<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" version="2.0"><channel><title><![CDATA[Astrogirl.Au Backyard Observatory]]></title><description><![CDATA[Personal back yard observatory]]></description><link>https://astrogirlau01.wixstudio.com/astronomer/blog</link><generator>RSS for Node</generator><lastBuildDate>Fri, 24 Jul 2026 10:01:33 GMT</lastBuildDate><atom:link href="https://astrogirlau01.wixstudio.com/astronomer/blog-feed.xml" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml"/><item><title><![CDATA[Asteroid Apophis Set for Once-in-a-Generation Close Flyby in 2029]]></title><description><![CDATA[Image curtesy of NASA. Astronomers around the world are preparing for one of the most extraordinary celestial events of the coming decade, as near-Earth asteroid 99942 Apophis  is set to make an exceptionally close approach to our planet on April 13, 2029 . First discovered in 2004, Apophis initially made headlines when early orbital calculations suggested a small but concerning chance of impact with Earth. While continued observations have since ruled out any collision risk for at least the...]]></description><link>https://astrogirlau01.wixstudio.com/astronomer/post/asteroid-apophis</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69a230aa50fcf4a427a0b18c</guid><category><![CDATA[News]]></category><pubDate>Sat, 28 Feb 2026 00:06:52 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/237f4a_66b3817d222e415fade00655364e7375~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Katherine Miller</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[NASA’s Europa Clipper Launches on Historic Mission to Search for Life]]></title><description><![CDATA[Late 2024 marked the beginning of one of humanity’s most ambitious astrobiology missions yet, as NASA successfully launched the Europa Clipper spacecraft on a decade-long journey to Jupiter’s icy moon, Europa. Europa has long fascinated scientists as one of the most promising places in our solar system to search for conditions suitable for life. Beneath its frozen outer shell lies a vast global ocean, thought to contain more than twice as much water as all of Earth’s oceans combined. Now, for...]]></description><link>https://astrogirlau01.wixstudio.com/astronomer/post/europa-clipper-launches</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69a230303a2716aeb2185e61</guid><category><![CDATA[News]]></category><pubDate>Sat, 28 Feb 2026 00:02:01 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/11062b_39707fadc2f2494c86fee6e93ba7ed3c~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Katherine Miller</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[✨ March Night Sky Guide: Worm Moon and Total Lunar Eclipse ✨]]></title><description><![CDATA[March brings one of the most spectacular lunar events of the year, alongside meteor activity, planetary highlights, and the official change of seasons here in Australia. From a dramatic Blood Moon to dark-sky opportunities and elegant lunar encounters, there’s plenty to keep eyes on the sky this month.]]></description><link>https://astrogirlau01.wixstudio.com/astronomer/post/march-nightsky-2026</link><guid isPermaLink="false">696ad89044e01db33a02c4ef</guid><category><![CDATA[Monthly Night Sky Guides]]></category><pubDate>Sat, 17 Jan 2026 01:13:17 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/237f4a_5d1ff2ca492e4487a6c0d6da7e8fff89~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_768,h_768,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Katherine Miller</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[✨ February Night Sky Guide: Snow Moons, Eclipses &#38; Cosmic Close-Ups ✨]]></title><description><![CDATA[Hello stargazers! February is serving up a dreamy mix of lunar magic, planetary highlights, and a few celestial surprises you won’t want to miss. Whether you’re rugging up under the stars or just moon-gazing from your backyard, here’s what’s lighting up the sky this month.  February 1 — Full Moon (The Snow Moon) February begins with a Full Moon , reaching peak illumination at 20:11 UTC . The Moon sits opposite the Sun, glowing fully in our night sky. Early Native American tribes called this...]]></description><link>https://astrogirlau01.wixstudio.com/astronomer/post/night-sky-february-2006</link><guid isPermaLink="false">695ed3a68ad1a6f3c7f9a803</guid><category><![CDATA[Monthly Night Sky Guides]]></category><pubDate>Wed, 07 Jan 2026 21:46:25 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/237f4a_5d1ff2ca492e4487a6c0d6da7e8fff89~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_768,h_768,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Katherine Miller</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Astronomy Events Calendar 2026]]></title><description><![CDATA[Get ready to mark your calendars! 2026 is shaping up to be an epic year for stargazers, with dazzling meteor showers, lunar occultations, bright comets, and stunning planetary conjunctions lighting up our skies. From the early Quadrantids in January to the spectacular comet Wierzchos, this guide has all the key dates and events you won’t want to miss. Perfect for beginners, seasoned astro-nerds, and anyone who just loves a bit of cosmic eye candy.]]