PAUL
Welcome to Idaho Skies for the last week of March. We’re your hosts, Paul…
RACHEL
…and Rachel.
PAUL
Leo the Lion sits on top of the moon all night on the 24th.
RACHEL
Leo’s brightest star is Regulus and it’s almost directly above the moon.
PAUL
Leo’s mane looks like a backwards question mark.
RACHEL
Regulus is the base of the question mark.
PAUL
The second brightest star of Leo is Denebola and it marks the location of Leo’s tail.
RACHEL
This star is 36 light years away and located directly east of the moon. If you were born in 1976, then Denebola is your birthday star this year.
PAUL
The moon is between Spica and Saturn late on the 28th.
RACHEL
You’ll need to go outside at 11:00 PM or later to see them.
PAUL
You can tell the difference between Saturn and Spica because Saturn is to the moon’s left and Spica is to the moon’s right.
RACHEL
In addition, Saturn is brighter than Spica and will not twinkle.
PAUL
If you’re up and about at 3:00 AM or later on the morning of the 31st, then look for the star marking the scorpion’s heart. It’s just below the moon.
RACHEL
Antares and the moon are almost close enough together that they can be seen at the same time in your binoculars.
PAUL
This star is one of the largest in the Milky Way galaxy. If it replaced the sun, its surface would reach to the orbit of Mars.
RACHEL
Astronomers call Antares a red giant and it is nearing the end of its life. Fusion reactions inside the star are consuming the last traces of its nuclear fuel.
PAUL
Before long in stellar years, Antares will have a large iron core. Iron is an element that gravity cannot fuse to produce energy.
RACHEL
With an iron core, Antares will be unable to support its immense weight with the heat of fusion. The star will collapse on itself and explode.
PAUL
The supernova explosion should be visible across a good portion of the universe.
RACHEL
The energy released in the explosion will create elements heavier than iron. This is only possible because of the excess energy generated in a supernova explosion.
PAUL
While massive stars like Antares explode in supernovae, less massive stars like the sun do not.
RACHEL
In another five billion years, the sun will no longer have enough hydrogen to support its weight through fusion.
PAUL
Rather than exploding, the sun will eventually shrink into a hot sphere of gas supported by the repulsion of electrons.
RACHEL
The sun will turn into a white dwarf star the size of Earth.
PAUL
Over billions of years, the white dwarf sun will cool until it no longer shines in visible light.
RACHEL
If the sun were more than two and a half times heavier, it could collapse into a sphere too massive for electrons to support.
PAUL
A star too heavy to become a white dwarf but too light to become a black hole turns into a neutron star.
RACHEL
In these stars, the electrons and protons in atoms are crushed into neutrons.
PAUL
A neutron star is so dense that a teaspoon weighs ten million tons.
RACHEL
That’s Idaho Skies for the last week of March. Next month we’ll discuss the astronomical events that Idahoans can enjoy during the month of April.
PAUL
Follow us on Twitter at Idaho Skies for this week’s event reminders and sky maps.
RACHEL
Be sure to read our blog for additional information. It’s at idahoskies.blogspot.com For Idaho Skies this is Rachel…
PAUL
and Paul.
RACHEL
Dark skies and bright stars.
Tuesday, March 26, 2013
Sunday, March 17, 2013
Comet PanSTARRS
We’re in a race right now. Each day, the comet is climbing higher above the horizon and therefore visible in darker skies. At the same time, the comet is also traveling farther from the sun and therefore getting fainter. In this race, which factor will win?
The picture above was taken through a digital camera mounted on a tripod. The camera was set to six power optical zoom and the exposure was five seconds long.
Transcript for March 17 - 23
PAUL
Welcome to Idaho Skies for the third week of March. We’re your hosts, Paul…
RACHEL
…and Rachel
PAUL
A nice grouping of Jupiter, the moon, and two star clusters occurs on the night of the 17th.
RACHEL
Jupiter is the bright star above the moon. Jupiter and the moon are nearly immersed in the Hyades star cluster.
PAUL
The second star cluster is the Pleiades, which is further to the west.
RACHEL
The 17th also marks the 55th anniversary of the launch of Vanguard 1.
PAUL
Vanguard was the first satellite project of the United States.
RACHEL
Its goal was to launch the world’s first artificial satellite into Earth orbit, as one of America’s many contributions to the International Geophysical Year.
PAUL
The International Geophysical Year was an international collaboration of researchers whose goal was to better understand the Earth.
RACHEL
Vanguard 1 was just a grapefruit of a satellite. It was six inches in diameter and only weighed three pounds.
PAUL
It did however accomplish something that no previous satellite had; it operated a radio transmitter from solar power.
RACHEL
This was the first use of solar cells in space, which satellites commonly use today.
PAUL
Solar power allowed Vanguard’s radio to transmit data for seven years, as opposed to only days that batteries would allow.
RACHEL
By tracking the satellite’s position via its radio signal, scientists determined the Earth’s shape is neither a perfect sphere nor a squashed sphere
PAUL
The changing orbit of Vanguard 1 indicated that Earth was actually closer to pear-shaped.
RACHEL
The Idaho Falls Astronomical Society meets on the 19th.
PAUL
The club holds its meeting at the Skyline Activity Center in Idaho Falls at 7 PM.
RACHEL
After it gets dark on the 19th, go outside with your binoculars.
PAUL
Then give your eyes twenty minutes to adapt to the dark before seriously scanning the skies.
RACHEL
If you look approximately one binocular field of view above the moon, you will see a cluster of stars.
PAUL
This is M-35, an open cluster in Gemini. The cluster is 2,800 light years away and spans 11 light years across.
RACHEL
Spring begins this week.
PAUL
The Vernal Equinox occurs at 5:02 AM on the 20th.
RACHEL
At the equinox, the sun stands directly over Earth’s equator from our perspective. This makes the day and night equally long.
PAUL
The moon is below the Beehive star cluster on the night of the 22nd.
RACHEL
The separation between them is a little greater than the field of view in your binoculars.
PAUL
To find the Beehive, point your binoculars at the gibbous moon around 9 PM and then scan directly upward.
RACHEL
Don’t forget the planetarium at BYU Idaho this week.
PAUL
The presentation is on black holes and is given on the evening of the 21st.
RACHEL
The planetarium is located in room 107 of the Romney Science Building.
PAUL
Doors open at 6:30 and the show begins at 7 PM
RACHEL
That’s Idaho Skies for the third week of March. The moon is our guide to several bright stars next week. One of them is among the largest stars in the Milky Way galaxy.
PAUL
Be sure to follow us on Twitter at Idaho Skies for this week’s event reminders and sky maps.
RACHEL
Be sure to read our blog for additional information. It’s at idahoskies dot blogspot dot com For Idaho Skies this is Rachel…
PAUL
and Paul.
RACHEL
Dark skies and bright stars.
Welcome to Idaho Skies for the third week of March. We’re your hosts, Paul…
RACHEL
…and Rachel
PAUL
A nice grouping of Jupiter, the moon, and two star clusters occurs on the night of the 17th.
RACHEL
Jupiter is the bright star above the moon. Jupiter and the moon are nearly immersed in the Hyades star cluster.
PAUL
The second star cluster is the Pleiades, which is further to the west.
RACHEL
The 17th also marks the 55th anniversary of the launch of Vanguard 1.
PAUL
Vanguard was the first satellite project of the United States.
RACHEL
Its goal was to launch the world’s first artificial satellite into Earth orbit, as one of America’s many contributions to the International Geophysical Year.
PAUL
The International Geophysical Year was an international collaboration of researchers whose goal was to better understand the Earth.
RACHEL
Vanguard 1 was just a grapefruit of a satellite. It was six inches in diameter and only weighed three pounds.
