Radio’s Guide to the Universe

StarDate host Billy Henry

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

Mars Opposition III

The moons of Mars are puny little things – small, oddly shaped chunks of rock that orbit close to the planet. But Phobos and Deimos could be indirect descendants of a much larger moon – one that was up to a third as massive as Earth’s moon. And a recent study says that early moon could explain something about Mars itself.Mars is oddly shaped. It has two big “bulges” that line up roughly opposite each other on the globe. One of them is the highest landscape on the planet, and it’s crowned by giant volcanoes.The study says the shape could be the result of the gravitational pull of a big moon. Researchers named the moon Nerio for a goddess who was an early ally of Mars.Nerio would have stayed over the same spot on Mars. If it was there early on, when the Martian surface was molten, then its gravity could have created the bulges. Mars then cooled quickly, locking the bulges in place.The moon wouldn’t have lasted long. It could have been kicked away by a close encounter between Mars and another large body, or shattered in a giant impact. A chunk of the moon could have survived. Then it, too, was shattered, leaving Mars with only Phobos and Deimos.The scenario raises a lot of questions. So it’ll need much more study before scientists can confirm that Mars once had a big moon.Mars is in view all night. It looks like a bright orange star. It’s in the east-northeast at nightfall, and climbs high across the south during the night.Script by Damond Benningfield
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Upcoming Topics

  • January 20-26: Hunter and Hunted

    The hunter and the scorpion chase each other from opposite sides of the sky — one rising as the other sets — and we’ll have details. We’ll also talk about some things they have in common and more.

  • January 13-19: Mars, Mars, Mars

    The Red Planet shines at its most brilliant this week, and we’ll have details. We’ll also talk about an encounter between Mars and the Moon, the possibility of Martian bugs, and more.

  • January 6-12: Hotfoot

    The foot of the celestial hunter is represented by an especially hot, bright star, and we’ll have details. We’ll also talk about a final flyby, a year with lots of sunrises and sunsets, and much more.

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