The Garden Astronomer Podcast

The Carrington Event

On August 28, 1859, a telegraph operator in Washington, D.C., gets knocked to the floor by a spark at his desk. Four days later, two astronomers watch something erupt on

The Farm Boy Who Discovered Pluto

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

The Great Comet of 1861

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 na

An August Night Under the Perseids

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 Mc

The Great Comet of 1882: Shattered by the Sun

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. Ste

The Great 1913 Meteor Procession: The Night the Sky Unraveled

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

The Great Comet of 1811: Companion to a Shaking World

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 M

The Great Daylight Comet of 1910

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