Start Here

If you’re new to Star Trails, welcome. This is your launchpad.

Below you’ll find listener-favorite episodes, my essential tools for exploring the night sky, and a few ways to turn curiosity into observation. Whether you’re watching from a city balcony, a dark-sky preserve, or just your imagination, start here.

Essential Episodes

These episodes capture what Star Trails is all about: Wonder, science, and the strange poetry of the universe.

You can browse the full archive anytime, but these make an excellent first orbit.

Tools for Stargazers

Sky Mapping & Planning

• SkySafari 7 / Pro – A rich, data-packed sky atlas with telescope control, deep-sky databases, and real-time simulations.
• Stellarium – Free, open-source, and visually stunning. Ideal for planning your next observing night on desktop or mobile.
• Star Walk 2 / Night Sky – Intuitive, AR-based, and perfect for beginners exploring from the backyard.
• Heavens-Above – Tracks satellites, the ISS, and iridium flares with uncanny accuracy.

Weather & Seeing Conditions

• Clear Outside – Cloud cover, transparency, and seeing forecasts tailored for astronomers.
• Astrospheric – Especially precise for North America. Great for gauging jet-stream activity and sky stability.
• Windy.com – A broader meteorological view; excellent for spotting approaching fronts before a big observing night.

Light Pollution & Dark-Sky Sites

• LightPollutionMap.info – Pinpoint your nearest truly dark site and compare SQM (sky-quality) readings.
• DarkSiteFinder.com – Easy-to-use overlays that reveal the brightness of your region’s sky.
• Globe at Night – A citizen-science project where you can report the brightness of your local night sky to help monitor light pollution globally.

Community & Observation Logs

• Cloudy Nights Forum – The most active astronomy discussion board on the planet; equal parts advice, debate, and gear therapy.
• AstroBin – For those photographing the sky: share, compare, and learn from other imagers worldwide.
• NASA Night Sky Network – Connect with local clubs and public star parties; meet fellow observers who can help you level up fast.

Curiosity Fuel

• NASA Eyes on the Solar System – Fly through missions and planets in 3-D right in your browser.
• Zooniverse – Galaxy Zoo – Classify galaxies for real research. You might even spot something no one’s seen before.

Recommended Reading

If you want to dive deeper between episodes:

• Cosmos, Carl Sagan
• NightWatch, Terence Dickinson
• Turn Left at Orion, Guy Consolmagno & Dan Davis
• The End of Everything (Astrophysically Speaking), Katie Mack
• Astrophysics for People in a Hurry, Neil deGrasse Tyson
• A Brief History of Time, Stephen Hawking

Each of these books balances wonder with scientific clarity — the same philosophy that fuels Star Trails.

Gear I Like

The tools you use are very personal and depend on your goals and objectives, but here are some things I enjoy using:

• Oberwerk Binoculars – They don’t seem to carry my exact model anymore (the 11x70s), but there are plenty of other options. The cost is very reasonable and the binoculars are excellent.
• Headlamps – A headlamp with a red light is very handy when you’re setting up a scope or tripod.
• Red light gel filters – Cover your phone, laptop screen or flashlight with a red gel to save your night vision.
• SharpStar – A Bahtinov Mask is an excellent tool for astrophotographers to help you perfectly focus your camera on stars.