The Quiet Planet and the Loud Sky

With the Moon going dark midweek, we take a look at some targets in deep-sky territory, plus some dazzling planetary pairings. Also, learn why now might be a good time to rise to the bold (and slightly bonkers) challenge of trying to spot Pluto! It’s not for the faint of aperture, but it’s a fun stretch goal for the ambitious skywatcher.

Then, in the second half of the episode, the night gets stranger. We’ll revisit the legendary Wow! Signal from 1977—a mysterious 72-second radio burst that never repeated. It’s the perfect launchpad into the latest real-life cosmic mysteries, including bizarre radio pulses, celestial Morse code, and signals that challenge everything we thought we knew about stars and space.

For more episodes and resources for backyard astronomers, visit www.startrails.show. Share the wonder of the stars with friends and continue your cosmic journey with us. Also, connect with us on Bluesky @startrails.bsky.social, or YouTube @TheStarTrailsPodcast.

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