The Garden Astronomer Podcast

Recent episodes

1. An August Night Under the Perseids from The Garden Astronomer Podcast

   Jul 28, 202618 min

   A 1980s backyard night of amateur astronomy in Arvada, Colorado gets hijacked by high-school stoners, Iron Maiden, and late-night roof climbers. Host and author Wayne McGraw shares a true Gen X story that begins with watching the Perseid meteor shower, tracking Saturn, finding the Andromeda Galaxy, and ends with teens who would never have crossed paths connecting under an August night. Along the way, Wayne also offers practical insights on how to view the shower yourself and the reasons behind its annual return. Episode Timestamps: 00:00 – Welcome to The Garden Astronomer 00:53 – From Gold Dust to Suburban Skies in Arvada 02:47 – Comet Swift-Tuttle & The Perseids 03:38 – Counting the First Streaks of Light 04:18 – Uninvited Guests & Iron Maiden on the Lawn 06:55 – When Metalheads Turn Cosmologists 08:22 – Community Under the Clockwork Sky 10:20 – Trapped Flashlights & The Andromeda Galaxy 13:34 – Orion Rises & Changing Seasons 14:25 – Midnight Roof Climbers & Impromptu Observatory 16:45 – Farewell to the Night 17:22 – Practical Tips for Watching the Perseids 18:09 – Outro

2. The Great Comet of 1882: Shattered by the Sun from The Garden Astronomer Podcast

   Jul 14, 202618 min

   We uncover the story of the Great Comet of 1882, so bright it was visible in broad daylight right beside the sun, only to shatter into pieces before the world's eyes. Step into the backyards, balloons, and observatories of astronomers and everyday witnesses who watched history's brightest comet crumble in real time.

3. The Great 1913 Meteor Procession: The Night the Sky Unraveled from The Garden Astronomer Podcast

   Jul 3, 202616 min

   In February 1913, thousands of people across the Western Hemisphere witnessed a slow-motion cosmic parade of meteors grazing the atmosphere. In this episode, we dive into eyewitness accounts of that unforgettable night and explore the scientific research that revealed the truth behind the spectacle. It wasn't just a meteor shower. It was an awe-inspiring disintegration of Earth's forgotten "minimoon."

4. The Great Comet of 1811: Companion to a Shaking World from The Garden Astronomer Podcast

   Jun 20, 202614 min

   Discover the history of the Great Comet of 1811. Visible to the naked eye for nine months, this spectacular comet mystified the globe, coincided with the terrifying New Madrid earthquakes, inspired Tecumseh and Napoleon, and even yielded a legendary wine vintage. Visit the gardenastronomer.com to read the full article and see illustrations from this historical moment in astronomical history.

5. The Great Daylight Comet of 1910 from The Garden Astronomer Podcast

   Jun 14, 202610 min

   In 1910, the world eagerly awaited the return of Halley’s Comet—but a sudden comet stole the show months earlier. Discover the incredible story of the Great January Comet, a celestial giant so exceptionally bright it could be seen blazing in broad daylight. Visit the gardenastronomer.com to read the article and see photos from this historical moment.