PAUL
It did however accomplish something that no previous satellite had; it operated a radio transmitter from solar power.
RACHEL
This was the first use of solar cells in space, which satellites commonly use today.
PAUL
Solar power allowed Vanguard’s radio to transmit data for seven years, as opposed to only days that batteries would allow.
RACHEL
By tracking the satellite’s position via its radio signal, scientists determined the Earth’s shape is neither a perfect sphere nor a squashed sphere
PAUL
The changing orbit of Vanguard 1 indicated that Earth was actually closer to pear-shaped.
RACHEL
The Idaho Falls Astronomical Society meets on the 19th.
PAUL
The club holds its meeting at the Skyline Activity Center in Idaho Falls at 7 PM.
RACHEL
After it gets dark on the 19th, go outside with your binoculars.
PAUL
Then give your eyes twenty minutes to adapt to the dark before seriously scanning the skies.
RACHEL
If you look approximately one binocular field of view above the moon, you will see a cluster of stars.
PAUL
This is M-35, an open cluster in Gemini. The cluster is 2,800 light years away and spans 11 light years across.
RACHEL
Spring begins this week.
PAUL
The Vernal Equinox occurs at 5:02 AM on the 20th.
RACHEL
At the equinox, the sun stands directly over Earth’s equator from our perspective. This makes the day and night equally long.
PAUL
The moon is below the Beehive star cluster on the night of the 22nd.
RACHEL
The separation between them is a little greater than the field of view in your binoculars.
PAUL
To find the Beehive, point your binoculars at the gibbous moon around 9 PM and then scan directly upward.
RACHEL
Don’t forget the planetarium at BYU Idaho this week.
PAUL
The presentation is on black holes and is given on the evening of the 21st.
RACHEL
The planetarium is located in room 107 of the Romney Science Building.
PAUL
Doors open at 6:30 and the show begins at 7 PM
RACHEL
That’s Idaho Skies for the third week of March. The moon is our guide to several bright stars next week. One of them is among the largest stars in the Milky Way galaxy.
PAUL
Be sure to follow us on Twitter at Idaho Skies for this week’s event reminders and sky maps.
RACHEL
Be sure to read our blog for additional information. It’s at idahoskies dot blogspot dot com For Idaho Skies this is Rachel…
PAUL
and Paul.
RACHEL
Dark skies and bright stars.
Sunday, March 10, 2013
Transcript for March 10-16
RACHEL
Welcome to Idaho Skies for the second week of March. We’re your hosts, Rachel…
PAUL
…and Paul.
RACHEL
The moon is new just after noon on the 11th.
PAUL
If you have a very clear and flat western horizon, try looking for the young crescent moon with your binoculars on the evening of the 12th.
RACHEL
If you can find it, the moon will only be 30 hours old.
PAUL
Thirty hours is very young. Most people don’t see the moon until its more than 48 hours old.
RACHEL
You’ll have to work quickly though. The sky starts getting dark by 7:30 and the moon sets at 8:00 PM.
PAUL
That gives you 30 minutes to search for the thin crescent moon in less than ideal skies.
RACHEL
The Faulkner Planetarium has several new shows this month.
PAUL
One show is called Two Small Pieces of Glass. It shows on Tuesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays at 7:00 PM.
RACHEL
The show tells the story of the telescope, beginning with the first spy glass Galileo turned toward the heavens in 1609.
PAUL
A second new show at the Faulkner is called the Dinosaur Chronicles.
RACHEL
Until the Cretaceous ended with a meteor impact 66 million years ago, dinosaurs ruled the Earth.
PAUL
You’ll hear about what Earth might be like today had they not gone extinct.
RACHEL
The Dinosaur Chronicles plays on Saturdays in March at 2 PM.
PAUL
Don’t forget the planetarium show at BYU Idaho on the 14th.
RACHEL
Doors open at 6:30 in room 107 of the Romney Science Building.
PAUL
Beware of the Ides of March.
RACHEL
As some of our listeners know, Ides is a term from the old Roman calendar.
