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The AstroGuy Podcast

Wayne Zuhl

The podcast for Amateur Astronomers. Topics, interviews, information and fun for whatever level of Amateur Astronomy you're at or heading towards.

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October 29 · 29 min
What's up in the November 2026 skies?
What's up in the November 2026 skies? November brings some great opportunities to explore the night sky, with bright planets, meteor showers, and some of the finestgalaxies of autumn. This month, Uranus reaches opposition, Mercury returns to the morning sky, and the Taurid and Leonid meteor showers give us several chances to catch a shooting star. We'll also explore the neighbouring lunar craters Pallas and Murchison before heading out on a deep-sky tour featuringsix fascinating stops among the autumn galaxies. Whether you're observing with a telescope, binoculars,or just your eyes, there's plenty to discover in the November skies. Download the November 2026 AstroGuy Observing Guide atAstroGuyPod.com for the Moon phase calendar, planetary information, finder charts, observing notes, and this month's deep-sky targets. Feel free to share what you're observing this month, or contact me through the website with questions, suggestions, or observing reports. Please join the AstroGuy Facebook page and group to share your observations, sketches, and images from this month's sky. If you enjoy the episode, follow AstroGuy on Spotifyso you won't miss future episodes. Until next time, may your skies be clear, and asalways, Carpe Noctem, Seize the Night! Free November 2026 Observing Guide Download the November2026 AstroGuy Observing Guide at: https://www.AstroGuyPod.com Connect with AstroGuy Website: https://www.AstroGuyPod.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AstroGuyPodcast Email: Astroguypod@gmail.com Voicemail: 973-404-0380 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/astroguypodcast Support AstroGuy Feel free to buy us a cupof coffee or two! We really appreciate it! https://tinyurl.com/AstroGuyCoffee More from AstroGuy Astronomy Basics: https://youtu.be/MtUkLVneNYs The Great AstronomersPlaylist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLt4C8zx3Um7L05cMfYQC5z_UaQACdduTF Affiliate Links High Point Scientific: https://www.highpointscientific.com/?rfsn=7714880.bb6129 Amazon: https://amzn.to/4gFQmOG ZWO Seestar S30 Pro: https://amzn.to/4tyy9YG Image and Video Credits Originalastrophotography: Wayne Zuhl / AstroGuy Additional imagery: NASA;Adam Block / Mount Lemmon SkyCenter / University of Arizona; ESA; KPNO /NOIRLab / NSF / AURA; Paul Mortfield; Dietmar Kupke; Flynn Haase; JacekHalicki; Rockscientist01 (Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0); Juan Cruz; JohanHagemeyer; Dominic Ford / In-The-Sky.org; AstroChron. Virtual Moon Atlas:Patrick Chevalley and Christian Legrand. Sky simulations:Stellarium Desktop — https://stellarium.org Constellation charts: IAU/ Sky & Telescope — Roger Sinnott and Rick Fienberg, CC BY 3.0. Audio Credits "Hymn to theDawn," "The Long Dark," and "Last and First Light" byScott Buckley. https://www.scottbuckley.com.au Licensed under CreativeCommons Attribution 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ 00:00 Intro 00:36 Planetary Roundup 08:10 Meteor Showers 10:48 Lunar Feature of the Month 13:52 Deep Sky Tour 27:43 Conclusion
#123
September 25 · 21 min
Whats up in the October 2026 skies?
October is here, and the longer nights and cooler temperatures make it a great month to spend some time outside under the stars. This month, Saturn reaches opposition, Mars passes through the Beehive Cluster, and the Moon has an interesting encounter with Jupiter. We’ll also look at asteroid Vesta, the October meteor showers, this month’s Lunar Feature of the Month, and then head into Cepheus for a deep-sky tour. Free October 2026 Observing Guide Download the October 2026 AstroGuy Observing Guide for the Moon phase calendar, planetary information, finder charts, observing notes, and this month’s deep-sky targets: https://astroguypod.com/downloads/October-2026-Observing-Guide.pdf Episode Chapters 00:00 Intro 01:05 Planetary Roundup 09:00 Meteor Showers 10:34 Lunar Feature of the Month 13:06 Deep-Sky Objects 19:43 Conclusion Connect with AstroGuy Website: https://www.AstroGuyPod.com Email: Astroguypod@gmail.com Voicemail: 973-404-0380 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/astroguypodcast Have a question, suggestion, observing report, or an image you'd like to share? Get in touch through AstroGuyPod.com or join us on Facebook. If you'd like to support the AstroGuy Podcast, you can buy us a cup of coffee: https://tinyurl.com/AstroGuyCoffee Image and Video Credits Wayne Zuhl NASA ESA NSF/NOIRLab Statis Kalyvas – VT-2004 programme Dawn Spacecraft Dominic Ford / In-The-Sky.org Virtual Moon Atlas — Patrick Chevalley and Christian Legrand Lunar data and imagery displayed in Virtual Moon Atlas and used for educational commentary. Sky simulations created with Stellarium Desktop, free open-source planetarium software: https://stellarium.org Stellarium is licensed under GPL-2.0. Planetary illustrations created with AstroChron: https://astrochron.app/ Audio Credits “Hymn to the Dawn” — Scott Buckley “The Long Dark” — Scott Buckley www.scottbuckley.com.au Music promoted by Chosic Creative Commons licensing as applicable. Until next time, may your skies be clear, and as always, Carpe Noctem, Seize the Night!
