Transcript for March 2 - 8

PAUL
Welcome to Idaho Skies for the first week of March. We’re your hosts, Paul...

RACHEL
...and Rachel.

PAUL
This week, let’s talk about the visible planets for March.

RACHEL
Sure, have you seen a bright star above the eastern horizon in the morning as you drive to work?

PAUL
It’s Venus, the Morning Star.

RACHEL
If you haven’t seen it yet, then look for the Morning Star low in the east-southeast.

PAUL
The best time is between 5:30 and 6:00 AM.

RACHEL
If you point a telescope at Venus, you can see that it’s half full.

PAUL
It’s easier to see the phase of Venus if you wait until the sky is brightening.

RACHEL
That’s because Venus is so bright that its glare makes seeing any shape difficult.

PAUL
So wait until the middle of dawn, before the sun rises to observe Venus.

RACHEL
Mars is approaching opposition.

PAUL
Opposition occurs when a planet is opposite the sun in the sky from Earth’s perspective.

RACHEL
So during March, you can expect the planet to continue growing brighter.

PAUL
In fact, we can expect Mars to grow as bright as Sirius, the brightest star in the sky.

RACHEL
However, while Sirius is white, Mars will be noticeably orange-yellow in color.

PAUL
Mars rises at 10 PM by start of month and by sunset at end of month.

RACHEL
To see it, look for it in the east-southeast after dark.

PAUL
Jupiter is high in the south at the beginning of the month.

RACHEL
It’s getting slightly smaller and fainter this month.

PAUL
Why?

RACHEL
That’s because Earth travels much faster around the sun.

PAUL
Oh, so we’re pulling away from Jupiter then.

RACHEL
That’s right and you can’t miss Jupiter, it’s the brilliant yellow-white star high in the west.

PAUL
Saturn, the most distant planet you can see, is visible in the morning skies all during March.

PAUL
It rises after midnight at the beginning of the month and by 10:30 PM at the end of the month.

RACHEL
Look for Saturn low in the east-southeast.

PAUL
It’s the creamy white star and it doesn’t twinkle like the other stars.

RACHEL
For additional help locating it, Saturn is also the brightest star below orange-yellow Mars.

PAUL
That’s Idaho Skies for the first week of March. Next week, you can watch the moon cover up a star.

RACHEL
Be sure to follow us on Twitter at Idaho Skies for this week’s event reminders and sky maps.

For Idaho Skies this is Rachel...

PAUL
...and Paul.

RACHEL
Dark skies and bright stars.