PAUL
The Romans’ first calendar was a lunar calendar based on the phases of the moon.
RACHEL
The lunar month began on the day of the new moon and the Romans called that day, Kalendae.
PAUL
This is where we get our word calendar.
RACHEL
That’s right. And when the Romans replaced their lunar calendar with one based on the solar year, Kalendae became the first day of the month.
PAUL
The Romans called the day of the first quarter moon Nonae. In the solar calendar, this became the name of the 7th day of the month.
RACHEL
The last named day of the lunar month occurred on the day of the full moon.
PAUL
The Romans called this day Idus or Ides.
RACHEL
In the solar calendar, this became the name of the 15th day of any month.
PAUL
Ever since Julius Caesar was assassinated on March 15th in the year 44 BC we’ve been told to beware the Ides of March.
RACHEL
That’s Idaho Skies for the second week of March. Did you know Earth is slightly pear-shaped? Hear about this discovery and when the moon will lead you to several star clusters.
PAUL
Follow us on Twitter at Idaho Skies for this week’s event reminders and sky maps.
RACHEL
Be sure to read our blog for additional information. It’s at idahoskies.blogspot.com. For Idaho Skies this is Rachel…
PAUL
and Paul.
RACHEL
Dark skies and bright stars.
Welcome to Idaho Skies for the second week of March. We’re your hosts, Rachel…
PAUL
…and Paul.
RACHEL
The moon is new just after noon on the 11th.
PAUL
If you have a very clear and flat western horizon, try looking for the young crescent moon with your binoculars on the evening of the 12th.
RACHEL
If you can find it, the moon will only be 30 hours old.
PAUL
Thirty hours is very young. Most people don’t see the moon until its more than 48 hours old.
RACHEL
You’ll have to work quickly though. The sky starts getting dark by 7:30 and the moon sets at 8:00 PM.
PAUL
That gives you 30 minutes to search for the thin crescent moon in less than ideal skies.
RACHEL
The Faulkner Planetarium has several new shows this month.
PAUL
One show is called Two Small Pieces of Glass. It shows on Tuesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays at 7:00 PM.
RACHEL
The show tells the story of the telescope, beginning with the first spy glass Galileo turned toward the heavens in 1609.
PAUL
A second new show at the Faulkner is called the Dinosaur Chronicles.
RACHEL
Until the Cretaceous ended with a meteor impact 66 million years ago, dinosaurs ruled the Earth.
PAUL
You’ll hear about what Earth might be like today had they not gone extinct.
RACHEL
The Dinosaur Chronicles plays on Saturdays in March at 2 PM.
PAUL
Don’t forget the planetarium show at BYU Idaho on the 14th.
RACHEL
Doors open at 6:30 in room 107 of the Romney Science Building.
PAUL
Beware of the Ides of March.
RACHEL
As some of our listeners know, Ides is a term from the old Roman calendar.
PAUL
The Romans’ first calendar was a lunar calendar based on the phases of the moon.
RACHEL
The lunar month began on the day of the new moon and the Romans called that day, Kalendae.
PAUL
This is where we get our word calendar.
RACHEL
That’s right. And when the Romans replaced their lunar calendar with one based on the solar year, Kalendae became the first day of the month.
PAUL
The Romans called the day of the first quarter moon Nonae. In the solar calendar, this became the name of the 7th day of the month.
RACHEL
The last named day of the lunar month occurred on the day of the full moon.
PAUL
The Romans called this day Idus or Ides.
RACHEL
In the solar calendar, this became the name of the 15th day of any month.
PAUL
Ever since Julius Caesar was assassinated on March 15th in the year 44 BC we’ve been told to beware the Ides of March.
RACHEL
That’s Idaho Skies for the second week of March. Did you know Earth is slightly pear-shaped? Hear about this discovery and when the moon will lead you to several star clusters.
PAUL
Follow us on Twitter at Idaho Skies for this week’s event reminders and sky maps.