#122
September 9 · 18 min
What's up in the September 2026 skies?
September is a month when the sky begins to transition. The summer Milky Way is still hanging on, but the autumn sky is beginning to rise, the nights are getting longer, and there’s plenty to watch for if you know where to look. This month, Venus puts on a brilliant evening display, Saturn starts moving back into prime time, and Neptune gives observers a chance to track down the most distant majorplanet in the Solar System. We’ll also look at a major space news story, then turn to the Moon for a beautiful trio of craters before heading into Aquarius for a deep-sky tour of autumn delights. Download the September observing guide at ⁠AstroGuyPod.com⁠. Feel free to leave a comment with whatyou’re observing this month, or contact me through the website with questions, suggestions, or observing reports. Join the ⁠AstroGuy Facebook Page⁠ and ⁠group⁠ and share your observations, sketches, and images from this month’s sky. If you enjoy the episode, please like, subscribe, and click the bell so you’ll know when new episodes and livestreams are coming up. Until next time, may your skies be clear, and as always, CarpeNoctem, Seize the Night! Free September 2026 Observing Guide Download the ⁠September 2026 AstroGuy Observing Guide⁠ Connect with AstroGuy Website: https://www.AstroGuyPod.comYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AstroGuyPodcast Contact AstroGuy Email: Astroguypod@gmail.com Voicemail: 973-404-0380 Links: Feel free to buy us a cup of coffeeor two! We really appreciate it! https://buymeacoffee.com/astroguypod Website:https://Astroguypod.com Links High Point Scientific Amazon ZWO Seestar S30 Pro Audio Credits MANTRA by Alex-Productionshttps://onsound.eu/ At The End Of All Things And Hymn to the Dawn by ScottBuckley www.scottbuckley.com.au Music promoted byhttps://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/ Creative Commons CC BY 3.0https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ Creative Commons CC BY 4.0https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ 0:00 Intro 1:10 Planetary Roundup 5:31 Space News 7:53 LFOM 10:45 DSO’s 17:25 Conclusion
#121
July 24 · 22 min
What's up in the August 2026 skies?
August is a packed month for skywatchers. In this episode of the AstroGuy Podcast, we look at what’s up in the August 2026 skies, including Venus dominating the evening sky, a few nice Moon and planet pairings, the Perseid meteor shower under excellent Moon conditions, two eclipses, and a deep-sky tour through Cygnus, the Swan. We’ll also visit our Lunar Feature of the Month, Aristillus and Autolycus, a pair of craters near Mare Imbrium, and then headinto one of the richest parts of the summer Milky Way. Join the AstroGuy Facebook group and share your observations, sketches, and images from this month’s sky. If you enjoy the episode, please like, subscribe, and click the bell so you’ll know when new episodes and livestreams are coming up. Carpe Noctem. Seize the night! Free August 2026 Observing Guide Download the August 2026 AstroGuy Observing Guide here: https://bit.ly/AGAug26 Connect with AstroGuy Website: https://www.AstroGuyPod.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AstroGuyPodcast Contact AstroGuy Email: Astroguypod@gmail.com Voicemail: 973-404-0380 Links: Feel free to buy us a cup of coffee or two! We really appreciate it! https://tinyurl.com/AstroGuyCoffee Website: http://Astroguypod.com Our Facebook group page: / astroguypod Cranford TV-35: https://www.cranfordnj.org/tv-35 Our “Astronomy Basics” episode: • Astronomy Basics The “Great Astronomers” Playlist: • The GreatAstronomers August 28th Lunar Eclipse Info: https://www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/lunar/2026-august-28 Affiliate Links Eclipse Glasses: https://amzn.to/4ywDyTD High Point Scientific: https://www.highpointscientific.com/?... Amazon: https://amzn.to/4gFQmOG ZWO Seestar S30 Pro: https://amzn.to/4tyy9YG Audio Credits: Hymn to the Dawn by Scott Buckley The Long Dark by Scott Buckley Last and First Light by Scott Buckley www.scottbuckley.com.au Music promoted by https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/ Creative Commons CC BY 4.0 Creative Commons CC BY 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/...
July 1 · 16 min
What's up in the July 2026 Skies?
