RACHEL
Welcome to Idaho Skies for the first week of September. We’re your hosts, Rachel...
PAUL
...and Paul.
RACHEL
The moon and star clusters, oh my!
PAUL
That’s right; the moon passes two very nice star clusters in the morning of the 4th and 5th.
RACHEL
First, the moon is last quarter, meaning it appears as half a moon.
PAUL
This is a nice time to observe the moon through binoculars or a small telescope.
RACHEL
The reason is that the half moon shows the greatest amount of detail along its terminator, or boundary between day and night.
PAUL
The terminator at last quarter faces directly at Earth, so its shadows appear stretched out and that accentuates small surface features in craters and mountains.
RACHEL
You only need a pair of binoculars to see a multitude of craters, especially in the moon’s southern hemisphere.
PAUL
It was images like the ones you see in binoculars that Galileo saw with his new telescope in 1609.
RACHEL
Craters and mountains led him to the realization that the heavens were not prefect as Aristotle believed.
PAUL
And that the moon was in many ways a lot like Earth.
RACHEL
If you go out to observe the moon on the 4th, you’ll find it between the Pleiades and the Hyades star clusters.
PAUL
A good time to look for them is around 5:00 AM, so take a look before you drive to work.
RACHEL
The Pleiades will appear above the moon and the Hyades below.
PAUL
Many people know the Pleiades star cluster by its other name, the Seven Sisters.
RACHEL
Have you ever visited Devil’s Tower in Montana?
PAUL
Well, there’s a connection between the Seven Sisters and Devil’s Tower.
RACHEL
According to one Native American legend, seven young girls were trying to escape a bear when the Devil’s Tower was raised from the ground to help them escape.
PAUL
The bear scratched at the tower in an attempt to climb it.
RACHEL
And it’s the bear’s scratch marks that are the vertical striations in the volcanic neck of Devil’s Tower.
PAUL
On the morning of the 5th, you’ll find the moon as its sailing though the outer edge of the Hyades star cluster.
RACHEL
The Hyades is the V-shaped cluster of stars to the moon’s right.
PAUL
The cluster and the moon will fill most of your binocular’s field of view.
RACHEL
Close to the moon’s right is an orange star named Aldebaran.
PAUL
The star represents the eye of Taurus the Bull and it's 65 light years away.
RACHEL
So if you know someone 65 years old this year, then Aldebaran is his or her birthday star this year.
PAUL
That’s Idaho Skies for the first week of September. Venus is approaching inferior conjunction and next week we’ll tell you what that portends.
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.
Monday, August 31, 2015
Friday, August 21, 2015
Star for September
 |
| Albireo, the middle star of the Summer Triangle |
Albireo is a fun star if you have at least a small telescope. To the naked eye, the star appears as a non-descript white point of light. However, in a telescope, even at low power, it splits into two stars, each star distinctly tinted. I see them as golden-yellow and cyan. Others that I’ve asked see more green in the bluish star than I do.
Stars can have subtle colors, but most are too faint for us to make out their color. It usually takes the light gathering ability of a telescope to bring out a star’s color (if it has any). In the case of Albireo, the close proximity between the two stars lets our eyes and brain exaggerate their subtle differences in hue. If you have trouble seeing color differences, try setting your telescope slightly out of focus.
The light you see from Albireo tonight left 380 years ago, or in the year 1635. At a distance of 380 light years, the stars must be immensely far apart to have the separation we see on Earth. That separation makes it difficult for the stars to remain in orbit around each other; therefore, it’s possible that Albireo represents a chance alignment of stars and not a true binary. If they are orbiting each other, then their orbital period is on the order of 75,000 years.
Albireo Beta Cygni, but it’s not actually the second brightest star of the constellation as its name might lead you to believe. Albireo is a reasonably bright star however, and it’s located at the southern end of the constellation or near the center of the Summer Triangle (the triangle consists of the stars Deneb, Vega, and Altair). In Cygnus, Albireo represents the beak of the swan.
Look for Cygnus and Albireo overhead during September. The swan is flying to the south, perhaps in preparation for the oncoming winter.
Transcript August 23 - 29
PAUL
Welcome to Idaho Skies for the last week of August. We’re your hosts, Paul...