RACHEL
Be sure to read our blog for additional information. It’s at idahoskies.blogspot.com. For Idaho Skies this is Rachel…
PAUL
and Paul.
RACHEL
Dark skies and bright stars.
Sunday, March 3, 2013
Transcript for March 3 - 9
RACHEL
Welcome to Idaho Skies for the first week of March. We’re your hosts, Rachel…
PAUL
… and Paul.
RACHEL
If you’re up late on the 1st and early morning of the 2nd, then look for Saturn. It will be located above the moon.
PAUL
The actual distance between the moon and Saturn is over 860 million miles.
RACHEL
From our perspective on Earth however, the two nearly line up with each other. They will be less than five degrees apart.
PAUL
That means you can see both at the same time in your binoculars.
RACHEL
The moon is last quarter on the 4th. For Idahoans, it doesn’t rise until 2 AM.
PAUL
Last quarter is a good time to observe the moon through your binoculars or small telescope.
RACHEL
Unlike the first quarter moon, lunar seas or maria cover most of the moon’s surface during last quarter.
PAUL
The largest is the Ocean of Storms and it occupies nearly the entire northwest quadrant of the moon.
RACHEL
From north to south, this large lunar sea spans 1600 miles. That’s about half the width of the United States.
PAUL
Here’s an opportunity to learn about the astronomy you can enjoy from home or while camping.
RACHEL
The Street Astronomer presents Easy Star Gazing on Wednesday the 6th.
PAUL
The presentation takes place at the REI in Boise and begins at 7 PM.
RACHEL
Idaho’s high power rocketry club also meets in Boise on the 6th.
PAUL
The club meets at the Idaho Pizza on Fairview near Cole at 6:30 PM.
RACHEL
Warmer weather means now is the time to prepare for rocket launches again. Idaho Tripoli is just the organization to help you.
PAUL
On Thursday night, there’s a planetarium show about the planets Mars and Mercury in Caldwell.
RACHEL
The Whittenberger planetarium at the College of Idaho begins its program at 7 PM on the 7th.
PAUL
If you want to attend, you’ll need to make a reservation. Contact Kinga at 459-5211.
RACHEL
The BYU Idaho planetarium is also presenting a show on Thursday the 7th.
PAUL
The planetarium shows in March are about black holes.
RACHEL
Black holes are the remains of stars so massive, that they cannot support themselves from the unrelenting crush of their gravity.
PAUL
After stars collapse into a black hole, the only thing remaining is their mass, electrical charge, and spin.
RACHEL
The BYU Idaho planetarium is located in room 107 of the Romney Science Building
PAUL
The door opens at 6:30 and the show starts at 7:00 PM.
RACHEL
There are two astronomy club meetings this week. The first is the Boise Astronomical Society.
PAUL
The club meets at the Discovery Center of Idaho on the 8th. The meeting begins at 7 PM. Look for their sign at the southwest corner of the building.
RACHEL
The second is the Magic Valley Astronomical Society, which meets on Saturday the 9th.
PAUL
Their meeting takes place at the Herrett Center at CSI and begins at 7 PM.
RACHEL
That’s Idaho Skies for the first week of March. Next week we’ll tell you when and where to search for a very thin crescent moon. It’s also the Ides of March, according to the old Roman calendar.
PAUL
Be sure to follow us on Twitter at Idaho Skies for this week’s event reminders and sky maps.
RACHEL
Be sure to read our blog for additional information. It’s at idahoskies.blogspot.com For Idaho Skies this is Rachel…
PAUL
and Paul.
RACHEL
Dark skies and bright stars.
Welcome to Idaho Skies for the first week of March. We’re your hosts, Rachel…
PAUL
… and Paul.
RACHEL
If you’re up late on the 1st and early morning of the 2nd, then look for Saturn. It will be located above the moon.
PAUL
The actual distance between the moon and Saturn is over 860 million miles.