July is here, and the summer Milky Way is taking over the evening sky. In this episode of the AstroGuy Podcast, we look at what’s up in the July 2026 skies, including the planets, a beautiful lunar feature near Mare Serenitatis, and a summer Milky Way observing tour that starts in Sagittarius and works its way toward Vulpecula.This month also marks a new chapter for AstroGuy. The official schedule is moving to one episode per month, and the new Monthly Observing Guide is now available at AstroGuyPod.com. The guide is designed as a companion to the episode, with the Moon phase calendar, planetary data, deep-sky target list, finder notes, and observing windows you can use while planning your time under the stars.Visit the website:AstroGuyPod.comJoin the AstroGuy Facebook group and share your observations, sketches, and images from this month’s sky.If you enjoy the episode, please like, subscribe, and click the bell so you’ll know when new episodes and livestreams are coming up.Carpe Noctem. Seize the night!Contact AstroGuyEmail: Astroguypod@gmail.comVoicemail: 973-404-0380Links:Feel free to buy us a cup of coffee or two! We really appreciate it!https://tinyurl.com/AstroGuyCoffeeWebsite: http://Astroguypod.comOur Facebook group page: / astroguypodCranford TV-35: https://www.cranfordnj.org/tv-35Our “Astronomy Basics” episode: • Astronomy BasicsThe “Great Astronomers” Playlist: • The Great AstronomersAffiliate LinksHigh Point Scientific: https://www.highpointscientific.com/?...Amazon: https://amzn.to/4gFQmOGZWO Seestar S30 Pro: https://amzn.to/4tyy9YGAudio Credits:Hymn to the Dawnby Scott BuckleyThe Long Darkby Scott Buckleywww.scottbuckley.com.auMusic promoted byhttps://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/Creative Commons CC BY 4.0Creative Commons CC BY 3.0https://creativecommons.org/licenses/...
#119
June 2 · 16 min
What's Up in the June 2026 Skies? Part 2 - Sea of Crises and Deep Sky Gems!
June nights may be short, but there is still plenty worth seeing. In this episode of the AstroGuy Podcast, we explore one of the Moon’s most recognizable dark features, Mare Crisium, the Sea of Crises, before heading into the deep sky for “A Little Bit of Everything” — a mix of double stars, galaxies, planetary nebulae, and open clusters that are well placed for June evenings. We’ll discuss how to find these objects, what to expect visually in modest telescopes, and observing tips. If you missed Part 1, where we covered the planets and space news for June 2026, check it out here: https://youtu.be/K6Ol_NJ6VLE?si=zQmu0iOvu_TgRZDM Beginning in July, we will be transitioning back to a single monthly “What’s Up” episode, along with additional astronomy content, livestreams, imaging and processing episodes, along with special event coverage throughout the year. If you enjoyed this episode, please like, subscribe, and share it with someone who loves the night sky. Clear skies, and as always, Carpe Noctem, Seize the Night! #astronomy #stargazing #astrophotography #moon #lunarsurface #marecrisium #m57 #ringnebula #lyra #hercules #draco #libra #doubleStars #ngc5866 #m102 #deepSky #telescope #nightSky #spacescience #astroguy
#118
June 1 · 15 min
What's up in the June 2026 Skies? Part 1 - Planets and Space News
What’s Up in the June 2026 Skies? Part 1 June 2026 brings a beautiful mix of skywatchinghighlights and space news. In this episode, we’ll look at Mercury’s best eveningopportunity of the month, the beautiful Venus-Jupiter conjunction on June 9,the Moon joining the evening planets around June 17, and the June solsticemarking the start of astronomical summer. We’ll also talk about how the Moon phases shape yourobserving plans this month, including the best dark-sky window around New Moonand what you can still observe when the Moon is in the evening sky. Then in Space News, NASA’s Psyche spacecraft preparesfor a Mars gravity assist on its way to asteroid Psyche, and the Vera C. RubinObservatory begins issuing its first scientific alerts, giving astronomers anew way to monitor the changing sky in near real time. Part 2 will focus on the Lunar Feature of the Monthand a deep-sky tour as the summer Milky Way begins to take over from thegalaxies of spring.
April 19 · 10 min
Artemis II recap and what's up in the May 2026 Skies? Part 1
Send us Fan Mail May 2026 is an exciting time for astronomy, both in the sky above us and in space beyond Earth. In this episode, we take a look at the planets visible this month and recap the successful Artemis II mission, which has just returned astronauts from a journey around the Moon for the first time in over 50 years. We’ll walk through what you can expect to see in the evening and morning skies, including a beautiful mid-month alignment of the Moon, Venus, and Jupiter, along with a helpful guide to spotting Mars and Saturn in the predawn sky. On the space news side, we break down the Artemis II mission from launch to splashdown, highlight what was learned during the flight, and look ahead to what comes next in NASA’s Artemis program. Beginning this month, “What’s Up in the Month’s Sky” is now a two-part series. In Part 1, we focus on planets and space news. In Part 2, we shift back to observing with the Lunar Feature of the Month and a deep sky tour. We’re also updating the monthly Sky Guide. It will now include detailed planetary data along with information on all of the deep sky objects covered each month, and will be available both as a web page and as a downloadable PDF. More details on that coming in the next episode. Whether you're observing with binoculars or a telescope, or simply stepping outside to take a look, May offers plenty to enjoy. Don’t forget to like and subscribe, your support helps bring astronomy to more people every month. Contact: AstroGuyPodcast@gmail.com Text/Voicemail: (973) 404-0380 If you enjoy the episode, please subscribe, comment, and share, and leave a review on your favorite podcast platform. Carpe Noctem! Links: Feel free to buy us a cup of coffee or two! We really appreciate it! https://tinyurl.com/AstroGuyCoffee Our Facebook group page: / astroguypod Cranford TV-35: https://www.cranfordnj.org/tv-35 Our “Astronomy Basics” episode: • Astronomy Basics The “Great Astronomers” Playlist: • The Great Astronomers The Full Episode Guide of DSO’s sorted by Catalog Name: http://tinyurl.com/AGFullGuide Affiliate Links High Point Scientific: https://www.highpointscientific.com/?... Amazon: https://amzn.to/4gFQmOG Audio Credits: Hymn to the Dawn by Scott Bucklye www.scottbuckley.com.au Music promoted by https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/ Creative Commons CC BY 4.0 Creative Commons CC BY 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/... Support the show
April 6 · 24 min
What's up in the April 2026 skies? A bright comet???
