Transcript: May 8th to 14th

PAUL
Welcome to Idaho Skies for the second week of May. We’re your hosts, Paul…

RACHEL
…and Rachel.

PAUL
The moon reappears in the low west-northwest on the 8th.

RACHEL
It’s been absent from the sky for the last four days because it’s been too close to the sun.

PAUL
So after it gets dark after 10:00 PM on the 8th, look for the moon and see if you can detect Earthshine illuminating its dark portion.

RACHEL
Earthshine will be most visible if you view the moon through binoculars.

PAUL
You can make additional observations of Earthshine for several more nights.

RACHEL
Mercury made an evening appearance last month.

PAUL
However, it disappeared before the end of April.

RACHEL
This month Mercury passes between Earth and the sun and Idahoans get to see a part of that passage.

PAUL
This event is called a transit and it only happens on an average of 13 times per century.

RACHEL
The transit begins on the 9th at around 7:00 AM in Idaho and ends shortly after noon.

PAUL
Now a transit is not safe to observe directly with your eyes, since it requires looking at the sun.

RACHEL
This means that a telescope properly covered with solar viewing filters can directly observe the transit of Mercury, but other instruments cannot.

PAUL
Check the website for the Boise Astronomical Society for times and locations that you can see the transit.

RACHEL
Or try using the projection method of observing the sun.

PAUL
How can you project an image of the sun?

RACHEL
If you can aim a pair of binoculars, spotting scope, or small telescope at the sun, then you can project an image.

PAUL
Do NOT look at this image through the eyepiece.

RACHEL
Instead, place a sheet of white paper several inches to an foot away from the eyepiece of your scope or binoculars.

PAUL
Then focus the scope or binoculars until the image of the sun is sharp.

RACHEL
Any sunspots visible during the transit will appear irregularly shaped with fuzzy edges.

PAUL
While Mercury will appear as a tiny round dot with sharp edges.

RACHEL
Mercury will travel across the sun south of its equator from Earth’s perspective.

PAUL
But remember that if you observe the transit with a telescope, the image will be upside down.

RACHEL
Hey, want to see a really nice star cluster on the night of the 11th?

PAUL
The star cluster’s named is the Beehive Star Cluster and you’ll find it 7 degrees above the moon.

RACHEL
To see this attractive star cluster, point you binoculars at the moon and then tilt them directly north of the moon.

PAUL
Just after the moon leaves the binoculars’ view, the Beehive will appear at the top of the field of view.

RACHEL
You should see a striking similarity between the Beehive star cluster and a swarm of bees.

PAUL
What’s that bright star above the moon on the night of the 14th?

RACHEL
Why it’s Jupiter, the King of the solar system’s planets.

PAUL
Both are so close that you can see them both together in your binoculars.

RACHEL
You’ll notice that Jupiter is accompanied by a retinue of satellites.

PAUL
From left to right, the moons will be Callisto, Europa, Jupiter, and Ganymede.

RACHEL
There’s an even closer moon that you can see if you use a small telescope.

PAUL
It’s Jupiter’s innermost moon Io and it appears near the right edge of Jupiter in a telescope.

RACHEL
That’s Idaho Skies for the second week of May. Next week the Flower Moon passes between two bright planets.

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.