The Vera C Rubin Observatory is set to be a game-changer in our understanding of key ideas such as the expansion of the Universe and the distribution of matter in distant galaxies. But how will it do all this? We spoke to astronomer Dani Leonard, who is working with the Rubin Observatory, to find out. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The best things to see in the night sky this month, including Venus and Jupiter’s close approach, Uranus’s meeting with the Pleiades, Saturn and Neptune’s nightly tango and the low-down full Moon. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Astronomer Alis Deason reveals new research that shows how likely it is the Milky Way will collide with the Andromeda Galaxy. She discusses why galaxy mergers happen and, if our galaxy did collide with its neighbour, which would come out on top.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Pete Lawrence and Paul Abel reveal how to observe Saturn, Venus and the rest of the planets, the Moon's meeting with the Pleiades and Antares, the Southern Aquarid meteor shower and the best deep-sky objects. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Astronomer Hidde Jense has seen cosmic light from just after the Big Bang. He reveals what it tells us. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Find out how to see bright planet Venus in the early morning before sunrise, and track the Red Planet Mars as it passes near Regulus, the brightest star in the constellation Leo. Our new monthly version of Star Diary is hosted by Pete Lawrence and Paul Abel. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The search is on for life beyond Earth. Astrobiologist Penny Boston reveals what life on our own planet can tell us about extra-terrestrial life among the stars.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Meteor showers are always a great excuse to get out and do some stargazing.  Find out how to see them Eta Aquarids in the latest episode of Star Diary, the podcast from the makers of Sky at Night Magazine. Transcript   Learn to observe our nearest star, the Sun, in our upcoming online masterclass series   Subscribe to BBC Sky at Night Magazine and submit your astrophotography images over on our website: https://www.skyatnightmagazine.com contactus@skyatnightmagazine.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Meteor showers are always a great excuse to get out and do some stargazing.  Find out how to see them Eta Aquarids in the latest episode of Star Diary, the podcast from the makers of Sky at Night Magazine. Transcript   Learn to observe our nearest star, the Sun, in our upcoming online masterclass series   Subscribe to BBC Sky at Night Magazine and submit your astrophotography images over on our website: https://www.skyatnightmagazine.com contactus@skyatnightmagazine.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Red Planet passes through the star strewn field of the Beehive Cluster. Find out how to see them in the latest episode of Star Diary, the podcast from the makers of Sky at Night Magazine. Transcript   Learn to observe our nearest star, the Sun, in our upcoming online masterclass series   Subscribe to BBC Sky at Night Magazine and submit your astrophotography images over on our website: https://www.skyatnightmagazine.com contactus@skyatnightmagazine.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The planet will appear its largest in the morning sky before teaming up with the Moon later in the week. Find out how to see them in the latest episode of Star Diary, the podcast from the makers of Sky at Night Magazine. Transcript   Learn to observe our nearest star, the Sun, in our upcoming online masterclass series   Subscribe to BBC Sky at Night Magazine and submit your astrophotography images over on our website: https://www.skyatnightmagazine.com contactus@skyatnightmagazine.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Astronomer Martin Guerrero reveals the mysterious x-ray signals coming from the Eye of God Nebula, that could indicate a planet is being torn apart by a dying star. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A pair of globular clusters will glitter across the night sky this week. Find out how to see them in the latest episode of Star Diary, the podcast from the makers of Sky at Night Magazine. Transcript   Learn to observe our nearest star, the Sun, in our upcoming online masterclass series   Subscribe to BBC Sky at Night Magazine and submit your astrophotography images over on our website: https://www.skyatnightmagazine.com contactus@skyatnightmagazine.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Watch the asteroid Flora as at passes by the Hamburger Galaxy this week. Find out how to see it in the latest episode of Star Diary, the podcast from the makers of Sky at Night Magazine. Transcript   Learn to observe our nearest star, the Sun, in our upcoming online masterclass series   Subscribe to BBC Sky at Night Magazine and submit your astrophotography images over on our website: https://www.skyatnightmagazine.com contactus@skyatnightmagazine.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

After creeping ever closer to the Seven Sisters star cluster, the crescent Moon will pass through the Seven Sisters star cluster this week. Discover how you can watch the stars as blink out one by one by listening to the latest episode of Star Diary, the podcast from the makers of Sky at Night Magazine. Transcript   Learn to observe our nearest star, the Sun, in our upcoming online masterclass series   Subscribe to BBC Sky at Night Magazine and submit your astrophotography images over on our website: https://www.skyatnightmagazine.com contactus@skyatnightmagazine.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week, a partial solar eclipse will be visible across the UK. Find out how you can safely see the momentous occasion for yourself by listening to the latest episode of Star Diary, the podcast from the makers of Sky at Night Magazine. Transcript Learn to observe our nearest star, the Sun, in our upcoming online masterclass series   Subscribe to BBC Sky at Night Magazine and submit your astrophotography images over on our website: https://www.skyatnightmagazine.com contactus@skyatnightmagazine.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Are we alone? It’s one of the humanity’s fundamental questions. Could one of the 6,000 known exoplanets beyond our Solar System host an alien species? Lisa Kaltenegger has spent her career trying to find out. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Moon brushes past the red star Antares, the heart of Scorpius. Make sure to catch them both by listening to the latest episode of Star Diary, the podcast from the makers of Sky at Night Magazine. Transcript   Subscribe to BBC Sky at Night Magazine and submit your astrophotography images over on our website: https://www.skyatnightmagazine.com contactus@skyatnightmagazine.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week sees a total lunar eclipse turn the moon blood red as it passes over the US. Unfortunately, the UK will only catch the partial phase. To find out exactly what you can see, listen to the latest episode of Star Diary, the podcast from the makers of Sky at Night Magazine. Transcript   Subscribe to BBC Sky at Night Magazine and submit your astrophotography images over on our website: https://www.skyatnightmagazine.com contactus@skyatnightmagazine.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mars passes right next to the Moon, while Mercury reaches its highest point in the sky. Make sure to catch them both by listening to the latest episode of Star Diary, the podcast from the makers of Sky at Night Magazine. Transcript   Subscribe to BBC Sky at Night Magazine and submit your astrophotography images over on our website: https://www.skyatnightmagazine.com contactus@skyatnightmagazine.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices