Backyard Astronomer

• Backyard Astronomer: January
  Backyard Astronomer: January

  Video Clip (3:16)

  Learn about the Quadrantid meteor shower in this "The Universe: Backyard Astronomer" video. Every February, Quadrantids are visible in the night sky. Also learn about the Pleiades and the seven stars known as the Seven Sisters.

  Video Clip (3:16)
• Backyard Astronomer: Seeing Asteroids & Meteors
  Backyard Astronomer: Seeing Asteroids & Meteors

  Video Clip (2:48)

  In this "The Universe: Backyard Astronomer" video, we learn about what a shooting star actually is and how meteor showers occur.

  Video Clip (2:48)
• Backyard Astronomer: February
  Backyard Astronomer: February

  Video Clip (3:04)

  Learn about the asterisms winter hexagon and winter triangle in this "The Universe: Backyard Astronomer" video. Asterisms are a grouping of stars that are not official constellations.

  Video Clip (3:04)
• Backyard Astronomer: March
  Backyard Astronomer: March

  Video Clip (2:11)

  Backyard Astronomer video: March - The Hydra constellation can be viewed the best in the springtime, in the March night sky.

  Video Clip (2:11)
• Backyard Astronomer: April
  Backyard Astronomer: April

  Video Clip (2:47)

  Learn about the Lyrid meteor shower in this "The Universe: Backyard Astronomer" video. Every year in April from the 19th to the 24th, the lyrids come down at an average rate of 10-20 per hour.

  Video Clip (2:47)
• Backyard Astronomer: May
  Backyard Astronomer: May

  Video Clip (3:04)

  In this "The Universe" video, Backyard Astronomer discusses the fertile night sky in May. As Halley's comet passes through our solar system, it releases particles that cause two different meteor showers: the Orionids shower and the Eta Aquarids.

  Video Clip (3:04)
• Backyard Astronomer: June
  Backyard Astronomer: June

  Video Clip (3:04)

  Backyard Astronomer video: June - The M13 and Hercules constellations can be viewed the best in the summertime, in the June night sky.

  Video Clip (3:04)
• Backyard Astronomer: July
  Backyard Astronomer: July

  Video Clip (2:23)

  Learn how to locate the summer triangle asterism in this "The Universe: Backyard Astronomer" video. Every July, the summer triangle asterism, consisting of Deneb, Vega, and Altair, is visible.

  Video Clip (2:23)
• Backyard Astronomer: August
  Backyard Astronomer: August

  Video Clip (2:24)

  Learn about the Perseus meteor shower in this "The Universe: Backyard Astronomer" video. Every year beginning in July and peaking in August, the Perseus meteors begin in the swift-Tuttle comet and sail into earth's atmosphere.

  Video Clip (2:24)
• Backyard Astronomer: September
  Backyard Astronomer: September

  Video Clip (2:25)

  Backyard Astronomer video: September - The M27 Nebula can be viewed the best at the beginning of Fall, in the September night sky.

  Video Clip (2:25)
• Backyard Astronomer: October
  Backyard Astronomer: October

  Video Clip (2:56)

  In this "The Universe" video, Backyard Astronomer discusses the night sky in October, minus the ghosts and witches. For the first couple of weeks in the month, look to the east in the early morning hours to see Venus, Saturn, and the star Regulus.

  Video Clip (2:56)
• Backyard Astronomer: November
  Backyard Astronomer: November

  Video Clip (2:05)

  Backyard Astronomer video: November - The Leonids Meteor shower can be viewed the best in the Fall, in the November night sky.

  Video Clip (2:05)
• Backyard Astronomer: December
  Backyard Astronomer: December

  Video Clip (2:26)

  Learn about the Geminid meteor shower in this "The Universe: Backyard Astronomer" video. Every year around December 13th to 14th and peaking at 2:00 am, the Geminids from the Gemini constellation enter the earth's atmosphere.

  Video Clip (2:26)
• Navigating by the Stars
  Navigating by the Stars

  Video Clip (2:13)

  In this "The Universe: Backyard Astronomer" video, we learn how our ancestors navigated in an age before GPS systems. They used constellations and prominent stars to find their way.

  Video Clip (2:13)
• Viewing a Solar Eclipse
  Viewing a Solar Eclipse

  Video Clip (3:24)

  Backyard Astronomer video: Solar Eclipse - Viewing a solar eclipse, one of the most magnificent, natural phenomenon.

  Video Clip (3:24)
• Backyard Astronomer: Viewing the Planets
  Backyard Astronomer: Viewing the Planets

  Video Clip (3:03)

  Backyard Astronomer video: Viewing the Planets, the basic foundation of our Solar System.

  Video Clip (3:03)
• Behold The Milky Way
  Behold The Milky Way

  Video Clip (3:16)

  In this "The Universe: Backyard Astronomer" video, learn about earth's galaxy, the Milky Way. The Milky Way galaxy consists of 100 to 300 billion stars and is made up of three main parts, the disk, the halo, and the galactic bulge.

  Video Clip (3:16)