Send us Fan Mail April 2026 is shaping up to be a fantastic month for astronomy. In this episode, we explore two comets that may be visible this month, the return of the Lyrid meteor shower, the start of galaxy season, and a possible Artemis II launch that could send astronauts back around the Moon for the first time in over 50 years. We’ll also take a full planetary tour of the April sky, visit our Lunar Feature of the Month: Archimedes, and go deep into some of the best spring galaxies including M81 & M82, M51, M64, and the Leo Triplet. Whether you're observing with binoculars or a telescope, April offers something for everyone, from challenging twilight planets to breathtaking deep sky targets. Don’t forget to like and subscribe, your support helps bring astronomy to more people every month. Contact: AstroGuyPodcast@gmail.com Text/Voicemail: (973) 404-0380 If you enjoy the episode, please subscribe, comment, and share, and leave a review on your favorite podcast platform. Carpe Noctem! Feel free to buy us a cup of coffee or two! We really appreciate it! https://tinyurl.com/AstroGuyCoffee Our Facebook group page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/astroguypod Audio Credits: Hymn to the Dawn Adrift Among Infinite Stars Last and First Light www.scottbuckley.com.au Music promoted by https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/ Creative Commons CC BY 4.0 Creative Commons CC BY 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/... Support the show
March 20 · 27 min
10 Amazing Things You Can See In A Small Telescope
Send us Fan Mail You don’t need a giant observatory telescope to explore the universe. In this episode, we take a journey outward through space to discover 10 amazing things you can see with a small telescope or even 50mm binoculars. Starting at the rugged surface of the Moon and traveling farther from Earth with each stop, we’ll visit giant planets, colorful double stars, glowing nebulae, dense star clusters, and finally another galaxy more than 2 million light-years away. Along the way, we’ll learn what these objects actually look like through the eyepiece. This episode is designed especially for beginners, but even experienced observers will find these targets rewarding. Every object on this list can be seen with 50mm binoculars, and many become even more impressive through a small backyard telescope. Whenever possible, I’ll describe what to expect through different instruments so you’ll know exactly what to look for. For the deep-sky objects beyond our solar system, I’ll also include links to past episodes where we explore them in more detail and explain how to find them. And don’t forget to check out the free Full Episode Guide in the description, which includes all of the objects featured here and many more. Don’t forget to like and subscribe, your support helps bring astronomy to more people every month. Contact: AstroGuyPodcast@gmail.com Text/Voicemail: (973) 404-0380 If you enjoy the episode, please subscribe, comment, and share, and leave a review on your favorite podcast platform. Carpe Noctem! Links: Feel free to buy us a cup of coffee or two! We really appreciate it! https://tinyurl.com/AstroGuyCoffee Our Facebook group page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/astroguypod Episodes featuring the objects discussed: All about the Moon: https://youtu.be/TS0DHGnfmQs?si=Z8acXJQa5TirLQEe Albireo: https://youtu.be/ohY72oLh1IY Orion Nebula: https://youtu.be/rBtraHAHtCw M13, Dumbbell and Lagoon Nebulae: https://youtu.be/exxfO4v2wSM?si=CNVQ9g4ewdJbqJdH Double Cluster: https://youtu.be/5IRTj-5_SUM?si=YlYNl4Q3Lw159VRx Andromeda Galaxy: https://youtu.be/OJCYf7BKH0Y?si=D9vNV-YsNyBkuulN Affiliate Links: High Point Scientific: https://www.highpointscientific.com/?rfsn=7714880.bb6129 Amazon: https://amzn.to/4gFQmOG Audio Credits: Hymn to the Dawn Adrift Amongst Infinite Stars Keys of Moon The Long Dark All songs by Scott Buckley www.scottbuckley.com.au Music promoted by https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/ Creative Commons CC BY 4.0 Creative Commons CC BY 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/... Support the show
March 1 · 28 min
What's up in the March 2026 skies?
