In this edition of StarDate Susitna Kathleen Fleming discusses the recent “Super Moon” and how it connects to the up-coming Solar Eclipse.  A partial eclipse will be visible from Alaska (weather permitting) on May 20th, and a rare Transit of Venus can be seen start to finish from AK on June 5th, depending on cloud cover.  Now that true darkness is gone for the summer, it’s nice to have daytime astronomical events to anticipate.

Kathleen has compiled some print information about the Eclipse and the Transit (intended to accompany Eclipse Shades).  For observers in Alaska click here here.  For observers in the Lower 48, click here.  There you will find maps and websites for more details.

Audio is about about twelve and a half minutes. Correction to audio: The moon’s distance and therefore apparent size difference between perigee and apogee is approximately 13%, not 13 degrees.

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 photos by Robin Song

Host and producer Robin Song tells what the melting snow revealed about a drama which took place last fall. Audio is about 7 minutes. Text follows.

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On March 25th I decided to snowshoe to a pond to see what it looked like in wintertime. Previously, I had only been there in summer, when I had taken Lyra- and any dogs I was care taking- swimming on hot days. I was curious to see the area under a blanket of snow. (more…)

Denali sunrise from Chulitna-photo by Robin Song

Denali sunrise, East Side-photo by Robin Song

Host and producer Robin Song takes a road trip to the Park in late April.      Audio is 5 min 45 sec.

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Photos by Robin Song

On this week’s Earth and Beyond program, host and producer Robin Song relives springtime treks as snow melts, birds migrate, and waterways break up. We hear about a visit of a large flock of snow buntings, waterfowl, hatching aquatic insects, moose remains, ravens, and more. Audio runs 7 min 45 sec.  Text follows.

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A springtime snowstorm on April 6th brought a flock of 44 Snow Buntings to Birch Creek Ranch. That topped the count of 32 Snow Buntings, which had come to the ranch in late March. They had stayed about a week, (more…)

Host and producer Kathleen Fleming covers a lot of ground (space) in her probably second-to-the-last StarDate Susitna for the season. We hear about the waning crescent moon, the young moon challenge coming up Sunday, the travels of Mars and Saturn, a discussion of twilight, how to watch the Lyrid meteor shower, and how to get solar shades (locally)  for a couple of daytime events that you won’t want to miss in the upcoming couple months: the partial solar eclipse, and the transit of Venus. Audio is 10 min 29 sec.

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Photos by Robin Song

Natural Observations writer, host and producer Robin Song enjoys skiing and snowshoeing in the sunshine of early spring. Audio is 8:15.     Text follows.

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After a long, deep-snow winter, we’re being rewarded with a lovely spring. Day after day of sunshine and mild temperatures. Long hours of daylight and the songs of courting birds in the forest. The sunrise, which shone in through the cabin’s south window each morning during the winter, now shines in through the east window. (more…)

Crescent Moon near Venus, with Jupiter below. Taken by Kathleen with a digital point-and-shoot camera on March 26, 2012.

In this April Fool’s edition of StarDate Susitna, host and producer Kathleen Fleming begins by talking about the waxing-to-full moon this week. She continues to expand her listeners’ knowledge of Venus, with a discussion of Venutian cycles, and the ancient Mayans’ understanding of them. She also explains why Venus, as a thinning crescent this month, actually gets brighter. How can this be? Audio is ten minutes.

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(more…)

This week’s program is about the continuing drama of the dynamic elements in the Western sky, and information about planetary motion, and the astronomical unit as a measure of distance. Also, earthshine…do you know what that is, and where you can see it? Audio is 10 min 53 sec.

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On this week’s StarDate Susitna, host and producer Kathleen Fleming focuses on the changing of the moon, four easy-to-see planets, and of course, Spring Equinox, which happens Monday here in the Susitna Valley. A couple corrections to this week’s program: Venus is above due west at 10 pm, NOT 9 pm, and she sets WELL AFTER midnight. Audio is 9 minutes 40 seconds.

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