With the New Moon arriving this week, we’re in for some of the darkest skies of the month—perfect for stargazing! In this episode, we’ll track down the elusive Zodiacal Light, a faint cosmic glow that many mistake for lingering twilight. Mercury returns to the evening sky, joining a stunning planetary lineup. Later, we’ll dive into a selection of deep-sky treasures, from open clusters to ghostly galaxies, all visible with binoculars or a small telescope.

And in case you missed it, February 18th marked the anniversary of Pluto’s discovery! We’ll revisit Clyde Tombaugh’s historic find, Pluto’s controversial reclassification, and why this distant world remains one of the most fascinating objects in the solar system.

For more episodes and resources for backyard astronomers, visit www.startrails.show. Share the wonder of the stars with friends and continue your cosmic journey with us. Also, connect with us on Mastodon @star_trails, or on Bluesky @startrails.bsky.social.

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Join us for a skyward journey as Venus blazes at its brightest this week, offering a perfect chance to observe its changing phases—and a centuries-old enigma known as the Ashen Light. Discover the science behind Venus’ evolving crescent, Galileo’s historic observations, and the theories surrounding that mysterious glow on the planet’s night side.

Then, we travel far beyond the solar system to uncover the story of the Voyager Golden Record, humanity’s interstellar time capsule now drifting in the vast cosmic ocean.

Items discussed:

• Images on the Golden Record (NASA)
• Listen: Sounds & Music | Greetings from Earth
• Decoding images on the Golden Record
• Amateur radio aboard the ISS

For more episodes and resources for backyard astronomers, visit www.startrails.show. Share the wonder of the stars with friends and continue your cosmic journey with us. Also, connect with us on Mastodon @star_trails, or on Bluesky @startrails.bsky.social.

If you're enjoying the show, consider sharing it with a friend! Want to help? Buy us a coffee!

Podcasting is better with RSS.com! If you're planning to start your own podcast, use our RSS.com affiliate link for a discount, and to help support Star Trails.

This week on Star Trails we explore the Snow Moon, February’s luminous full moon, and uncover the fascinating folklore behind its many names. Then, we turn our gaze to some lesser-known wonders—Camelopardalis, the Giraffe, and Monoceros, the Unicorn—two faint but remarkable constellations hiding celestial treasures.

Later in the episode we roll back the clock to February 14, 1990, and revisit one of the most profound images in human history: The Pale Blue Dot. From billions of miles away, Voyager I captured Earth as a mere speck—a poignant reminder of our fragile existence in the vast cosmos.

Finally, we zoom out, exploring the staggering scale of the universe—from our solar system to the edge of the observable universe, where galaxies form a cosmic web stretching beyond imagination.

For more episodes and resources for backyard astronomers, visit www.startrails.show. Share the wonder of the stars with friends and continue your cosmic journey with us. Also, connect with us on Mastodon @star_trails, or on Bluesky @startrails.bsky.social.

If you're enjoying the show, consider sharing it with a friend! Want to help? Buy us a coffee!

Podcasting is better with RSS.com! If you're planning to start your own podcast, use our RSS.com affiliate link for a discount, and to help support Star Trails.