StarDate debuted in 1978, making it the longest-running national radio science feature in the country. It airs on more than 300 radio stations. It has been hosted by Billy Henry since July 2019.
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 diverse interests to keep up with the universe.
StarDate is a production of The University of Texas McDonald Observatory, which also produces the bi-monthly StarDate magazine.
The Voice of StarDate
Billy Henry, a voice talent, musician, composer, and college lecturer in Austin is the third narrator of the StarDate radio program. Read more »
The Music of StarDate
The StarDate background music was written by Bill Harwell and Patterson Barrett specifically for StarDate.
More Than 40 Years and Counting!
StarDate is radio’s longest-running nationally aired science program. It began in 1977 as a daily telephone message service by McDonald Observatory. It was picked up by Austin radio station KLBJ-FM, and aired as “Have You Seen the Stars Tonight?” beginning in June 1977. With a grant from the National Science Foundation, the program became “Star Date,” and began airing nationally, seven days per week, on October 1, 1978. It quickly reached more than 1,000 stations across the country. Read more »
Today’s Episode
Saturn and Aquarius
It’s easy to see pictures in the night sky. Just pick out some stars and connect them to make a pattern. The skywatchers of ancient Babylon linked some stars to show a man pouring water from a jar. Today, that picture is known as Aquarius, the water bearer. The constellation is in the east-southeast before dawn.
Near the left side of the constellation, you’ll find a much smaller star picture: a bowling ball scattering some pins. The ball is the planet Saturn, which looks like a bright star. And the pins are represented by five stars of Aquarius. The stars are faint, so you need dark skies to see them, and binoculars will enhance the view.
The brightest of the five stars is to the upper left of Saturn by less than the width of a pencil held at arm’s length. Phi Aquarii consists of two stars. The brighter one is about as massive as the Sun, but many times larger. That’s because it’s billions of years older than the Sun, so it’s moved from the prime life into the next phase.
About the same distance to the lower right of Saturn is Chi Aquarii. It’s a giant as well, but even bigger and brighter. That makes it visible across 600 light-years of space.
Finally, three stars are a little farther along that line —Psi 1, 2, and 3 Aquarii. The brightest is number one — a triple star 150 light-years away.
Saturn will roll past the stars over the coming days — leaving some faint “bowling pins” behind.
Script by Damond Benningfield
Upcoming Topics
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May 13-19: Giants
We’ll talk about all kinds of giants this week, including giant planets in another star system, the giant of our own solar system, and giant eruptions from a stellar “impostor.”
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May 6-12: “The Butting Ones”
One of the horns of the bull is marked by the star “Elnath” — a name that means “the butting one.” The name has a special significance for Star Date and its fans, and we’ll explain why.
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April 29-May 5: Planet Parade
The Moon will pass by a parade of planets in the dawn sky late this week, and we’ll have details. We’ll also talk about a protective “blanket” around Earth, a small discovery, and more.