RACHEL
From our perspective on Earth however, the two nearly line up with each other. They will be less than five degrees apart.
PAUL
That means you can see both at the same time in your binoculars.
RACHEL
The moon is last quarter on the 4th. For Idahoans, it doesn’t rise until 2 AM.
PAUL
Last quarter is a good time to observe the moon through your binoculars or small telescope.
RACHEL
Unlike the first quarter moon, lunar seas or maria cover most of the moon’s surface during last quarter.
PAUL
The largest is the Ocean of Storms and it occupies nearly the entire northwest quadrant of the moon.
RACHEL
From north to south, this large lunar sea spans 1600 miles. That’s about half the width of the United States.
PAUL
Here’s an opportunity to learn about the astronomy you can enjoy from home or while camping.
RACHEL
The Street Astronomer presents Easy Star Gazing on Wednesday the 6th.
PAUL
The presentation takes place at the REI in Boise and begins at 7 PM.
RACHEL
Idaho’s high power rocketry club also meets in Boise on the 6th.
PAUL
The club meets at the Idaho Pizza on Fairview near Cole at 6:30 PM.
RACHEL
Warmer weather means now is the time to prepare for rocket launches again. Idaho Tripoli is just the organization to help you.
PAUL
On Thursday night, there’s a planetarium show about the planets Mars and Mercury in Caldwell.
RACHEL
The Whittenberger planetarium at the College of Idaho begins its program at 7 PM on the 7th.
PAUL
If you want to attend, you’ll need to make a reservation. Contact Kinga at 459-5211.
RACHEL
The BYU Idaho planetarium is also presenting a show on Thursday the 7th.
PAUL
The planetarium shows in March are about black holes.
RACHEL
Black holes are the remains of stars so massive, that they cannot support themselves from the unrelenting crush of their gravity.
PAUL
After stars collapse into a black hole, the only thing remaining is their mass, electrical charge, and spin.
RACHEL
The BYU Idaho planetarium is located in room 107 of the Romney Science Building
PAUL
The door opens at 6:30 and the show starts at 7:00 PM.
RACHEL
There are two astronomy club meetings this week. The first is the Boise Astronomical Society.
PAUL
The club meets at the Discovery Center of Idaho on the 8th. The meeting begins at 7 PM. Look for their sign at the southwest corner of the building.
RACHEL
The second is the Magic Valley Astronomical Society, which meets on Saturday the 9th.
PAUL
Their meeting takes place at the Herrett Center at CSI and begins at 7 PM.
RACHEL
That’s Idaho Skies for the first week of March. Next week we’ll tell you when and where to search for a very thin crescent moon. It’s also the Ides of March, according to the old Roman calendar.
PAUL
Be sure to follow us on Twitter at Idaho Skies for this week’s event reminders and sky maps.
RACHEL
Be sure to read our blog for additional information. It’s at idahoskies.blogspot.com For Idaho Skies this is Rachel…
PAUL
and Paul.
RACHEL
Dark skies and bright stars.
Capella
This month look for the star Capella, the lucida of Auriga the Charioteer. The star is located high in the northwest on March evenings which makes it the brightest star overhead. The name Capella comes from the Latin for little she-goat. This name comes from the fact that Auriga is depicted holding young goats. The goats are represented by the three stars forming a narrow triangle located very close to and just south of the star Capella. Capella is the eleventh brightest star in all of the heavens and the third brightest in the northern hemisphere. If you were born in 1971 then Capella is your birthday star this year because the light of Capella you see tonight left the star 42 years ago.
Capella is a binary star with a primary yellow star 82 times brighter than our sun and a companion star 12 times larger than our sun. Capella’s slightly smaller companion star orbits approximately 65 million miles away from the primary. The pair, Capella Aa and Capella Ab, is orbited by a pair of red dwarf stars in a very distant orbit. The two bright stars in Capella are nearing the end of their lives. They are finishing the last of their fusible supply of hydrogen and will soon expand into red giant stars.
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