></description><link>https://astrogirlau01.wixstudio.com/astronomer/post/astronomy-events-calendar-2026</link><guid isPermaLink="false">692292d7195b52f6ddca4b0f</guid><category><![CDATA[Monthly Night Sky Guides]]></category><pubDate>Mon, 24 Nov 2025 00:03:40 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/237f4a_77ec2875142f4390ab26121cbdb6b9f7~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Katherine Miller</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Black Holes]]></title><description><![CDATA[Black holes are one of the most mysterious and fascinating objects in the cosmos. They are regions in space where gravity is so strong that nothing, not even light, can escape. ]]></description><link>https://astrogirlau01.wixstudio.com/astronomer/post/black-holes</link><guid isPermaLink="false">68d4c65b46e7b344cac469a0</guid><category><![CDATA[Space Stuff]]></category><pubDate>Thu, 25 Sep 2025 22:19:19 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/237f4a_d8f1b606feb74084b652011815c492d3~mv2.jpeg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Katherine Miller</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Black Holes and Neutron Stars: The Universe’s Most Extreme Objects Get New Spotlight]]></title><description><![CDATA[Astronomy news has been buzzing again, this time about black holes and neutron stars. With new detections from gravitational wave observatories and fresh insights from space telescopes, scientists are piecing together more about these exotic remnants of dead stars. ]]></description><link>https://astrogirlau01.wixstudio.com/astronomer/post/black-holes-neutro-stars</link><guid isPermaLink="false">68d4c4f246e7b344cac468eb</guid><category><![CDATA[News]]></category><pubDate>Thu, 25 Sep 2025 04:30:41 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/237f4a_12338721ef34479386e2295ada55bfae~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Katherine Miller</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[James Webb Spots "Dark Galaxies" That Could Rewrite Cosmic History]]></title><description><![CDATA[The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) is shaking up astronomy again. This time, it’s with the detection of mysterious objects dubbed "dark galaxies" — star systems so smothered in dust that they’re almost invisible to traditional telescopes. The discovery is making astronomers rethink how galaxies formed in the early universe.]]></description><link>https://astrogirlau01.wixstudio.com/astronomer/post/james-webb-dark-galaxies</link><guid isPermaLink="false">68d4c24646e7b344cac4671d</guid><category><![CDATA[News]]></category><pubDate>Thu, 25 Sep 2025 04:26:20 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/11062b_3f70bc691420429d84669ebfa67b75f1~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Katherine Miller</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[My Planetary Setup: A New Era of Imaging]]></title><description><![CDATA[After months of researching, tweaking, and slowly piecing things together, I can finally say my planetary rig is complete. ]]></description><link>https://astrogirlau01.wixstudio.com/astronomer/post/my-new-planetary-setup</link><guid isPermaLink="false">68d21ea1a30359f10dd232f6</guid><category><![CDATA[News]]></category><category><![CDATA[Equipment]]></category><pubDate>Tue, 23 Sep 2025 04:21:51 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/237f4a_a60f48a8f2ff44bd8eb76d650c76ef79~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Katherine Miller</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Sky-Watcher Wave 100i Review (2025) ]]></title><description><![CDATA[If you’ve been keeping an eye on the astrophotography scene lately, you’ve probably noticed harmonic drive mounts popping up everywhere.]]></description><link>https://astrogirlau01.wixstudio.com/astronomer/post/sky-watcher-wave-100i-review-2025</link><guid isPermaLink="false">68b69393373f629b08078551</guid><category><![CDATA[Astro Equipment Reviews]]></category><pubDate>Tue, 16 Sep 2025 08:12:25 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/237f4a_b3e96b7fcac34f4fa2ad399aee93fffc~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_752,h_721,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Katherine Miller</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Lunar Eclipses: A Beginner’s Guide]]></title><description><![CDATA[There’s something breathtaking about a lunar eclipse. The familiar silver disc of the Moon slowly darkens, glowing orange or deep red until it looks like a cosmic ember hanging in the sky. Ancient cultures feared it, astronomers adore it, and photographers scramble to capture it.]]></description><link>https://astrogirlau01.wixstudio.com/astronomer/post/about-lunar-eclipses</link><guid isPermaLink="false">68c0a169ccaa65e2efd0b123</guid><category><![CDATA[Space Stuff]]></category><pubDate>Mon, 15 Sep 2025 22:47:02 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/237f4a_e0e2cf67b96a4e27b69b1868ea678b2a~mv2.jpeg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Katherine Miller</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Sh2-34:  The Forgotten Nebula]]></title><description><![CDATA[ome nebulae shout for attention, like Orion blazing away in the night sky. Others, like Sh2-34, whisper — faint, delicate, and sprawling. But give them the right filters, enough exposure time, and suddenly they bloom into something unforgettable.]]></description><link>https://astrogirlau01.wixstudio.com/astronomer/post/sh2-34-forgotten-nebula</link><guid isPermaLink="false">68b5503bc13d324174846aea</guid><category><![CDATA[Astrophotography]]></category><pubDate>Mon, 01 Sep 2025 07:52:11 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/237f4a_74d747d69a7e447a975c8d0966c6d790~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Katherine Miller</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[ What's up: A Guide to what you can see in the Night Sky - November 2025]]></title><description><![CDATA[November skies: Supermoon, Leonids &#38; Taurids, Jupiter &#38; Saturn conjunctions, Uranus at opposition, plus M31, M42 &#38; M45 for imaging.]]