Send us Fan Mail March is here, bringing the first signs of spring and longer daylight hours, but the night sky is still delivering excellent observing before we lose those long winter evenings. We'll discuss this year’s only total lunar eclipse, and a beautiful conjunction between Venus and Saturn. Then we cover important developments with Artemis II, along with the latest about the Starliner program. We’ll also explore an often overlooked lunar crater and then we'll highlight several of the best double and multiple stars visible in the spring skies. Don’t forget to like and subscribe, your support helps bring astronomy to more people every month. Contact: AstroGuyPodcast@gmail.com Text/Voicemail: (973) 404-0380 If you enjoy the episode, please subscribe, comment, and share, and leave a review on your favorite podcast platform. Carpe Noctem! Links: Feel free to buy us a cup of coffee or two! We really appreciate it! https://tinyurl.com/AstroGuyCoffee Our Facebook group page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/astro... Affiliate Links High Point Scientific: https://www.highpointscientific.com/?... Amazon: https://amzn.to/4gFQmOG Audio Credits: Hymn to the Dawn By Scott Buckley Under the Sun By Keys of Moon Adrift Among Infinite Stars By Scott Buckley The Long Dark By Scott Buckley www.scottbuckley.com.au Music promoted by https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/ Creative Commons CC BY 4.0 Creative Commons CC BY 3.0 Support the show
February 14 · 18 min
All About Artemis II
Send us Fan Mail For the first time since 1972, humans are leaving Earth orbit and heading back to the Moon. Artemis II isn’t about landing. It’s about proving we’re ready to go back to deep space. In this episode, Wayne breaks down: • What Artemis II is really designed to test • Why this mission is fundamentally different from Apollo • The international partnerships shaping the Artemis program • How Artemis II clears the path to Artemis III and a return to the lunar surface Join us as we explore what Artemis II means for the future of NASA, international space exploration, and humanity’s next giant leap. Don’t forget to like and subscribe, your support helps bring astronomy to more people every month. Contact: AstroGuyPodcast@gmail.com Text/Voicemail: (973) 404-0380 Links: Feel free to buy us a cup of coffee or two! We really appreciate it! https://tinyurl.com/AstroGuyCoffee Our Facebook group page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/astro... Affiliate Links High Point Scientific: https://www.highpointscientific.com/?... Amazon: https://amzn.to/4gFQmOG Audio Credits: Hymn to the Dawn By Scott Buckley Under the Sun By Keys of Moon Adrift Among Infinite Stars By Scott Buckley www.scottbuckley.com.au Music promoted by https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/ Creative Commons CC BY 4.0 Creative Commons CC BY 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/... Support the show
January 31 · 20 min
What's up in the February 2026 Skies?
Send us Fan Mail February 2026 delivers cold nights—and spectacular skies. In this episode of The AstroGuy Podcast, Wayne walks you through everything to watch for in the night sky this month. We take an in-depth look at NASA’s Artemis II mission, the first crewed flight toward the Moon since 1972, including mission objectives, the historic crew, and how you can follow the launch live with our community coverage. This month’s Lunar Feature of the Month highlights the fascinating crater pair Messier and Messier A, known for their unusual shapes and some of the most linear lunar rays on the Moon—plus a look at the legacy of Charles Messier himself. Our deep-sky tour explores the rich but often overlooked constellation Monoceros the Unicorn and it's myriad of deep sky objects. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced observer, this episode is packed with observing tips, history, and inspiration to get outside under the winter stars. 🌙 Clear skies—and Carpe Noctem! Don’t forget to like and subscribe, your support helps bring astronomy to more people every month. Contact: AstroGuyPodcast@gmail.com Text/Voicemail: (973) 404-0380 If you enjoy the episode, please subscribe, comment, and share, and leave a review on your favorite podcast platform. Links: Feel free to buy us a cup of coffee or two! We really appreciate it! https://tinyurl.com/AstroGuyCoffee Our Facebook group page: / astroguypod Cranford TV-35: https://www.cranfordnj.org/tv-35 Clark TV-36: https://www.ourclark.com/194/Clark-Ne... The February 2026 Episode Guide: https://tinyurl.com/ The Full Episode Guide of DSO’s sorted by Catalog Name: Support the show
January 24 · 21 min
New for 2026 - Pixinsight Workflow with downloadable data
Send us Fan Mail In this episode of The AstroGuy Podcast, I walk you through my current PixInsight workflow, the exact process I’m using right now to turn raw astrophotography data into a finished deep-sky image. This is not a beginner’s overview or a list of tools. Instead, I explain why I use each step, how the processes fit together, and what I look for as the image evolves. Whether you’re refining your own PixInsight workflow or trying to understand how experienced imagers structure their processing, this episode will help you think more clearly and work more efficiently. This workflow reflects about 4 years of experience, experimentation, and refinement and it continues to evolve. If you’re serious about deep-sky astrophotography, PixInsight, and improving your processing results, this episode is for you. You’ll also find free downloadable versions of the pre-processed image stacks used in this episode, so you can follow along with the workflow or try your own processing approach. The data is available in both .XISF and .FITS formats, making it easy to load directly into PixInsight or other astrophotography software. Whether you want to replicate the steps shown in the video or experiment with different techniques, these files give you hands-on access to the exact data used in the episode. It would be great if you could post links to your version of the data in our Facebook Group. NGC 1499 stacked image in XISF format: https://tinyurl.com/NGC1499XISF NGC 1499 stacked image in FITS format: https://tinyurl.com/NGC1499FITSWZ Download a PDF of the work flow here: https://tinyurl.com/AGWorkflowPI Special thanks to Franklin Marek (Seti-Astro) for his innovative scripts and software. If you use his tools, please consider supporting his work at http://setiastro.com. Thanks as well to Mike Cranfield and Bill Blanshan for their outstanding scripts, generously shared with the community. Mike’s work can be found at https://cosmicphotons.com Bill’s at youtube.com/@anotherastrochannel2173 🔭 Subscribe to The AstroGuy Podcast for monthly sky guides, deep-dive astronomy topics, and real-world astrophotography insights. Leave a comment with your own workflow questions or tips. #PixInsight #Astrophotography #PixInsightWorkflow #DeepSkyImaging #AstroProcessing Support the show
Dec 29, 2025 · 17 min
What's Up in the January 2026 Skies?