RACHEL
...and Rachel.
PAUL
Got binoculars and a dark location for star gazing?
RACHEL
Then you can locate several star clusters and nebulae on the 24th
PAUL
All you need to do is scan the sky near the moon.
RACHEL
More specifically, the clusters and nebulae are located on the left side of the moon.
PAUL
To find them, just scan your binoculars up and down this portion of the Milky Way.
RACHEL
You’ll be searching a rich field of stars surrounding the center of the Milky Way galaxy.
PAUL
However, the actual center of the galaxy hides behind curtains of star-light absorbing dust.
RACHEL
Most of it is dust motes no larger than cigarette smoke.
PAUL
However, the clouds are light years thick and eventually absorb all of the visible light coming from the galaxy’s center.
RACHEL
Astronomers can use radio telescopes to see details within this region
PAUL
And by using telescopes designed to detect gamma rays.
RACHEL
What do astronomers find in the center of the Galaxy?
PAUL
A monster.
RACHEL
The monster is a black hole with a mass of over 4 million times greater than the sun’s mass.
PAUL
And it has a radius that nearly spans the distance between the sun and the planet Mercury.
RACHEL
And adults say that monsters don’t exist.
PAUL
Black holes are not as dangerous as many people think.
RACHEL
Besides, we’re 30,000 light years from the black hole, too far from its gravity to affect us anyways.
PAUL
Black holes are only dangerous when you get really close to them.
RACHEL
One reason is that they are incredibly tiny for their mass.
PAUL
This means one can get really close to their center before actually entering the surface of the black hole.
RACHEL
This is dangerous because the strength of gravity changes by the square of the distance between you and the center of the black hole.
PAUL
And since a black hole is small, you can get to where the strength of its gravity is fierce just outside its surface.
RACHEL
Or what astronomers call the black hole’s event horizon.
PAUL
Cross that boundary and no rocket engine can ever get you out again.
RACHEL
That’s if you even survive when the black hole stretches your body into a spaghetti noodle.
PAUL
That’s Idaho Skies for the last week of August. Join us next month for the space and astronomy events for Idaho.
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 last week of August. We’re your hosts, Paul...
RACHEL
...and Rachel.
PAUL
Got binoculars and a dark location for star gazing?
RACHEL
Then you can locate several star clusters and nebulae on the 24th
PAUL
All you need to do is scan the sky near the moon.
RACHEL
More specifically, the clusters and nebulae are located on the left side of the moon.
PAUL
To find them, just scan your binoculars up and down this portion of the Milky Way.
RACHEL
You’ll be searching a rich field of stars surrounding the center of the Milky Way galaxy.
PAUL
However, the actual center of the galaxy hides behind curtains of star-light absorbing dust.
RACHEL
Most of it is dust motes no larger than cigarette smoke.
PAUL
However, the clouds are light years thick and eventually absorb all of the visible light coming from the galaxy’s center.
RACHEL
Astronomers can use radio telescopes to see details within this region
PAUL
And by using telescopes designed to detect gamma rays.
RACHEL
What do astronomers find in the center of the Galaxy?
PAUL
A monster.
RACHEL
The monster is a black hole with a mass of over 4 million times greater than the sun’s mass.
PAUL
And it has a radius that nearly spans the distance between the sun and the planet Mercury.
RACHEL
And adults say that monsters don’t exist.
PAUL
Black holes are not as dangerous as many people think.
RACHEL
Besides, we’re 30,000 light years from the black hole, too far from its gravity to affect us anyways.
PAUL
Black holes are only dangerous when you get really close to them.
RACHEL
One reason is that they are incredibly tiny for their mass.
PAUL
This means one can get really close to their center before actually entering the surface of the black hole.
RACHEL
This is dangerous because the strength of gravity changes by the square of the distance between you and the center of the black hole.
PAUL
And since a black hole is small, you can get to where the strength of its gravity is fierce just outside its surface.
RACHEL
Or what astronomers call the black hole’s event horizon.
PAUL
Cross that boundary and no rocket engine can ever get you out again.
RACHEL
That’s if you even survive when the black hole stretches your body into a spaghetti noodle.
PAUL
That’s Idaho Skies for the last week of August. Join us next month for the space and astronomy events for Idaho.