></description><link>https://astrogirlau01.wixstudio.com/astronomer/post/november-night-sky-2025</link><guid isPermaLink="false">68af8643ecacb9d69ffeaf22</guid><category><![CDATA[Monthly Night Sky Guides]]></category><pubDate>Thu, 28 Aug 2025 05:38:21 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/237f4a_37bb2bc99761476d91a5fdf2b149252d~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_757,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Katherine Miller</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[What's up: A Guide to what you can see in the Night Sky - October 2025]]></title><description><![CDATA[October’s skies bring a mix of stunning lunar phases, planetary movements, and some rare conjunctions worth staying up for.  ]]></description><link>https://astrogirlau01.wixstudio.com/astronomer/post/october-nightsky-2025</link><guid isPermaLink="false">68acda760a3db22d232df4ba</guid><category><![CDATA[Monthly Night Sky Guides]]></category><pubDate>Wed, 27 Aug 2025 22:24:44 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/237f4a_9ec6339e353b4ca5896e3756a8f82133~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_523,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Katherine Miller</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[What's up: A Guide to what you can see in the Night Sky - September 2025]]></title><description><![CDATA[September is jam-packed with lunar drama, planetary shenanigans, and meteor showers that will make your telescope (and your Instagram...]]></description><link>https://astrogirlau01.wixstudio.com/astronomer/post/september-nightsky-2025</link><guid isPermaLink="false">68abe117689a6f236111f7f4</guid><category><![CDATA[Monthly Night Sky Guides]]></category><pubDate>Mon, 25 Aug 2025 04:15:22 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/237f4a_682edb5025a6431d81be4285f5104b13~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_701,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Katherine Miller</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[The Southern Tadpoles Nebula (NGC 3572): A Cosmic Nursery in Carina]]></title><description><![CDATA[The Southern Tadpoles Nebula, officially catalogued as NGC 3572, is a stunning star-forming region in the constellation Carina.]]></description><link>https://astrogirlau01.wixstudio.com/astronomer/post/ngc-3572</link><guid isPermaLink="false">68a8f3211ef02eaf6d1278f1</guid><category><![CDATA[Astrophotography]]></category><pubDate>Sat, 23 Aug 2025 04:27:42 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/237f4a_dccee57b0c1a468897192d33457936c6~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Katherine Miller</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Imaging The Butterfly Cluster (M6)]]></title><description><![CDATA[Sitting in the constellation Scorpius, just above the stinger of the scorpion, is Messier 6 (M6), better known as the Butterfly Cluster.]]></description><link>https://astrogirlau01.wixstudio.com/astronomer/post/imaging-the-butterfly-cluster-m6</link><guid isPermaLink="false">68a7976b6c4f5bcba97c8ac5</guid><category><![CDATA[Astrophotography]]></category><pubDate>Thu, 21 Aug 2025 22:08:07 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/237f4a_18e29559a9344ff5ae272fe8dfc8f1bb~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Katherine Miller</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Unravelling the Mysteries of the Prawn Nebula]]></title><description><![CDATA[Let me introduce you to one spicy cosmic crustacean: IC 4628, better known as the Prawn Nebula. It’s big, it’s bold, and it’s glowing like it just stepped out of a radioactive spa day. ]]></description><link>https://astrogirlau01.wixstudio.com/astronomer/post/unravelling-the-mysteries-of-the-prawn-nebula</link><guid isPermaLink="false">68912de9703020ba46e9a597</guid><category><![CDATA[Astrophotography]]></category><pubDate>Thu, 21 Aug 2025 10:20:12 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/237f4a_cf9d04af09ef450aa08fdf9da4abd56b~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Katherine Miller</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[The Swan Nebula (M17) ]]></title><description><![CDATA[The Omega Nebula (Messier 17), often called the Swan Nebula, is one of the most breathtaking star-forming regions in our galaxy. Nestled in Sagittarius, about 5,500 light-years away, this glowing emission nebula is both a beginner-friendly target and a serious astrophotography challenge.]]></description><link>https://astrogirlau01.wixstudio.com/astronomer/post/astrophotographing-swan-nebula</link><guid isPermaLink="false">68a64648e3204b05137128ad</guid><category><![CDATA[Astrophotography]]></category><pubDate>Thu, 21 Aug 2025 09:55:15 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/237f4a_9a196b48ef6e42229597cfcbb84fdf8b~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Katherine Miller</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Starstruck: A Guide to Stars &#38; Stargazing ]]></title><description><![CDATA[There’s something deeply humbling about staring up at the night sky, knowing you’re looking at the same stars our ancestors navigated by,...]]></description><link>https://astrogirlau01.wixstudio.com/astronomer/post/starstruck-a-guide-to-stars</link><guid isPermaLink="false">68782683036729d520b11a06</guid><category><![CDATA[Space Stuff]]></category><category><![CDATA[Get Started]]></category><pubDate>Thu, 17 Jul 2025 22:16:28 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/nsplsh_5c03582a164747d0b8a15ab906f75d9e~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Katherine Miller</dc:creator></item></channel></rss>