Send us Fan Mail In this episode of The AstroGuy Podcast, Wayne explores the best things to see in the sky in January of 2026, from brilliant planets to iconic deep-sky objects in Orion the Hunter. January offers some of the best stargazing of the year, with long winter nights and clear, steady skies. Learn when and where to observe Jupiter at opposition, how to spot Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune. We’ll explore an ancient crater on the moon, discuss some upcoming launches and much more. Whether you observe with your eyes, binoculars, or a telescope, this episode will help you make the most of the January night sky. Don’t forget to like and subscribe, your support helps bring astronomy to more people every month. Contact: AstroGuyPodcast@gmail.com Text/Voicemail: (973) 404-0380 If you enjoy the episode, please subscribe, comment, and share, and leave a review on your favorite podcast platform. Carpe Noctem! Links: Feel free to buy us a cup of coffee or two! We really appreciate it! https://tinyurl.com/AstroGuyCoffee Our Facebook group page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/astroguypod Cranford TV-35: https://www.cranfordnj.org/tv-35 Clark TV-36: https://www.ourclark.com/194/Clark-News---Our-Clark-Media The January 2026 Episode Guide: https://tinyurl.com/AGGuideJan26 The Full Episode Guide of DSO’s sorted by Catalog Name: http://tinyurl.com/AGFullGuide Our “Astronomy Basics” episode: https://youtu.be/MtUkLVneNYs The “Great Astronomers” Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLt4C8zx3Um7L05cMfYQC5z_UaQACdduTF Affiliate Links High Point Scientific: https://www.highpointscientific.com/?rfsn=7714880.bb6129 Amazon: https://amzn.to/4gFQmOG Audio Credits: Hymn to the Dawn By Scott Buckley Adrift Among Infinite Stars By Scott Buckley The Long Dark By Scott Buckley www.scottbuckley.com.au Music promoted by https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/ Creative Commons CC BY 4.0 Creative Commons CC BY 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/... Support the show
Nov 29, 2025 · 31 min
What's Up in the December 2025 Skies?
Send us Fan Mail In this episode of The AstroGuy Podcast, Wayne walks you through everything unfolding in the December 2025 night sky, one of the best observing months of the year thanks to long, dark winter nights and crisp, steady air. We start with a full planetary roundup, including Jupiter’s stunning December performance, Saturn’s nearly edge-on rings, and a look at Mercury’s early-morning apparition. We also cover the ongoing activity from Comet Lemmon, the fragmented C/2025 K1 ATLAS, and the rare interstellar visitor 3I/ATLAS, along with clear explanations of what it is, and what it isn’t. December brings two meteor showers, with the Geminids once again offering the year’s most reliable performance, and the Ursids providing a second chance for shooting stars under dark skies. In space news, we discuss NASA’s ESCAPADE mission and Blue Origin’s major landing milestone, along with the final chapter for Japan’s Akatsuki Venus orbiter. This month’s Lunar Feature spotlights the Bay of Rainbows a favorite target for lunar observers. Then we wrap up with a deep-sky tour through Taurus, highlighting Aldebaran, the Pleiades, the Hyades, and the spectacular lunar occultation of M45 on December 3rd and MORE. Whether you’re observing with binoculars, a telescope, or just your winter coat and a clear sky, December has something worth getting outside for. Don’t forget to like and subscribe, your support helps bring astronomy to more people every month. Contact: AstroGuyPodcast@gmail.com Text/Voicemail: (973) 404-0380 If you enjoy the episode, please subscribe, comment, and share, and leave a review on your favorite podcast platform. Carpe Noctem! Links: Feel free to buy us a cup of coffee or two! We really appreciate it! https://tinyurl.com/AstroGuyCoffee Our Facebook group page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/astroguypod Cranford TV-35: https://www.cranfordnj.org/tv-35 Clark TV-36: https://www.ourclark.com/194/Clark-News---Our-Clark-Media The December 2025 Episode Guide: https://tinyurl.com/AGGuideDec25 The Full Episode Guide of DSO’s sorted by Catalog Name: http://tinyurl.com/AGFullGuide Our “Astronomy Basics” episode: https://youtu.be/MtUkLVneNYs The “Great Astronomers” Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLt4C8zx3Um7L05cMfYQC5z_UaQACdduTF Affiliate Links High Point Scientific: https://www.highpointscientific.com/?rfsn=7714880.bb6129 Amazon: https://amzn.to/4gFQmOG Credits Audio Credits: Hymn to the Dawn By Scott Buckley Phase Shift By Scott Buckley Voice of Earth By Alex Productions Under the Sun By Keys of Moon The Long Dark By Scott Buckley www.scottbuckley.com.au Music promoted by https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/ Creative Commons CC BY 4.0 Creative Support the show
Nov 16, 2025 · 37 min
Saturn-Titan Transits with Greg Shanos
