Dr. Bridgette Farnworth has done insightful research on rat behaviour, predation risk, the New Zealand Weta, light pollution and insects. In this episode, I have the pleasure of interviewing her on the effects of light pollution on rodents and insects. Time stamps : 01:26 : What brought you to dark sky advocacy ? and When did you get started ? 04:2…

In addition to being an exemplary astronomer, Dr. James D. Lowenthal has spent decades advocating for dark skies. In this episode, he shares with us useful information on dark sky tourism in Massachusetts. Time stamps : 03:07 : Have there been any measures implemented in Massachusetts's dark sky parks to reduce or limit light pollution ? 05:56 : Ca…

River Murray International Dark Sky Reserve has pristine dark night skies. In this episode, I have the pleasure of hosting Chris Tugwell, the chairman of Mid Murray Landcare South Australia. He talks to us about opportunities offered by River Murray Dark Sky Reserve for stargazing and nightscape astrophotography. Time stamps : 05:37 : Have there be…

Big Bend Ranch State Park is a wonderful destination to enjoy pristine dark night skies. In this episode, Amber Harrison shares with us valuable information on opportunities for stargazing and nightscape astrophotography in Big Bend Ranch State Park. Time stamps : 05:27 : Have there been any measures implemented in Big Bend Ranch State Park to redu…

Donna Burton has always been in love with the night sky. She has discovered two comets being one of few women to have ever done so. In this episode, she shares with us useful information on stargazing and nightscape astrophotography in Warrumbungle National Park. Time stamps : 03:02 : Have there been any measures implemented in Warrumbungle Nationa…

In addition to being an outstanding dark sky defender, Marnie Ogg has thirty years of experience in the travel industry. In this episode, she shares with us precious information on dark sky tourism in Australia. Time stamps : 02:02 : What brought you to dark sky advocacy ? and When did you get started ? 05:15 : Could you please present the Australa…

Dr. Mark Westmoquette completed his PhD in Astrophysics at University College London in 2007. He studied the effects of young, energetic stars on their surroundings. He went on to do post-doctoral research for seven years at University College London and at the European Southern Observatory in Munich, Germany. In 2013, he decided to leave professio…

Dr. Stella Kafka was awarded the Hollis and Grete Johnson Award for Excellence in Graduate Student Research at Indiana University. She has also received the National Optical Astronomy Observatory Excellence Award for her work at the Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory in Chile. In this episode, she shares with us a wealth of knowledge on variab…

Robin Scagell is Vice President of the Society of Popular Astronomy. He is the author of several astronomy books, including Complete Guide to Stargazing, 101 Objects to Spot in the Night Sky and Stargazing with a Telescope. In this episode, he shares with us invaluable information on observing the Perseid meteor shower. Time stamps : 03:37 : What d…

Phil Harrington has authored 9 books in the field of amateur astronomy and for his many contributions to this field across the past five decades, he was awarded the 2018 Walter Scott Houston Award at that year's Stellafane convention in Springfield, Vermont. In this episode, he shares with us his vast knowledge of solar eclipses and valuable recomm…

Dan Oakley is a Lead Ranger and Dark Skies Officer for the South Downs National Park. In this episode, Dan talks to us about opportunities offered by South Downs National Park for stargazing and nightscape astrophotography. Time Stamps : 03:57 : Have there been any measures implemented in South Downs National Park to reduce or limit light pollution…

Cranborne Chase AONB has excellent dark night skies. In this episode, astronomer Stephen Tonkin talks to us about opportunities offered by Cranborne Chase AONB for stargazing and nightscape astrophotography. Time Stamps : 06:10 : Have there been any measures implemented in Cranborne Chase AONB to reduce or limit light pollution ? 10:46 : Can one se…

Dr. Chirag Upreti's journey in nightscape astrophotography started with his interest in the night sky. In this episode, he shares with us precious tips and recommendations on how to photograph a lunar eclipse. Time Stamps : 04:53 : How should one plan to photograph a lunar eclipse ? 07:22 : What is the minimal gear required to photograph a lunar ec…

The northern lights, also known as aurorae, are an awe inspiring phenomenon at the confluence of science and nature. In this episode, Dr. Melanie Windridge, an exemplary plasma physicist, shares precious insights on chasing the aurora. Time Stamps : 06:33 : What does aurora borealis mean ? 08:04 : What causes the aurora borealis ? 16:03 : Can you s…

For his numerous contributions to the field of amateur astronomy across the past five decades, Phil Harrington was awarded the 2018 Walter Scott Houston Award at that year's Stellafane convention in Springfield, Vermont. In this episode, I have the honour of interviewing Phil on the topic of observing the night sky through binoculars. Time Stamps :…

Hailey Osborn is an educator at the Lowell Observatory. In this episode, we discuss the fundamentals of lunar eclipses. Time Stamps : 01:33 : What is a lunar eclipse ? What happens during a lunar eclipse ? 02:16 : What are the types of lunar eclipses ? 02:54 : How often does a lunar eclipse happen ? 03:28 : What is the difference between a lunar ec…

Michel Deconinck has been an amateur astronomer for more than 50 years. In this episode, I have the privilege of interviewing him on how to observe the Sun safely. Safety Warning : If you are thinking of viewing the Sun, your first concern should always be eye safety. Serious eye damage can result from even a brief glimpse of our nearest star. Neve…

Matt Woods is the tour administrator at Perth Observatory. In this episode, he shares with us his recommendations on how to best prepare for observing the Geminid meteor shower. Time Stamps : 03:51 : What is a meteor and a meteor shower ? 04:35 : Why do meteor showers occur ? 06:07 : What causes the Geminid meteor shower ? 07:53 : Are meteor shower…

