This week in the western sky you'll spot the bright planet Jupiter, with the famous red star Aldebaran just beneath it. Aldebaran is the brightest star in the constellation Taurus, but it’s also known as the “follower,” trailing the Seven Sisters, or the Pleiades, across the heavens. The Pleiades, once feared for their connection to ancient rituals and catastrophic events, have captivated cultures for centuries—from the Minoans to the Maya, and even the Japanese, where they’re known as Subaru. Tune in as we explore the eerie history and celestial wonder of the Pleiades, and learn how binoculars can reveal their stunning beauty.

This past Thursday marked the vernal equinox, signaling the official start of Spring. While the media often claims that "day and night are equal" on this day, a closer look at sunrise and sunset times reveals that daylight actually lasts a few minutes longer. The reason? Atmospheric refraction, which bends the sun’s image upward. But even so, it’s a close enough approximation. Tune in to hear more about the rhythms of our planet.

Tune in to hear about an upcoming vernal equinox! Many civilizations have made vernal equinoxes into special or even sacred days. Learn how the sun is shifting into new constellations, and what most people get wrong.

Tune in to hear about an upcoming vernal equinox! Many civilizations have made vernal equinoxes into special or even sacred days. Learn how the sun is shifting into new constellations, and what most people get wrong.

We’re now just past the new Moon stage of the lunar cycle, which means we are now seeing a crescent moon. Always lowish in the sky, the crescent may be the Moon’s most fascinating phase. Perhaps its dreaminess comes from its uniqueness. Tune in to hear about other shapes and the sky and the best time to view Venus.

The Apophis asteroid captured the public’s interest ever since it was discovered in 2004. It’s big enough to destroy a city and it’s headed our way. Lately, some social media posters seem to have discovered this menace for the first time and gave it scary publicity. Tune in to hear the actual facts. The asteroid will miss us this time.

The Northeast U.S. is now in its single season that’s cloudy and windy, which might remind us of worlds where no breeze has ever stirred, where dust lies flat for billions of years. That’s what the Apollo astronauts saw. Tune in to hear about the characteristics of the planets: Mercury, Earth, Venus and of course we’ll talk about the Moon.

So far this cold season, Earth's sister planet has heated up the evening sky like a UFO. You've surely seen that dazzling "star" soon after sunset: This has been its best showing since 2017. That eight-year interval is no accident. So happens, 13 of Venus’ years around the Sun have the same number of days as eight Earth years. They both work out to 2,922 days. Tune in to hear when you can see expect these special evenings.

What’s the weather typically like in February? We’ll also explore the history of the famous woodchuck, and what science actually backs Groundhog Day.

It's cold out in the Northeast. The rest of the world is using Celsius, but America is still using Fahrenheit. Tune in to hear how these calculations work.