BETHLEHEM, Pa. — Brad Klein has been reviewing the week’s astronomical highlights with Bethlehem’s ‘Backyard Astronomy Guy,’ Marty McGuire for just over a year for WLVR News and LehighValleyNews.com.
This week, he reflects on a year of ‘cosmic conversation’ about the planets and stars.
I have learned a lot about astronomy and stargazing in my weekly conversations with amateur astronomer, Marty McGuire. It’s provided a pleasant break from the news stories that make up the bulk of my day’s work hosting Morning Edition on WLVR 91.3 FM. And in subtle ways, it’s changed the way I see the world around me.
If you are a regular listener, you’ve heard me on the radio noting the sunrise and sunset, encouraging listeners to watch for the bright International Space Station when it soars overhead, and marveling as the seasons change.
If I seem to be astonished as the days grow longer each Spring, it’s not your imagination. I have never had a schedule that was so tightly tied to the clock. I start work every day at 4:30 a.m., and that gives me a view of the pre-dawn sky, five days a week… year ‘round. And more and more I appreciate how that view changes, day to day and week to week.
At first, I became more aware of the big changes; the phases of the moon, and its rise and set. And then more subtle things. The planet Venus served as the bright morning star earlier this year. But after disappearing entirely from view for a few weeks, it is now the bright evening star, setting around 8PM, just when I start thinking about going to bed.
But in the mornings, I now have the brilliant Winter constellation Orion. And his companion, the brightest star in the night sky, Sirius, the ‘dog star’. And as they rise earlier, you’ll soon see them dominating the southern sky after sunset… even if you keep more conventional working hours than I do.
I hope this regular feature of WLVR and LehighValleyNews.com has helped you appreciate the stars overhead, our solar system, and our precious home planet. It’s certainly had that effect on me.
Our own ‘Backyard Astronomy Guy’, Marty McGuire, returns next week.