Michael Magee is the planetarium director of the Flandrau Science Center at the University of Arizona. In this episode, he shares with us his recommendations on how to best prepare for observing the Lyrid meteor shower. Time Stamps : 06:00 : What is a meteor and a meteor shower ? 08:47 : Why do meteor showers occur ? 10:04 : What causes the Lyrid m…

Death Valley National Park has pristine dark night skies. In this episode, I have the privilege of hosting Matthew Lamar and he shares with us valuable information on opportunities for stargazing and nightscape astrophotography in Death Valley National Park. Time Stamps : 01:12 : How and when did Death Valley National Park begin its journey of prot…

Northumberland Dark Sky Park has exceptionally dark night skies. In this episode, I have the pleasure of hosting Duncan Wise, the visitor development and marketing manager at Northumberland National Park Authority. He talks to us about opportunities offered by Northumberland Dark Sky Park for stargazing and nightscape astrophotography. Time Stamps …

Great Basin National Park has pristine dark night skies. In this episode, I have the pleasure of hosting Charles Reed, the Astronomy Program Lead Ranger at Great Basin National Park on the topic of stargazing in Great Basin National Park. He also talks about the magical Great Basin Star Train. Time Stamps : 01:24 : How and when did the Great Basin …

Ian Ridpath has been a full-time writer, editor, broadcaster, and lecturer on astronomy and space since 1972. He lectures regularly on Northern Lights expedition cruises to Norway. In this episode, Ian shares with us his knowledge on the causes of Northern Lights, the best time and months to see them, the best places to see them and the process of …

Carol Redford is the founder of Astrotourism WA and is passionate about protecting Western Australia's dark night skies. In this episode, she shares with us precious information on what makes Western Australia a world class destination for stargazing and nightscape photography. Time stamps : 03:58 : Citizen science projects and Carol's Dingle Dell …

In this episode, I have the pleasure of hosting Bob Mizon, who has battled light pollution for more than thirty years. Bob shares with us the basic principles of responsible lighting. We also cover do's and don'ts for owners of B&Bs in order to make their accommodations attractive for dark sky tourists. Time stamps : 06:09 : What do owners of dark …

Wendee Levy has been David Levy's partner, in his search for comets since 1995. In the twelfth episode of the Meet Star Gazers podcast, she shares with us valuable information about etiquette to be observed during star parties. We cover do's and don'ts for those attending a star party. Time stamps : 03:31 : When should I arrive at the observing loc…

The Moon, Earth's natural satellite is an extremely beautiful celestial body to photograph. In the eleventh episode of the Meet Star Gazers podcast, I have the pleasure of hosting Maggie Machinsky, an immensely talented nightscape photographer based in New York City. She shares with us her valuable tips and recommendations on taking beautiful photo…

Binoculars are a wonderful instrument to get your feet wet in astronomy. But they are also an extraordinary companion to a telescope for observing the night sky. Stephen Tonkin, an author of two books on binocular astronomy shares with us all the essential information for beginners to get started on their journey in stargazing with binoculars. Time…

Dr. David H. Levy has discovered 23 comets and is also the first to have discovered comets visually, photographically and electronically. In this episode, he shares with us the journey leading up to the discovery of comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 that collided with Jupiter in July 1994, recognised as the biggest impact in the Solar system witnessed by mank…

Astrostays is an unique astrotourism concept launched by Global Himalayan Expedition in the Indian Himalayas. Sonal Asgotraa, the project lead of Astrostays shares with us information about how Astrostays places community development and sustainable tourism at the core of this initiative. Time stamps : 02:23 : Presentation of Global Himalayan Exped…

Ballycroy National Park and Wild Nephin Wilderness in County Mayo, Republic of Ireland were accreditated as a dark sky park by the International Dark Sky Association in 2016. In this episode, I have the pleasure of interviewing Georgia MacMillan from Friends of Mayo Dark Skies on what makes Mayo Dark Sky Park an attractive destination for stargazin…

DeAnn McCreary's current area of interest is the impact of artificial light at night on nocturnal wildlife, including insects. She has been an active volunteer with Friends of Lakeside Nature Centre, Kansas City, Missouri for 20 years. Over the past 4 months, she has been working with a committee to reduce the ecological impact of her city's planne…

Beginners in stargazing have to invariably navigate the choice of their first telescope. In this episode, Steve Goldberg shares with us all the criteria we need to consider while buying our first telescope. Steve has distilled his tips and recommendations acquired from over 50 years of experience in observational astronomy. Time stamps : 02:53 : Be…

Stan Honda worked as a photojournalist for over 38 years. Over the years, he has coupled his two passions, astronomy and photography to take sublime nightscape photographs in urban as well as rural settings. In this episode, he gives us guidance on aspects like planning, composition, settings, focusing and post-processing to beginners in nightscape…

In this episode I have the privilege of interviewing Deborah Moran, an exemplary defender of dark skies based in Houston, Texas on her experiences and recommendations for reduction in light pollution. Time stamps : 02:56 What is light pollution ? 03:56 What are the effects of light pollution on human health ? 05:36 What are the principles of good l…

Kuria Jorissen is a highly talented astrophotographer based in Seattle, Washington. In this episode of the Meet Star Gazers podcast, she shares her approach and also offers recommendations to beginners on milky way photography. We discuss gear, planning, settings and focussing in the context of milky way photography. Questions answered in this epis…

In the very first episode of the Meet Star Gazers podcast, Bettymaya Foott shares invaluable insights for beginners in landscape astrophotography. Questions on landscape astrophotography answered in this episode : Where to start ? What do I need ? Astrophotography on a budget. Which camera and lens do I need ? How to focus ? Camera settings Focal l…