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.
Transcript for August 16 - 22
RACHEL
Welcome to Idaho Skies for the third week of August. We’re your hosts, Rachel...
PAUL
...and Paul.
RACHEL
The moon reappears in the evening on the 19th.
PAUL
It will reside in the low west, as it gets dark around 9:45 PM.
RACHEL
If you point your binoculars at the thin crescent, you might see earthshine or the Da Vinci Glow across the dark, left hand side of the moon.
PAUL
Be sure to watch the moon for the next week as it grows into the first quarter moon.
RACHEL
Your binoculars will show an ever growing profusion of craters in the southern hemisphere.
PAUL
And mountain ranges in the northern hemisphere.
RACHEL
Your best views come from looking along the moon’s terminator.
PAUL
Or the boundary between day and night.
RACHEL
There’s a star twinkling below the moon on the 19th, do you want to know which one it is?
PAUL
Sure, it’s Spica, the brightest star of Virgo the Maiden.
RACHEL
Virgo is a rather large and dim constellation overall.
PAUL
However, Spica is a blue-giant star that’s the 15th brightest star in our sky and not easily missed.
RACHEL
Since Spica is 260 light years away, the light you see tonight left the star in 1755.
PAUL
What does our sun look like to inhabitants at Spica?
RACHEL
Our sun is invisible to them except in large telescopes.
PAUL
On the evening of the 21st, the moon is located between two astronomical treats.
RACHEL
The first is the wide double star Zubenelgenubi.
PAUL
And it’s the star located to the moon’s lower right.
RACHEL
The sharp eye among our listeners will notice it’s actually two stars.
PAUL
The rest of us will need a pair of binoculars to see this.
RACHEL
What’s the second treat?
PAUL
It’s Saturn.
RACHEL
Unlike Zubenelgenubi, Saturn requires more than just a pair of binoculars.
PAUL
Fortunately, a spotting scope is sufficient.
RACHEL
At a magnification of 20 power the rings will begin to appear.
PAUL
And they’re easily visible at a magnification of 25 power or higher.
RACHEL
Saturn is the yellowish-white star located to the left of the moon.
PAUL
And unlike Zubenelgenubi, Saturn will not twinkle.
RACHEL
Though technically in Libra, Saturn makes its appearance with Scorpius the Scorpion.
PAUL
The orangish star even farther away to the lower left of the moon is the Scorpion’s heart, Antares.
RACHEL
Which is a red giant star and over 600 light years away.
PAUL
That’s Idaho Skies for the third week of August. Next week we’ll tell you about the monster lurking in the center of the galaxy.
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.
Welcome to Idaho Skies for the third week of August. We’re your hosts, Rachel...
PAUL
...and Paul.
RACHEL
The moon reappears in the evening on the 19th.
PAUL
It will reside in the low west, as it gets dark around 9:45 PM.
RACHEL
If you point your binoculars at the thin crescent, you might see earthshine or the Da Vinci Glow across the dark, left hand side of the moon.
PAUL
Be sure to watch the moon for the next week as it grows into the first quarter moon.
RACHEL
Your binoculars will show an ever growing profusion of craters in the southern hemisphere.
PAUL
And mountain ranges in the northern hemisphere.
RACHEL
Your best views come from looking along the moon’s terminator.
PAUL
Or the boundary between day and night.
RACHEL
There’s a star twinkling below the moon on the 19th, do you want to know which one it is?
PAUL
Sure, it’s Spica, the brightest star of Virgo the Maiden.
RACHEL
Virgo is a rather large and dim constellation overall.
PAUL
However, Spica is a blue-giant star that’s the 15th brightest star in our sky and not easily missed.
RACHEL
Since Spica is 260 light years away, the light you see tonight left the star in 1755.
PAUL
What does our sun look like to inhabitants at Spica?
RACHEL
Our sun is invisible to them except in large telescopes.
PAUL
On the evening of the 21st, the moon is located between two astronomical treats.
RACHEL
The first is the wide double star Zubenelgenubi.
PAUL
And it’s the star located to the moon’s lower right.
RACHEL
The sharp eye among our listeners will notice it’s actually two stars.
