The Garden Astronomer Podcast

Wayne & Amy McGraw · gardenastronomer.com

Welcome to The Garden Astronomer Podcast, where the wonders of the universe are brought down to Earth. Hosted by Amy McGraw, with amateur astronomer Wayne McGraw joining as co-host, each episode blends narrative storytelling with the science and human history behind comets, meteor showers, and the deep sky. From forgotten great comets to the recurring return of spectacular meteor showers, hear the stories of celestial events that connect us to the night sky. Clean, insightful, and accessible: your audio companion for exploring the night sky.

6 episodes

18d ago latest

fortnightly cadence

English language

▶ Play latestRSS feed Website Science Astronomy History

https://gardenastronomer.com/feed/podcast/the-garden-astronomer-podcast/

Episodes 7

The Farm Boy Who Discovered Pluto
5d ago · 24:13
How did a hardworking Kansas farm boy find his way to Pluto? In this episode, we dive into the true story of Clyde Tombaugh. After Clyde spent months grinding telescope mirrors in an underground root cellar, a June hailstorm ruined his family's crops and his hopes for college. Discover how his salvaged farm parts and late-night planetary sketches earned him a one-way train ride to the Lowell Observatory. There, after endless hours and freezing nights, he came eye-to-eye with the planet Pluto. Written by: Wayne McGraw. Narrated by: Amy McGraw For more forgotten human stories in astronomy, visit
The Great Comet of 1861
18d ago · 16:34
In 1861, as America descended into the Civil War, a great comet appeared, visible even in daylight. For a moment, the world paused to watch. A young Australian farmer named John Tebbutt was the first to recognize it. Armed with a tiny telescope, a sextant, and a determination to understand the heavens, he would go on to identify one of the most spectacular comets of the nineteenth century. As the Great Comet of 1861 swept closer to Earth, its enormous tail stretched overhead. Sailors watched from the sea. A woman observed it from her home in Louisiana. Soldiers on opposite sides of the America
An August Night Under the Perseids
1mo ago · 18:51
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 Dus
The Great Comet of 1882: Shattered by the Sun
1mo ago · 18:11
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.
The Great 1913 Meteor Procession: The Night the Sky Unraveled
1mo ago · 16:16
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."
The Great Comet of 1811: Companion to a Shaking World
2mo ago · 14:30
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.
The Great Daylight Comet of 1910
2mo ago · 10:57
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.

Episodes

Reading the feed…

More Science shows

The Garden Astronomer Podcast

Episodes 7

The Farm Boy Who Discovered Pluto

The Great Comet of 1861

An August Night Under the Perseids

The Great Comet of 1882: Shattered by the Sun

The Great 1913 Meteor Procession: The Night the Sky Unraveled

The Great Comet of 1811: Companion to a Shaking World

The Great Daylight Comet of 1910

Episodes

More Science shows

Arizona Science

WiTcast

Evrim Ağacı ile Bilime Dair Her Şey!

A Moment of Science

Groks Science Radio Show and Podcast

Ask the Naked Scientists

Episodes 7

The Farm Boy Who Discovered Pluto

The Great Comet of 1861

An August Night Under the Perseids

The Great Comet of 1882: Shattered by the Sun

The Great 1913 Meteor Procession: The Night the Sky Unraveled

The Great Comet of 1811: Companion to a Shaking World

The Great Daylight Comet of 1910