Transcript for June 1 - 7

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

RACHEL
... and RACHEL

Paul
Jupiter is approaching the western horizon this month.

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So if you want to observe Jupiter before its no longer visible, you only have another three weeks.

Paul
What’s the best reason for observing Jupiter?

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It’s the moons.

Paul
Jupiter’s four largest moons are visible through a small telescope and even through binoculars.

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When you watch Jupiter, you’ll notice that the arrangement of its moons changes every night.

Paul
The best night to go Jupiter watching is on the first.

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That’s when Jupiter will appear to the right of the crescent moon.

Paul
The Beehive star cluster is an attractive binocular object and it’s visible from the Treasure Valley.

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To find it, look for the moon on the 2nd.

Paul
That night, the moon is 9 degrees below the Beehive star cluster.

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So to see the cluster, scan two binocular fields of view above the moon.

Paul
When you see it, the cluster will remind you of bees swarming around their beehive.

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The moon is just below the constellation of Leo the lion on the night of the 4th.

Paul
Leo represents the Nemean Lion of Greek mythology.

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In one of the myths of its creation, the Nemean Lion arrived on Earth after falling from the moon

Paul
So what’s that bright star in Leo?

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It’s Leo’s alpha star, Regulus.

Paul
This star represents the heart of Leo.

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If you know someone who is 79 years old this year, then Regulus is their birthday star.

Paul
That means the light you see tonight left Regulus in the year they were born.

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The moon is also first quarter on the 4th.

Paul
So while you’re gazing at Regulus, use your binoculars to scan the straight edge of the moon.

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The straight edge is properly referred to as the terminator and it’s the boundary between lunar day and night.

Paul
Lunar craters are most visible along the southern extent of the terminator and lunar seas and mountains are most visible along its northern extent.

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Finally, you can use the moon to locate Mars this week.

Paul
Mars is the bright orange star to the moon’s left on the evening of the 7th.

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But save your binoculars, you need a pretty descent telescope to see any Martian surface features.

Paul
That’s Idaho Skies for the first week of June. Next week we celebrate the first images returned form the surface of Venus.

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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.