PAUL
The rest of us will need a pair of binoculars to see this.
RACHEL
What’s the second treat?
PAUL
It’s Saturn.
RACHEL
Unlike Zubenelgenubi, Saturn requires more than just a pair of binoculars.
PAUL
Fortunately, a spotting scope is sufficient.
RACHEL
At a magnification of 20 power the rings will begin to appear.
PAUL
And they’re easily visible at a magnification of 25 power or higher.
RACHEL
Saturn is the yellowish-white star located to the left of the moon.
PAUL
And unlike Zubenelgenubi, Saturn will not twinkle.
RACHEL
Though technically in Libra, Saturn makes its appearance with Scorpius the Scorpion.
PAUL
The orangish star even farther away to the lower left of the moon is the Scorpion’s heart, Antares.
RACHEL
Which is a red giant star and over 600 light years away.
PAUL
That’s Idaho Skies for the third week of August. Next week we’ll tell you about the monster lurking in the center of the galaxy.
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.
Transcript for August 9 - 15
PAUL
Welcome to Idaho Skies for the second week of August. We’re your hosts, Paul...
RACHEL
...and Rachel.
PAUL
The moon is four days from new on the morning of August 10th.
RACHEL
That means the morning of the 10th and 11th should be good opportunities to look for earthshine.
PAUL
Listeners will recall that earthshine is the faint illumination on the dark portion of the moon.
RACHEL
And that illumination comes from sunlight reflecting off of Earth.
PAUL
Who discovered the true source earthshine?
RACHEL
Probably Leonardo da Vinci who wrote about the cause of earthshine in 1510. However, he did make one mistake.
PAUL
What’s that?
RACHEL
He believed earthshine came from Earth’s oceans when it actually comes from Earth’s clouds.
PAUL
So Earth’s oceans and land are too dark to reflect enough sunlight to account for Earthshine?
RACHEL
That’s correct.
PAUL
One of the best meteor showers reaches its peak on the evening of the 11th and morning of the 12th.
RACHEL
Many judge the Perseid meteor shower to be one of the best meteor showers for two reasons.
PAUL
First is its dependable performance.
RACHEL
And second is the comfortable August nights.
PAUL
This year, moonlight won’t interfere with the shower.
RACHEL
Therefore, you can expect to see 60 meteors per hour from this shower from dark skies.
PAUL
In addition to the other meteors from the other active meteor showers.
RACHEL
Most meteors are the size of sand grains and they’re vaporizing 60 to 80 miles above the ground.
PAUL
That’s because they’re plowing into Earth’s atmosphere at speeds nearing 130,000 mph.
RACHEL
How will our listeners know that they’ve just seen a Perseid meteor?
PAUL
All Perseids will have trails that appear to originate from the low northeast.
RACHEL
So crawl into a sleeping bag and look up on the night of the 11th.
PAUL
Best of all, there are no commercial interruptions.
RACHEL
That’s Idaho Skies for the second week of August. The moon leads listeners to a nice double star and Saturn next week.
PAUL
Be sure to read our blog for additional information. It’s at idahoskies.blogspot.com.
For Idaho Skies this is Paul...
RACHEL
...and Rachel.
PAUL
Dark skies and bright stars.
Welcome to Idaho Skies for the second week of August. We’re your hosts, Paul...
RACHEL
...and Rachel.
PAUL
The moon is four days from new on the morning of August 10th.
RACHEL
That means the morning of the 10th and 11th should be good opportunities to look for earthshine.
PAUL
Listeners will recall that earthshine is the faint illumination on the dark portion of the moon.
RACHEL
And that illumination comes from sunlight reflecting off of Earth.
PAUL
Who discovered the true source earthshine?
RACHEL
Probably Leonardo da Vinci who wrote about the cause of earthshine in 1510. However, he did make one mistake.
PAUL
What’s that?
RACHEL
He believed earthshine came from Earth’s oceans when it actually comes from Earth’s clouds.
PAUL
So Earth’s oceans and land are too dark to reflect enough sunlight to account for Earthshine?
RACHEL
That’s correct.
PAUL
One of the best meteor showers reaches its peak on the evening of the 11th and morning of the 12th.
RACHEL
Many judge the Perseid meteor shower to be one of the best meteor showers for two reasons.