Send us Fan Mail In this episode of The AstroGuy Podcast, Wayne sits down with planetary imager Greg Shanos, one of the most dedicated and skilled amateur astronomers working today. Greg recently completed an extraordinary observing project: imaging 15 out of 16 Titan transits across Saturn during this year’s rare transit season. These events only occur during brief windows every 15 years, making his achievement one of the most complete amateur records of the phenomenon. Before the interview, Wayne reminds listeners about the 1,000-subscriber contest, where one lucky viewer will win a free autographed and numbered print. If you haven’t entered yet, be sure to visit the contest video and leave a comment before November 25th. In the main segment, Greg shares how he planned and executed his transit campaign, the gear and imaging workflow he relied on, the challenges he faced along the way, and what these observations reveal about the Saturnian system. Greg was recently honored with the 2025 Walter A. Haas Observer Award from ALPO, recognizing his significant contributions to lunar and planetary observing. This episode offers a deep look at the power and passion of amateur astronomy — and how one dedicated observer can produce scientifically meaningful work that stands alongside professional data. Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and comment—it really helps us grow and reach more interested folks. Contact: AstroGuyPodcast@gmail.com Text/Voicemail: (973) 404-0380 If you enjoy the episode, please subscribe, comment, and share, and leave a review on your favorite podcast platform. Carpe Noctem! Links: Feel free to buy us a cup of coffee or two! We really appreciate it! https://tinyurl.com/AstroGuyCoffee Our Facebook group page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/astroguypod Cranford TV-35: https://www.cranfordnj.org/tv-35 Clark TV-36: https://www.ourclark.com/194/Clark-News---Our-Clark-Media The Full Episode Guide of DSO’s sorted by Catalog Name: http://tinyurl.com/AGFullGuide Our “Astronomy Basics” episode: https://youtu.be/MtUkLVneNYs The “Great Astronomers” Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLt4C8zx3Um7L05cMfYQC5z_UaQACdduTF WinJupos https://jupos.org/gh/download.htm Firecapture https://www.Firecapture.de Sharpcap https://www.sharpcap.co.uk/ Autostakkert4 https://www.autostakkert.com/wp/download Registax6 https://www.astronomie.be/registax/ Astraimage https://astraimage.com GIMP https://www.gimp.org/downloads Photoshop CS4 https://www.adobe.com/photoshop Here’s the link to Greg’s images: Support the show
Oct 26, 2025 · 21 min
What's Up in the November 2025 Skies?
Send us Fan Mail In this episode of The AstroGuy Podcast, Wayne explores what’s happening in the night sky this November. The evening skies are filled with bright planets — Jupiter shines brilliantly all month, Saturn’s rings appear nearly edge-on, and Uranus reaches opposition on November 21st, making this the best time of the year to view the distant ice giant. Neptune remains faint in Pisces, while Mercury, Mars, and Venus make brief appearances near sunrise and sunset. Comet Lemmon (C/2025 A6) continues to impress observers, while Comet SWAN (C/2025 R2) offers a fainter but rewarding binocular challenge. The Leonid meteor shower peaks on November 17th and 18th under dark, moonless skies, with about a dozen meteors per hour expected. In space news, SpaceX achieved another milestone with the successful dual splashdowns of Starship and its booster during Flight 11. This month’s lunar feature is Gassendi Crater, a striking, terraced impact crater on the edge of Mare Humorum. The Deep Sky Tour focuses on Perseus, high in the eastern sky on November evenings. Wayne shares the mythology behind the hero who rescued Andromeda and highlights Perseus’s brightest stars — Mirfak and Algol — along with several deep sky treasures. Wayne also previews the next episode — an interview with planetary imager Greg Shanos, who recently captured 15 of 16 Titan transits across Saturn. Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and comment—it really helps us grow and reach more interested folks. Contact: AstroGuyPodcast@gmail.com Text/Voicemail: (973) 404-0380 If you enjoy the episode, please subscribe, comment, and share, and leave a review on your favorite podcast platform. Carpe Noctem! Support the show
Oct 14, 2025 · 8 min
1,000 Subscribers on YouTube Special! **Contest**
