Home Contact | About | Friends of McDonald | Sign up for Sky Tips
McDonald Observatory McDonald Observatory
A production of the University of Texas McDonald Observatory
StargazingResourcesRadioMagazineTeachersGift ShopMedia Center
Radio's Guide to the Universe
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 & November Preview
Apollo 12, Part 2   » General information about StarDate and astronomy

November 2-8: The queen of the stars. Cassiopeia, the queen, soars high overhead on autumn evenings. We'll talk about the constellation's history, and about some of its powerful stars -- two that exploded, and another that will explode.

November 9-15: Lunar lineup. The Moon swings past some bright company in the morning sky this week -- the planets Venus and Saturn, plus a star that's usually associated with warmer weather. Join us for this impressive lineup, plus much more.

November 16-22: Moon and beyond. Apollo 12 made a pinpoint landing on the Moon's Ocean of Storms 40 years ago this week, and we'll have details. And we'll also talk about a mission that was looking back to the beginning of the universe.

November 23-29: The triangle. A tiny triangle climbs the eastern sky on these late November evenings. It's home to a star that's a lot like the Sun, and a galaxy that's like a miniature version of our own.

November 30: Doomed planet. A recently discovered planet in a distant star system doesn't have a happy fate. The gravity of its parent star will rip the planet to shreds. Join us for details on this and much more.

  Support StarDate
Make a tax-deductible donation to StarDate today! Get a free 2009 Sky Almanac with a donation of $35.
Learn more
Find an Affiliate
Sandy Wood

Voice of StarDate, Sandy Wood
    Most Popular Programs
Program Schedules   Andromeda Galaxy - October 8, 2007
Moon in Libra - June 15, 2008
Aquarian Planet - October 22, 2007
Moon and Planets - March 16, 2008
Draco - September 19, 2008
Moon, Mars, and Gemini - May 10, 2008
Crab Nebula - August 28, 2008
Standard Candles - October 17, 2007
Orion's Last Call - April 20, 2008
Centaurus - April 28, 2008
 
Write for StarDate
 
PDF iconRadio Program Writer's Guidelines
(66K pdf -- free Adobe Acrobat software is required to view the document.)
 

Copyright ©1995-2006 The University of Texas McDonald Observatory. Material on this site may be linked to, quoted or reproduced for educational or personal purposes without prior permission, provided appropriate credit is given. Teachers, scout leaders, and others may distribute the material for classroom instruction or related educational purposes. The materials may not be sold or published in any other form without written permission from The University of Texas McDonald Observatory.