Star Trails: From Backyard Astronomy to Cosmic Wonder12 Loka 2025

The Mid-October Sky and The House of a Thousand Mirrors

The nights are growing longer, the air is sharpening, and the Moon is finally stepping aside. In this week’s episode, we look to the skies from October 12th through the 18th, and discover a season in transition: Saturn still reigning in the south, Jupiter climbing before dawn, Venus returning to the morning sky, and the Orionid meteor shower quietly stirring to life. With the waning Moon, late-week skies will be perfect for deep-sky observing — from the Andromeda Galaxy to the Helix Nebula.

Then, we step into a stranger realm: The House of a Thousand Mirrors.

In this eerie cosmic funhouse, light bends, time folds, and a single distant galaxy can appear dozens of times across the sky. We explore the phenomenon of gravitational lensing — from the elegant Einstein Cross to the ghostly arcs of Abell clusters, and even a supernova that appeared twice in two different years. It’s astronomy that feels like science fiction, except it’s real.

For more episodes and resources for backyard astronomers, visit www.startrails.show. Share the wonder of the stars with friends and continue your cosmic journey with us. Also, connect with us on Bluesky @startrails.bsky.social, or YouTube @TheStarTrailsPodcast.

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Jaksot(121)

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