight" black holes.
October 29-November 4: Abandoned. Several abandoned observatories dot the American landscape — ghostly presences under the stars — and we'll have details. We'll also talk about a misunderstood unit for measuring distances to the stars and beyond.
Program schedule »
Hear StarDate every day on about 400 radio stations in the United States. Find an affiliate»
Coming Up in StarDate Magazine
Our November/December issue brings you a holiday treat: Nick D'Alto returns with a feature on how — and when! — cultures around the world celebrate the new year based on different heavenly markers. And editor Rebecca Johnson will bring you up to speed on New Horizons' upcoming post-Pluto encounter with another distant world.
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Help Keep a Good Thing Going
StarDate radio celebrates its 40th birthday this fall. It's the country's longest-running national science radio program. You can help keep us on the air for many years to come by sponsoring the program for just $295 per day. The sponsorship is open to individuals and businesses. You'll get your name on the air and in the magazine, along with a few other goodies. You can sign up online at stardate.org/sponsor, or call 1-800-STARDATE during regular business hours.
Galactic Wind Stifling Star Formation is Most Distant Yet Seen
For the first time, a powerful "wind" of molecules has been detected in a galaxy located 12 billion light-years away. Probing a time when the universe was less than 10 percent of its current age, University of Texas at Austin astronomer Justin Spilker's research sheds light on how the earliest galaxies regulated the birth of stars to keep from blowing themselves apart. The research appeared in the Sept. 7 issue of the journal Science.Read more »
Magnetic Waves Create Chaos in Star-Forming Clouds
New research by Stella Offner, assistant professor of astronomy at The University of Texas at Austin, finds that magnetic waves are an important factor driving the process of star formation within the enormous clouds that birth stars. Her research sheds light on the processes that are responsible for setting the properties of stars, which in turn affects the formation of planets orbiting them, and, ultimately, life on those planets. The research is published in the current issue of the journal Nature Astronomy.
Read more »
Read more »
About SkyTips
SkyTips is a monthly email newsletter for visitors to McDonald Observatory and StarDate Online. Each issue features stargazing highlights, upcoming StarDate radio program descriptions, and other news. Please feel free to forward this newsletter to your friends and family.
SkyTips is a publication of the University of Texas McDonald Observatory Education and Outreach Office, 2515 Speedway C1402, Austin, TX 78712. Reproduction of SkyTips content is permitted with proper credit given to McDonald Observatory.
SkyTips is a publication of the University of Texas McDonald Observatory Education and Outreach Office, 2515 Speedway C1402, Austin, TX 78712. Reproduction of SkyTips content is permitted with proper credit given to McDonald Observatory.
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