Send us Fan Mail We’ve reached 1,000 subscribers! In this special episode of the AstroGuy Podcast, I’m sharing the story behind one of my first deep-sky photos — the North America and Pelican Nebulae — and announcing an exclusive giveaway for viewers. You could win a signed, one-of-a-kind metal print of this image! Join me as we celebrate this milestone and look ahead to what’s next for the channel. Celebrating 1,000 Subscribers + Exclusive Giveaway! Welcome to a very special episode of the AstroGuy Podcast on YouTube! We’ve reached an incredible milestone — 1,000 subscribers! This episode is all about saying thank you to the amazing astronomy community that’s grown around this channel. I’ll share a little about how this journey began, what’s ahead for the channel, and how you can enter a contest to win something truly special — a signed, numbered (1 of 1) metal print of one of my early astrophotos featuring the North America and Pelican Nebulae. Thank you for watching, listening, commenting, and being part of this growing space-loving community! How to Enter the Contest To enter: 1. Make sure you’re subscribed to the AstroGuy channel. 2. Leave a comment on the contest video telling me your favorite astro-object and what you like about it. 3. Entries must submitted before midnight on November 21, 2025. 4. Prize will only be shipped to a US address. That’s it! One random commenter will be chosen to win the signed, 1-of-1 metal print of my photo of the North America and Pelican Nebulae. Winner will be announced in an the “What’s Up in the December 2025 Skies?” episode and via community post. Contest Disclaimer This contest is not sponsored, endorsed, or administered by, or associated with YouTube. By participating, you agree to release YouTube from any liability related to this contest. Open to subscribers of the AstroGuy YouTube channel who are at least 18 years old. No purchase necessary. Personal information collected will only be used for prize delivery. By entering, you agree to comply with YouTube’s Community Guidelines and Terms of Service. Entries that violate these terms will be disqualified. Links: Feel free to buy us a cup of coffee or two! We really appreciate it! https://tinyurl.com/AstroGuyCoffee Our Facebook group page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/astroguypod Cranford TV-35: https://www.cranfordnj.org/tv-35 Clark TV-36: https://www.ourclark.com/194/Clark-News---Our-Clark-Media The Full Episode Guide of DSO’s sorted by Catalog Name: http://tinyurl.com/AGFullGuide Comet C/2025 R2 (SWAN) Information: https://theskylive.com/c2025r2-info Comet C/2025 A6 (Lemmon) Information: https://theskylive.com/c2025a6-info Affiliate Links Amazon: https://amzn.to/4gFQmOG Audio Credits: Last and First Light by Scott Buckley www.scottbuckley.com.au Music promoted by https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/ Creative C Support the show
Sep 28, 2025 · 28 min
What's Up in the October 2025 Skies?
Send us Fan Mail What’s Up in the October 2025 Skies October is one of the best months of the year for stargazing! In this episode we explore everything happening in the skies this month: Mercury, Mars, and the Moon make for some beautiful conjunctions in the evening sky. Venus still dominates the mornings, while Jupiter and Saturn put on steady shows all night. October brings the chance to spot two comets, plus, the Orionid meteor shower peaks under dark skies with no Moon interference. Then we’ll take a close-up look at Petavius Crater, one of the Moon’s most spectacular impact sites, and then we dive into Pegasus exploring some of its bright stars, to a standout globular cluster to several galaxy groups and faint, and unique planetary nebula to round out the tour. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned stargazer, there’s something here for everyone this month. If you catch a glimpse of the comets, Orionid meteors, or any of the features we’ve talked about, share your observations with us in the AstroGuy Podcast Facebook Group or tag us on social media. Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and comment—it really helps us grow and reach more interested folks. Contact: AstroGuyPodcast@gmail.com Text/Voicemail: (973) 404-0380 If you enjoy the episode, please subscribe, comment, and share, and leave a review on your favorite podcast platform. Carpe Noctem! Links: Feel free to buy us a cup of coffee or two! We really appreciate it! https://tinyurl.com/AstroGuyCoffee Our Facebook group page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/astroguypod Cranford TV-35: https://www.cranfordnj.org/tv-35 Clark TV-36: https://www.ourclark.com/194/Clark-News---Our-Clark-Media The October 2025 Episode Guide: https://tinyurl.com/AGGuideOct25 The Full Episode Guide of DSO’s sorted by Catalog Name: http://tinyurl.com/AGFullGuide Our “Astronomy Basics” episode: https://youtu.be/MtUkLVneNYs The “Great Astronomers” Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLt4C8zx3Um7L05cMfYQC5z_UaQACdduTF Comet C/2025 R2 (SWAN) Information: https://theskylive.com/c2025r2-info Comet C/2025 A6 (Lemmon) Information: https://theskylive.com/c2025a6-info Affiliate Links High Point Scientific: https://www.highpointscientific.com/?rfsn=7714880.bb6129 Amazon: https://amzn.to/4gFQmOG OIII Filters: https://bit.ly/4gLlHzX Audio Credits: Hymn To The Dawn by Scott Buckley Adrift Among Infinite Stars by Scott Buckley Last and First Light by Scott Buckley www.scottbuckley.com.au Music promoted by https://www.chosic.com/free-music/all/ Creative Commons CC BY 4.0 Creative Commons CC BY 3. Support the show

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