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June 28, 2026Radio: Today’s Episode
Tarazed
Putting a star on the bathroom scale
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Radio: Yesterday’s Episode
Altair
A remarkable stellar youngster
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Stargazing
Tarazed
Tarazed, the second-brightest star of Aquila, the eagle, is a small fraction the age of the Sun, but because it’s more massive it has puffed up to become a red giant. It is low in the east at nightfall, close above brighter Altair.
Altair
Altair is one of the highlights of summer. It’s at one point of the Summer Triangle, and it’s the twelfth-brightest star in the night sky. It’s in the east at nightfall, well to the lower right of the triangle’s other bright members.
Moon and Antares
Antares, the heart of the scorpion, is quite near the Moon tonight. Antares is more than a dozen times the mass of the Sun and tens of thousands of times brighter. In the next million years it’s likely to explode as a supernova.
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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