PAUL
First is its dependable performance.
RACHEL
And second is the comfortable August nights.
PAUL
This year, moonlight won’t interfere with the shower.
RACHEL
Therefore, you can expect to see 60 meteors per hour from this shower from dark skies.
PAUL
In addition to the other meteors from the other active meteor showers.
RACHEL
Most meteors are the size of sand grains and they’re vaporizing 60 to 80 miles above the ground.
PAUL
That’s because they’re plowing into Earth’s atmosphere at speeds nearing 130,000 mph.
RACHEL
How will our listeners know that they’ve just seen a Perseid meteor?
PAUL
All Perseids will have trails that appear to originate from the low northeast.
RACHEL
So crawl into a sleeping bag and look up on the night of the 11th.
PAUL
Best of all, there are no commercial interruptions.
RACHEL
That’s Idaho Skies for the second week of August. The moon leads listeners to a nice double star and Saturn next week.
PAUL
Be sure to read our blog for additional information. It’s at idahoskies.blogspot.com.
For Idaho Skies this is Paul...
RACHEL
...and Rachel.
PAUL
Dark skies and bright stars.
Transcript for August 2 - 8
RACHEL
Welcome to Idaho Skies for the first week of August. We’re your hosts, Rachel...
PAUL
...and Paul.
RACHEL
Astronaut Neil Armstrong was born 85 years ago on the 5th.
PAUL
In July 1969, he became the first human to step foot onto another celestial body, the moon.
RACHEL
That occurred six hours after Apollo 11’s successful landing on the moon.
PAUL
Did you know that Apollo 11 was not Armstrong’s first space mission?
RACHEL
That’s right; his first trip into space was onboard Gemini 8, which nearly ended in disaster.
PAUL
One objective of Gemini 8 was to complete the first piloted docking between two spacecraft in Earth orbit.
RACHEL
Testing orbital docking was critical for the upcoming Apollo moon missions.
PAUL
Initially, the docking between Armstrong’s Gemini 8 and the unmanned Agena spacecraft went smoothly.
RACHEL
However, soon after docking, a spacecraft thruster malfunctioned and sent the docked spacecraft spinning faster and faster.
PAUL
If not stopped, the spinning would eventually destroy both spacecraft.
RACHEL
At the same time, astronauts Armstrong and Scott were at risk of blacking out.
PAUL
Armstrong quickly undocked the two spacecraft thinking it was the Agena that had failed.
RACHEL
Rather than slow down however, the spinning of Gemini 8 increased.
PAUL
Indicating it was the Gemini 8 spacecraft that had failed.
RACHEL
Armstrong shut down all the Gemini thrusters and use a backup set of thrusters to stop the spinning and save the spacecraft.
PAUL
Since the backup set was only used for reentry, the Gemini 8 had to return to Earth at the first opportunity.
RACHEL
So ended the short but eventful mission of Gemini 8.
PAUL
August is meteor month,
RACHEL
And our next shower peaks on the 6th.
PAUL
It’s called the Southern Iota Aquarids and it’s a weak shower.
RACHEL
However, the Alpha Capricornid meteor shower, the Northern Iota Aquarids meteor shower, and the Perseid meteor shower are all active right now.
PAUL
Even better, the moon is rapidly approaching new and its light will no longer interfere with the meteors showers by next week.
RACHEL
So keep sky watching and you’ll be rewarded with shooting stars.
PAUL
Do you get up early on Saturdays?
RACHEL
If so, be sure to look in the east at around 4:00 AM on the 8th to see two iconic star clusters of winter.
PAUL
They’re the Pleiades and the Hyades.
RACHEL
Between them, you’ll see the moon.
PAUL
The Pleiades or Seven Sisters will be the star cluster above the moon.
RACHEL
What’s that orangish star to the lower left of the moon and in the Hyades star cluster?
PAUL
Why it’s Aldebaran, the eye of Taurus the Bull.
RACHEL
That’s Idaho Skies for the first week of August. Do you know who was the first person to understand the cause of earthshine? We’ll tell you next week.
PAUL
Be sure to follow us on Twitter at Idaho Skies for this week’s event reminders and sky maps.
