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July 14, 2026Radio: Today’s Episode
Dangerous Crossings
Dangerous crossings for planet Earth.
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Radio: Yesterday’s Episode
Zone of Avoidance
Trying to avoid the Milky Way.
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Stargazing
New Moon
The Moon is new today at 4:43 a.m. CDT. The new Moon occurs when the Moon passes between Earth and the Sun, so it is too close to the Sun to observe. It will return to view tomorrow evening as a thin crescent quite low in the sky during twilight.
Summer Milky Way
The Milky Way shines at its best on summer nights. Right now, it arcs across the east as the sky gets fully dark, and passes high overhead later on. Under dark skies, it looks like a hazy band of light.
Delphinus
Tiny Delphinus, the dolphin, is in the east at nightfall. Its brightest stars really do outline the shape of a dolphin. Sualocin is the brightest star in the pattern, and represents the dolphin’s back.
Moon Phases
At the new Moon phase, the Moon is so close to the Sun in the sky that none of the side facing Earth is illuminated (position 1 in illustration). In other words, the Moon is between Earth and Sun. At first quarter, the half-lit Moon is highest in the sky at sunset, then sets about six hours later (3). At full Moon, the Moon is behind Earth in space with respect to the Sun. As the Sun sets, the Moon rises with the side that faces Earth fully exposed to sunlight (5).
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Stardate Magazine
Current Issue: JULY/AUGUST 2026
From Canals to Poppy Seeds and Leopard Spots
by Damond Benningfield
Twin Viking landers touched down on Mars 50 years ago, and one of their experiments found evidence of life, which was quickly discounted. But the debate continues, and we’ll review the Viking findings along with other claims of possible life on the Red Planet. We’ll also tell you how planetariums are adapting to the ages of the Internet and social media.
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Stars and Galaxies
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