For Idaho Skies this is Paul...
RACHEL
...and Rachel.
PAUL
Dark skies and bright stars.
Welcome to Idaho Skies for the first week of August. We’re your hosts, Rachel...
PAUL
...and Paul.
RACHEL
Astronaut Neil Armstrong was born 85 years ago on the 5th.
PAUL
In July 1969, he became the first human to step foot onto another celestial body, the moon.
RACHEL
That occurred six hours after Apollo 11’s successful landing on the moon.
PAUL
Did you know that Apollo 11 was not Armstrong’s first space mission?
RACHEL
That’s right; his first trip into space was onboard Gemini 8, which nearly ended in disaster.
PAUL
One objective of Gemini 8 was to complete the first piloted docking between two spacecraft in Earth orbit.
RACHEL
Testing orbital docking was critical for the upcoming Apollo moon missions.
PAUL
Initially, the docking between Armstrong’s Gemini 8 and the unmanned Agena spacecraft went smoothly.
RACHEL
However, soon after docking, a spacecraft thruster malfunctioned and sent the docked spacecraft spinning faster and faster.
PAUL
If not stopped, the spinning would eventually destroy both spacecraft.
RACHEL
At the same time, astronauts Armstrong and Scott were at risk of blacking out.
PAUL
Armstrong quickly undocked the two spacecraft thinking it was the Agena that had failed.
RACHEL
Rather than slow down however, the spinning of Gemini 8 increased.
PAUL
Indicating it was the Gemini 8 spacecraft that had failed.
RACHEL
Armstrong shut down all the Gemini thrusters and use a backup set of thrusters to stop the spinning and save the spacecraft.
PAUL
Since the backup set was only used for reentry, the Gemini 8 had to return to Earth at the first opportunity.
RACHEL
So ended the short but eventful mission of Gemini 8.
PAUL
August is meteor month,
RACHEL
And our next shower peaks on the 6th.
PAUL
It’s called the Southern Iota Aquarids and it’s a weak shower.
RACHEL
However, the Alpha Capricornid meteor shower, the Northern Iota Aquarids meteor shower, and the Perseid meteor shower are all active right now.
PAUL
Even better, the moon is rapidly approaching new and its light will no longer interfere with the meteors showers by next week.
RACHEL
So keep sky watching and you’ll be rewarded with shooting stars.
PAUL
Do you get up early on Saturdays?
RACHEL
If so, be sure to look in the east at around 4:00 AM on the 8th to see two iconic star clusters of winter.
PAUL
They’re the Pleiades and the Hyades.
RACHEL
Between them, you’ll see the moon.
PAUL
The Pleiades or Seven Sisters will be the star cluster above the moon.
RACHEL
What’s that orangish star to the lower left of the moon and in the Hyades star cluster?
PAUL
Why it’s Aldebaran, the eye of Taurus the Bull.
RACHEL
That’s Idaho Skies for the first week of August. Do you know who was the first person to understand the cause of earthshine? We’ll tell you next week.
PAUL
Be sure to follow us on Twitter at Idaho Skies for this week’s event reminders and sky maps.
For Idaho Skies this is Paul...
RACHEL
...and Rachel.
PAUL
Dark skies and bright stars.
Star for August
This month look for the star Shaula in Scorpius. Shaula is known to astronomers as Lambda Scorpii and it’s the second brightest star in Scorpius. Shaula means stinger in Arabic and Arab astronomers gave it this name because it, along with its neighbor, represents the stinger at the end of the tail of Scorpius the Scorpion.
Shaula is 700 light years away. Therefore, the light you see from Shaula this year left in the year 1315. While Shaula is easily visible from earth, our sun would be visible in only the largest telescopes at Shaula’s distance. Shaula is so much brighter than the sun because it’s 11 times more massive. That extra mass fuses hydrogen faster and makes its surface four times hotter and 35,000 times brighter (that is if you include its ultraviolet radiation) than the sun. Astronomers classify Shaula as a sub-giant star, meaning it’s near the end of its hydrogen fusing life and is about ready to expand into a giant star. The mass of Shaula is low enough that it will probably escape from blowing up as a supernova by puffing away its outer layers over time.
Look for Shaula in the low south to southwest early August evenings.
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